Have you met Source? Well, not Source, but Meet Source- one of T&T's greatest talents who is yet to truly gain the appreciation of the population for one reason or another.On August 18, Digicel, via its current Outta Control tour, gave Meet Source a chance to truly shine at JMalone's. Meet Source along with Ziggy Rankin, Tim Starr, Flippo, Greene, Lucky, Nickoli Salcedo of Gazette, Fridge of H2OPhlo and upcoming vocalist Kwesi Flare, belted out the music they've worked so hard at creating. They gave patrons a lot to smile about in the end and pleased all who attended.
Ziggy Rankin gives his all
Things kicked off just after 10.30 pm when Ziggy Rankin hit the stage. Calmly, he dished out one hit after another. He chatted with the crowd in an intimate way and relayed his thanks for their support. Rankin was accompanied by Vince Rivers and the Unit, and some incredibly smooth back-up vocals came from young Kurlene Joseph.Rankin's raspy tone, coupled with his trademark vocal embellishment to the start and end of each track he sang, had all eyes and ears peeled for just about an hour. From Another One Gone Again, to Gotta Get You Girl, Love How Yuh Wining to Miserable Life, and his hit single with the late Blazer Dan, Who Do You Want-Rankin gave his all. He ensured his audience heard every bit of his distinctively sweet vocal aptitude.He also performed a couple cover tracks, including Stephen Marley and Melanie Fiona's No Cigarette Smoke. He made it clear, though, that he's not one to do too many cover songs, but was allowing Vince and the Unit to as they struck up their chords for what would come next.
The Irish pub heats up
Shortly after Rankin's set was over, host for the evening Synergy TV's Verena Siblal welcomed District Six's Flippo, Greene and Lucky, who got the chance to prove their worth to the eager crowd gathered. Their genre of choice was rap, and with moves to match, the young trio brought smiles to the faces of everyone there. At the end of their set, however, it was Flippo who created a bit of a stir, climbing atop the stage-side banister and flipping into the air, landing on his feet with a satisfying bang.The night wasn't over just yet, though. The final group of artistes scheduled to perform came next. The SR Family, to which Tim Starr and Meet Source are aligned, were introduced to much applause and almost instantly, the vibe changed. A slight technical problem in the beginning of their performance did not cause any hindrances, and before long the duo were heating up the stage, bringing their performance to the lower front area where the dance floor was located.Starr, with his usual calm but powerfully rhythmic verses, penetrated well and, joined by Meet Source for the single, Champion, the duo turned things up a notch or two at the Irish pub. Meet Source proved to be an unbeatable entertainer both vocally and visually. His entertainment style was exclusive, which in itself was a huge awakening. His deep tone and humorous facial expressions, agile body movements even for a big guy, and lyrical astuteness were all on point, proving that T&T has more talent than meets the eye.
Joining the pair on stage during their set was Fridge of H2OPhlo, who received a warm applause, and Kwesi Flare, whose introductory performance proved quite engaging. Formerly known for his dancing moves, the six-footer stylishly made his presence felt, singing his single, Just Like Dat on the recently released Red Wine riddim. It was the perfect opportunity for Meet Source and Ziggy Rankin to join in. They, too, performed their tracks. First was Rankin with Strike Ah Pose and ending it off was Meet Source, who delivered the very sexy Bedrock-a track for the women.There was dancing and real love in the room all night long. From audience members to artistes, the connection made was undeniable, and in the end, Digicel's commitment to showcasing the talent within T&T was given much respect by all who came, saw and enjoyed.