Page 72 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2018

E xcitement is heating up among sound Clash in New York City in 1998, that sound clash

clash enthusiasts as sound system culture evolved worldwide. Through rules,

contenders battle for the chance to set rounds and referees, World Clash brought

compete in the grand World Clash structure to sound clash culture and attracted
event in October. There are sound clashes all the attention of global audiences. Soon, the

over the globe, but there’s only one World Clash event grew in popularity and expanded to

– founded by reggae music visionaries Irish and what it is today. Generating many selector and

Chin – that brings the world’s top sound systems sound system stars over the years, World Clash

together head-to-head. celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

For those who may not know, a sound system is World Clash features the winners of preliminary

a group of DJs (or selectors), audio engineers Rumble Series clashes, which are currently held

and MCs who contribute and work together in Canada, Antigua, the U.S., Japan, England and

as one, playing and producing music over Germany – leading up to the championship in

a large PA system or sound reinforcement Toronto, Canada, this October.
system, typically for a dance event or party. A At the time of publication, three preliminary

sound clash, then, is an organized competition Rumble clashes have been held and three more

between two opposing sound systems.
will take place throughout June. The Canada

Sound clashes in Jamaica date back to the 1950s, Rumble, held on March 3rd, was won by Toronto

but it wasn’t until Irish and Chin launched World sound system Mystic Sound, who had placed

Recognized for his stand-out attire just as much as his talent, selector Ricky Trooper scored a strong presence at World Clash Jamaica stagings.
Photo courtesy of Irish and Chin, Inc

72 Reggae Festival guide 2018