A month before the 29th edition of the event, to be held on 26 December at the Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, the line-up remains incomplete, even if it is certain that it will not exceed 50 artists, as in the year of the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence.
One certainty for now: the promoter Isaiah Laing has made Tommy Lee Sparta his headliner, while Kiprich, Movado, Popcaan, Khago and Aidonia should also be there.
"Tommy Lee is really the one everybody will be watching this year", says Laing, who hopes to reboost his show after a rather lacklustre 2011 edition (news of 28/12/2011).
What about Bounty Killer and Ninjaman? Emblematic figures of Sting, the two veterans had voiced their anger, believing that Laing had disrespected them. As for the Warlord, Laing had compared a possible duel between Tommy Lee and Bounty Killer to the 1986 boxing match Mike Tyson – Trevor Berbick, in which Berbick, then number 1, was outclassed by the young Tyson, then aged 20. Immediately afterwards, Bounty Killer announced via Twitter his firm intention not to take part in Sting, a few days before an incident that pitted him against Tommy Lee at a show in Riverton.
In a televised interview, Heavy D, co-promoter of the show, had said he had already paid the man in question half of his fee, i.e. 500,000 Jamaican dollars (about €4,300). And that the latter had to repay the money if he did not wish to appear on stage.
As for the inimitable Ninjaman, he burst into Laing's office a few days ago, before putting his signature at the bottom of the contract. He was seen a few days later giving some advice to Tommy Lee in Laing's office, Laing hoping for a clash between the Don Gorgon and Kiprich.
Supreme Promotions has also teamed up with Downsound Records to showcase four young artists at this Sting 2012: Chronixx, author notably of the tracks Behind Curtain and Rain Music, as well as Droop Lion, Jahsent and Iba Mahr.
"We predict that these four youngsters are the next big names in reggae", Laing summed up in the Gleaner. "Wait and see. We've been doing this for years and we have an eye for spotting real talent."
More information on the Sting site.
Ninjaman and Tommy Lee in Isaiah Laing's studio
The incident between Tommy Lee and Bounty Killer in Riverton
The interview with co-promoter Heavy D
