Alkaline shuts down Trelawny - New Rules packs stadium to capacity
Alkaline's New Rules, which promised a night of lyrical fire and unfiltered talent, exceeded even the boldest expectations--but not everyone got to witness the magic.
With parking maxed out and the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium venue packed to capacity, some concertgoers did not get the chance to see the 'Man Himself'.
"Vendetta fans showed up in their thousands. The crowd was electric, singing word-for-word from the moment Alkaline stepped on stage. The love was overwhelming," said Rickardo Shuzzr, Alkaline's longtime publicist.
"The stadium was packed! This was a massive turnout... if you weren't there, you missed an epic performance," he told THE STAR.
It was the first staging of the concert in Jamaica for three years and fans could hardly contain their excitement. In fact when Alkaline finally hit the stage, the stadium erupted. Fans screamed and sang along to every lyric in perfect unison, with some moved to tears at the sheer excitement of seeing their beloved artiste live on stage.
Cell phones lit up the venue as supporters captured every second of a performance. In addition to allowing Alkaline to connect with his Jamaican fanbase, the New Rules concert provided a platform for many of the island's entertainers to show off their talent.
"This was a very strategic selection of artistes," said Shuzzr, pointing to a line-up that blended seasoned acts like Tifa and Munga with fast-rising stars such as Silk Boss, Armani, Intense, Brysco, and Knaxx.
"They absolutely delivered tonight," he said.
Tifa told THE STAR that New Rules provided the perfect platform from which to launch a sizzling summer.
"I just dropped a new song, I Want a Man, and after tonight I'm off to New York, Canada, Philly, the UK... Everybody miss me! So I'm booked and busy again."
For Silk Boss, he was fully appreciative of the opportunity to perform at New Rules and how the fans reacted to him.
"I loved the reaction. The fans turn out in numbers and we loved the energy of the crowd. Big up to New Rules. Big up to Alkaline and his entire team fi mek dis possible."
Silk Boss revealed upcoming projects, including Life Story Part 2, collaborations with Valiant and Nhance, and a tour across Antigua later this year. But beyond the music, the moment was deeply personal.
"Growing up as a G, I always said I wanted to leave an impact just like di Man Himself. And fi know seh me grow up and can do it pon dah level deh, and the G (Alkaline) can acknowledge me, It's a great feeling," Silk Boss said.