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Passa Passa Wednesdays
Promoters: Swatch International Promotions, currently sponsored by McKinney's
Venue: Spanish Town Rd. by Coronation Market & Tivoli
Admission: Free for all baby
woah. that's a big head Jerry D Daseca and Route 76 in the hizzle the big man, Popcorn, overseeing J$20 fi dat place CAWK
Kevin Evil, Richie Feelings (Stone Love) and Hotta Ball (far right) hey sweetie

"Now we ride through Tivoli, fly through Kennedy... usually we right in the club, that's where the women be. Laid back, lightin some bud, sippin on Hennessey, everybody drink, show love..."
Capone & Noreaga from "Anything Goes"
Wayne Wonder feat. CNN & Lexxus

Predator

 Sizz come back who's next?  

Not since House of Leo in the mid-nineties has a spot been so hot in the city. In the inner-city to boot.

On Ash Wednesday in March 2003, I was at Village Cafe, hanging out as usual, in the usual form, with the usual people around me. At 3am, Tony Matterhorn was taking off. I asked him where he was going so early, and he said "Passa Passa... come nuh?". And away we went.

Hot Mondays and Rae Town Sunday Night were the only other weekly street side events that had come close to this one. At that time, Passa Passa was a straight community dance. No cars were parked up, but it was ram. Ram with people from the West. Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town & Rema. Everybody out in droves just dancing and having a good time to the sounds of Swatch International and Tony Matterhorn. That night, we covered Passa Passa on RETV and after it aired nationwide a week later, shit got crazy.

It all started at the beginning of Summer 2003. Passa Passa Wednesdays soon became the place to be and be seen. I missed the transition because of the car accident I was in at the beginning of June and the second time I went was at the end of July. It was more ram, this time cars were lined up all along the streets.

The third time I went, however, was when I really realized the role Passa Passa was playing in the party scene. 20% of the patrons were straight uptown.

one  
Macka D & Predator (they're dealin yuh knuh) Macka Diamond jus touch the stage Black Talant Fandangle  
Macka D and Lady G Anthony Cruz you are.... my fire... my one desire Lady G mek dem know  
 
tek it rudegirl big up Gabriel Scott Wilson baby Too Tall too fine
 

I couldn't believe my eyes. Passa Passa is held in what is generally known as "the worst part of town" and for whatever the reason is, "everybody" is there on a weekly basis. It's great. But, more on "The Merge" another time.

The night I took these pictures was the first time they had implemented a make shift stage by the sound. Every week, artists pass through, so why not a stage? Predator, Macka Diamond, Lady G and Anthony Cruz touched the mic with Jerry D, the vibes master, emceeing. Right before Anthony Cruz went up, Jerry D called none other than me on stage to drop a verse. Jerry D and I go way back... back when I was an artist, he had my back. I guess he saw that I really wasn't prepared by the size my eyes grew to, so Anthony Cruz came up and brought me on with him. If I may say so myself, I tore the house down. Thank you.... thank you very mu-u-uch. As we move....

I spent my Christmas morning at Passa Passa this year. I thought the week before was ram. But that Wednesday night (Thursday morning) was absolutely insane. There were cars parked for, literally, a mile down Spanish Town Rd. and on all the side streets. I normally leave at around 6am but I left with the sun blazing at 8am that morning. Crazily insane!

Everybody wants a piece of Passa Passa. All in Miami, and I'm sure elsewhere, dem a try keep one ting weh have di same name. Same, but very different from the original. I know Swatch and Matterhorn are very touched by it all - the sponsors banging down their doors, the copy cats, the massive crowds, the videos being shot there (Anything Goes - Wayne Wonder, CNN & Lexxus), so dem jus' a gwaan do dem ting. Like Early Mondays in Standpipe. Who knows? Maybe Early Mondays will be the next Passa Passa!

Bwoy, I tell yuh. Likkle Jamaica a gwaan wid some big tings. Yardcore baby.
Blesssssss Quizz
UP TO DI TIME!
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