Independence hasn't missed me since I was 14 years old and it wasn't going to miss me this year... regardless.

Yeah, we all miss the days of Ochi and Ruins and John Greaves and Sky and Sand Castles but this year the vibes were really going to ram Negril, and besides, Greaves don't keep again. So at 2pm on Friday, August 1st, I packed up in the RE Mobile with Laura, Carleene, Tyson and Macedon and we headed west... all the way. I had no idea what I was in for.

If y'all don't know what's going on in the beverage industry in Yard, lemme tell you. Red Stripe has brought a slew of young, hip, hot people on board to take care of their young, hip, hot products. In particular Smirnoff Ice, which is headed by Brand Manager Zachary Harding (formerly of Liquid and Limelight fame and Sean Paul's manager Jeremy's little brother). Zachary and Smirnoff Ice have taken over the party scene as lead sponsor of all the hot parties, and Appleton had to do something about it. Jomo Cato was previously Brand Manager of X-Wray (a former sponsor of Whaddat?com) and Wray & Nephew brought him on board as Brand Manager of Appleton Rum to shape up and vibes up the foundation. Appleton has been sponsoring exclusive events like mine and PP and Scott's Yush for one, and the red rum ain't goin' nowhere for now. What has been the result of all this house cleaning? Both camps decided to throw a series of events to define Independence 2003, both in Negril. Appleton had Fully Loaded and Stages, and Smirnoff Ice had The Jungle Nightclub up their sleeve. It was going to be, and proved to be, a very exciting weekend. I really had no idea what I was in for.

The traffic was bad going to Negril, but in Negril... well that's another review. Our free rooms at Hedonism II were given away to full price guests much like most of the discounted Hedo rooms booked for people that weekend from what I understand, artists included. We stayed instead at Penthouse Suites in West End. Not on West End Rd. yuh knuh... off West End Rd. up one piece a rhaatid hill with no pavement. I have to big up the big man Mannix who brought a CD player and some old Strictly the Bests CDs caw trus' mi- di low light and pipe never really mek it still. The rooms were nice and the beds are those mattresses that dent when you press it (well comfy) but dem still building up the place, yuh see it.

So big up Mannix and all Penthouse crew.