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REBEL'S REIGNING SUPREME: Rebel Sound, headed by veteran reggae DJ, Rodigan, celebrate their win

THE MOST anticipated music event of the year was everything it lived up to be and more.

Grime collective and reigning Red Bull Culture Clash champions Boy Better Know went head-to-head with veteran Jamaican sound system Stone Love, the specially-formed Rebel Sound (Chase & Status and Rage, Shy FX and David Rodigan) and A$AP Mob, headed up by US rapper A$AP Rocky, at London’s Earls Court Arena yesterday night (Oct 30).

Each ‘crew’ had their own stage set in every corner of the arena as they out-played, out-dissed and out-smarted their rivals in front of a 20,000-strong crowd.

Amongst the pumped-up crowd were a few famous faces, including former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, UK rapper Wretch 32 and chart-topping singer Emeli Sande, who had all come out in support of Rebel Sound, while MOBO award-winning grime duo Krept and Konan and Lethal Bizzle supported BBK.

The biggest controversy of the night came when Tempa T, a rapper associated with BBK, came out in support of Rebel Sound and began throwing disses at his associates.

VIBES: Boy Better Know (BBK) hype up the 20,000-strong crowd

“Tempa T coming out for Rebel Sound instead of BBK at Culture Clash is the biggest plot twist since Eve ate the apple in the garden of Eden,” UK actor Arnold Oceng wrote on Twitter.

His tweet received over 673 retweets.

The show was opened by UK rapper Doc Brown and BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac who were the hosts for the event.
Once they explained the rules of the night, BBK kicked it off proceedings with crowd pleasers Too Many Man and Murkle Man from BBK member Jammer.

Legendary Jamaican sound system Stone Love were up next, but failed to match the energy of BBK, though they did cause some controversy by playing an A$AP Rocky song minutes before the end of their set, which meant the rapper’s group were unable to use the song based on Culture Clash rules. The Harlem-rapper wasted no time in voicing his disgust at the underhand move.

Rebel Sound, made up of Chase & Status and Rage, Shy FX and veteran reggae DJ David Rodigan, began their set with their individual songs, which went down well with the lively crowd.

HARLEM LOVE: US rapper A$AP Rocky

A$AP Mob were up last, but with so many high expectations, it was going to be an uphill struggle.

Though they gave the crowd snippets from his winning back catalogue and brought out House of Pain to do their infamous song Jump Around, which ignited the sell-out crowd, the Canadian-born rapper didn’t win big on the night.

It was Rebel Sound that were crowned the big winners on the night, snatching the trophy from BBK.

WELCOME TO JAMROCK: Veteran sound system Stone Love buckled under the pressure of their rivals

Rebel Sound’s leading man Rodigan’s sharp tongue and fearless disses paired with the collective’s solid set won the crowd over and they were showered with the loudest roar, much to the surprise of the other acts.

Rebel Sound will reform for Red Bull’s Culture Clash next year to try and defend their title.