Why Chat ‘Bout Cleveland is truly thankful....

During the holiday season, one could not help put to pause in the (dancehall) moment to think about how we ALL have been truly blessed this year. 2007 has been a great year for Chat ‘Bout Cleveland with even more to come in 2008! Although the list could go on forever, here are 10 reasons CBC is thankful to the Dancehall community…..

10. Knight Ryder Video – need I say more??????

9. Youtube.com and muzikmedia.com – missed a new dance or a new tune? Log on!

8. The Club Center – for its efforts to become the new (and improved) Cotton Club.

7. Cleveland reggae radio shows that keeps me Bashy throughout the week…

6. All the Cleveland promoters who kept us themed all year in Pink and White, Blazers, Mix and Match, Blue and White, Uniforms, and (of course) pj’s!

5. The hot boys and fly girls who come out in their bashment best dance after dance, bringing style to the Cleveland dancehall scene.

4. The emergence of all the fine Jamaican local eateries.. Big Up Ocean Wave, Tradewinds, Island Cuisine, Jamerican Cuisine, Rachel’s and Island Style.

3. Dailey’s Blue Mountain Inn, the Mecca of the West Indian Community – many have came and went, but Dailey’s still remains…..

2. All the dancehall websites who have reached out to show us some love mplsdancehall.com, badh.biz, caribbeangroove.com, chicagoreggae.com, detroitreggae.com…

And most of all-

The over 6,000 visitors to our site! Thanks for your comments, suggestions and support!

So, what are you thankful for this holiday?

Take a moment,

Bashy

Bashment Review: John Hype in Cleveland - Sell Off!

Just when you though the vibe in Cleveland was gone - it was the boys turn to show out on the dance floor as Flava Unit Nick and Sample Jack Promotions presents “A Night of Music and Dancing” last Saturday, November 10th. This dance was a sell off as the masses gathered to see John Hype – the man who bought us ‘Signal di Plane’ and ‘Pon di River’ live. We also wanted to see his newest dance craze, ‘The Gully Side’.

As Chat’ Bout arrived to the dance at a fashionable 2am, the parking was insane as it took a while to find a place to park (where is valet when you need it??!!). The anticipation rose as we finally entered the dance and we could feel the energy of the event. The crowd was going crazy as they watched John Hype along with Cleveland’s own dancehall celebrities, Blacka, Makka B, Flava Unit Nick and brother Dylan mash up the place serving up all the latest dances delivered by the man of the hour, John Hype.

The crowd was definitely feeling the dancing vibe as Chat ‘Bout was able to spot many dancehall honies arrive in flat shoes and tennis as they determined this was a night about dancing….

Also feeling the vibes were Maggie Untouchable – fully recovered from her HOT birthnite bash the week before, The Designing Women Crew, The Blaze’ Crew, Eye (Ocean Wave), Leisa Engel and DJ Chubby (loving that Blazer and pocket chain look!). In attendance to represent for the Cleveland Dancehall Queens were Destiny, Lady Spyda (head first!), Ms. Brandi and Ms. Trini in the house to get some vibes in the dance floor. A few blasts from the pasts – Diamond Girls (we caught them at Maggie’s dance as well) and Missy (alongside The Designing Women Crew). Even The Big Man himself, Mr. Dailey was in the place mingling with the crowd and feeling the vibes….

We can all admit the 2007 has been a great year for the dancehall scene in Cleveland. The resurgence of Cleveland’s newest promoters with their determination to shred the ‘country’ Cleveland image will surely make 2008 even hotter! Thanks again to all the masses that came out with their energy to make this ANOTHER great dance! Keep it coming as we get ready for Baby Cham on December 1st and the ever so blazin’ hot Birthnite Bash for Blacka featuring Stone Love on January 26th!

Getting more and more -

Bashy

'A Night of Music & Dancing' - Cleveland gets HYPE - This Saturday!!!!!

It’s all about Flava Unit and Sample Jack Promotions as they present ‘A Night of Music & Dancing’ on Saturday, November 10th at Dailey’s Blue Mountain Inn. The dance features John Hype, the originator of several dances such as ‘Signal di Plane’, ‘Fan dem off’ and his latest dance mashing up Jamaica’s dancehall scene, ‘The Gully Side’.

This will definitely be a must see event as the flyer is calling out all dancers to test their skills with the #1 dancer straight out of Jamaica……

Born Jonathan Prendergast, aka John Hype. Stage named by "Firelinks",John Hype has been revolutionizing the dancehall game with his edgy creativity and dancing savvy, creating new moves to match the slamming dancehall rhythms coming out of the island's studios. In the last few years, he has created a slew of dances with self-explanatory names such as 'The Propeller' and the ultra-popular 'Pon Di River' that rock dancehalls from Kingston to Negril.

“I created all those dances at 'Hot Mondays' (an event held at Hagley Park Road in Kingston)”, says Hype “‘Hot Mondays’ ah my place, ah my house, ah my dancing school. I build it, I have been going there from it start when it was only five persons in the venue. That's where I create all my dances except the 'Drive By', I just listen to the rhythm, and my mind and body do the rest”.

To create more respect for the art of dancing in Jamaica he has also helped to form a core of 11 dancers, the Higher Level Squad, who all hail from the Lyndhurst Road, Dillon Avenue and Rousseau Road areas in Kingston.

Hype says he was greatly inspired by Bogle, “Bogle is my inspiration, we danced together, him teach mi certain t'ings 'bout dance and we go all over the place together until the tragedy of Willie Haggart*. Bogle taught me a thing at Asylum. He said, 'never hold the back page, always go up front, that is where everything is happening'.

‘A Night of Music & Dancing’ will also feature sounds by Sample Jack with KC, Lava and Slaughta alongside New Horizon, and Star Temple. It all goes down THIS Saturday, November 10th! But to get you HYPE for this sell off event, check out the videos below! For more information on John Hype go to: http://www.johnhype.com/ or www.myspace.com/john squad.

Until then -

Bashy

*William "Willie Haggart" Moore - Leader of the Black Roses Dance Crew, slain in April, 2001. Upon his death, Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy had ascended to the leadership until his death in January of 2005.

John Hype - Chakka Chakka

John Hype/Sample 6 - Dancing