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Second to last day of the Notting Hill Carnival season and with Daddy Juice in town for the festivities, the UK TJJ Team had to personally introduce him to his 1st Busspepper experience, this event entitled "Carnival Collision". We like the name - very original. The venue tonight is Ruby Blue located in Leicester Square. After a long day having fun on the road in Chocolate Mas and ah few hours sleep, we arrived at Ruby minutes to midnight. There was a steep queue, and we didn't see the sexy smallie who is always at the door for Busspepper events, usually checking names on the list .... where did she go??

Ruby Blue, once again another "L" shaped club on the lower floor, and on the upper floor a more four sided shape dance floor accompanied with a very sexy and sleek balcony overlooking Leicester Square (photo). There were two bars on the ground floor and one bar upstairs, which all were fully staffed tonight - very commendable to Ruby Blue. There was one particular sexy bartender ... man ah wish ah could have taken her on the dancefloor, but that's another story! For this particular event, in the lower level, all out Soca, Dancehall and Hip-Hop were being played by Busspepper's resident DJ Kern (Hi Fidelity/Less Than Zero), together with special guest DJs Jugglers (Barry & Umba) and Tweez direct from Trinidad. While upstairs in the Royale Bar the sounds of DJ's Brady, Nick Blair and Daze were pumping Electro and Funky House. Perhaps this explains the "Collision"?

Since we are in the Carnival season in London, the Soca sessions were all of and the majority of the night. Now, I am not a DJ and I know people really love the song but ah mean Machel Montano's "Jumbie" was played a whooping seven (7) times ... YES ... count it - one, two, three, four, five, six ,seven ... why? Anyhow, some old school styles were also pumped such as "the biggest soca tune ever" according to Umba - Destra & Machel's "Carnival". There was a sticky dancehall dancing session from Tony Matterhorn's "Dance Instructions" to Busy Signal's "Step Out" and QQ - "Stuckie". Then something harder says Umba - Mr. Vegas' "Tek Whey Yuhself" and "Hot Wuk". Finally the true dancing tune for this century so far, Matterhorn's "Dutty Wine".

Upstairs strictly house music was being sparked out of the speakers and there was also a lovely lounge type area where people could go to have a meal or even just sit down and chit chat. The usual rasta chef, Hasan (D 4 Foods), was in the mix (as he always is) and serving up his usual delights - pelau with chicken and salad or a spice of Indian cuisine - curry potato, chicken and duck with buss-up-shut. Man, sometimes ah wish ah could find ah woman who could cook like Hasan - the man hand real good in the kitchen! Upstairs was a cool vybe - literally - but after I ate I just had to go downstairs and wine it out!

So we back downstairs.... HEAT IN DE PLACE! The dance jam packed, and people were wining', wukkin', grindin' .... all kinda wassy-ness was taking place, yes! We're not sure if it was the low ceiling, inadequate circulation of the air condition or the collision of bodies (doing what American's refer to as "The Mating Dance") that pretty much turned downstairs into ah sweat box! This was probably the only complaint we heard from partygoers all night, but heh... Caribbean people like that kind of mumbo jumbo - even V.I.P by the DJ was hot… some fine women though! Aye... start to wine now.... aye ... wining season..... wine it.... gyal ... de season is here ... we waiting whole year ... to wine everywhere .... whoa yo ah yo yo yo ah yo...

For this Busspepper event, the crowd was also a bit different from the usual suspects, as people came up from Trini, US and all over for the Carnival. As always, you also had your non Caribbean folks in the mix as well... the folks who love and appreciate our culture! Another reason why we enjoy Busspepper's events. So it was another decent event for the weekend for TJJ... great fete guys! Too bad the dance couldn't go until 4AM. We'll see you guys next month!

200 photos to enjoy all courtesy of our 3 hard working camera men on da night! TJJ doh play around!! We on the road for Notting Hill Carnival 2k7 tomorrow … look out for that ... later will be greater!

Amiel & Chooks aka Daddy Juice
Always Forward Never Backward

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Related Galleries
J'ouvert Business (2006)
2007 Notting Hill Carnival Coverage