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What's up my Kings and Queens? It's Cropover time! BIM BIM BIM!!! Well, I touched down in Barbados with just enough time to relax for a good minute, have some Chefette (Broasted!) and get ready for Baje's Jouvert party. Now being from Grenada and being exposed to one of the best Jouvert's in the Caribbean, I knew I was going to be judging this fete very closely. I reach at about midnight ... music jammin' and the line moving fast, just what I like when I first arrive. The rest of the TJJ team pulled up around 3AM, and just barely got in, since the park management had shut the doors down as the venue was apparently over it's capacity.

I entered the park and stepped into something quite curious... yes, MUD... a lot of it! After fishing my flip flop out of the muck and adjusting myself to walking in mud, I made my way over to one of the handful of bars to get myself my first drink of Cropover festival and was welcomed with a nice short line with somewhat fast service. Cool, vibes and drink in my hand, Mix Juice is a happy camper!!

For those Cropover babies that wanted to get covered in something that wasn't blue and yellow paint, there was a lively looking foam section getting on bad bad bad and someone walking around with a hose to cool down hot West Indians looking for relief from the humidity and night's heat. I went over to the paint section to get my cup of Jouvert goodness and proceeded to douse my crew in paint but to my dismay the paint was watered down and didn't quite leave the mark I was expecting. It took a good 2-3 coats to leave a mark I was pleased with. Not that I was too upset, I shouldn't complain about having to rub Carnival cuties down more than once right?

In any case, the clock soon struck 4 and just as I was about to chip on out, I heard the sweet sounds of one of the big chunes of Cropover, "Feet Don't Fail Me". I turned around and saw Rupee himself take to the stage, so I started to jam in place. Not that I had a choice, my feet had already succumbed to the mud leaving me stuck with one flip flop missing and one leg knee deep in foam, mud and paint. Gotta love Carnival, right!! Other J'ouvert entertainers included Stabby de guard, Nard and Jammas (Big Red and King Bubba).

Ok, 4:45am, a kind Bajan helps loosen me from the ground and I leave my first Cropover fete feeling nicely exfoliated and with legs so smooth you would think they were silk. So despite all d mud and duttyness, that mud came in handy! Feeling nicely hydrated by Rum and Coke and covered in my now one of a kind dress of paint, I left the fete. Yes, Jouvert, you will definitely see me next year! Lewwe go Wadadah Morning Brek Out fete!!

- Mix Juice

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