Photos by Shrayelle

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After a little hiatus we back from Holland town with a nice lil' heads up on a jam we had the pleasure to represent at in true 'Jungle Juice' style. The party was called Dushi Yiu "Carnival Edition" in celebration of Aruba's 54th Carnival and if it's one thing about Arubians, they love dey rum!

Youth Extreme, a young and energetic band made up of, you guessed it ... Arubians, were carded as the live act along with the #1 DJ out of Aruba DJ Sky and DJ Zoontje. Yours truly was also booked as DJ, making sure that Jam Masters added some Trini flavour to this Carnival bashment! So all the ingredients were there to ensure that it would be a memorable night. Booze, good music and nuff, nuff beautiful women.

Two partners from London flew in the same weekend, cause it wouldn't have been smart to roll into this jam without without a liming crew! After some running around in Amsterdam in the cold and rain, we finally reach the hotel and is just enough time to grab a fresh, take a eat and hail a taxi to the venue. We dey, but outside the party looking dead and I starting to wonder if my boys from London go have to go back with a story that not too positive, especially after the night before, a great night when we "run it wet!" Yes Wet, not Red ... but Wet, ey Gersh! Would the Arubians disappoint the crew? Only time would tell.

A staircase leading under the street into like a dungeon/basement set-up stopped at the party entrance where ticket girl (cute like hell) was situated. Organise VIP bands and movements, I lookin to walk through the security check but get brace like *peep*. Embarassment, but no scene, I empty my pockets cool and even fight a small talk with the bouncer but he was still screwin'. It still baffles me why bouncers think they C.I.A or something, always taking their job way too serious and vex with the whole world. Anyway, mobile phone ... check, keys ... check, wallet ... check, the crew ... check. WE READY!

A hard push on two big arse doors and boom, the place ram! Big dancefloor, long bar fully stocked and nuff customers. On the main stage Youth Extreme just wrap up their first set and from the frenzy in the place, especially from the reaction of the women, you know that it was a hot session. Pressure to get to the DJ booth, but we make it. A quick schedule check to see when we playing then nice, B-line to the VIP area. Let the Johnny Black flow!

The vibe nice, my first true full Arubian experience and I must say, good atmosphere, warm people, a general relaxing feeling. Yes, we could party here! By now it was after 2am and the place fuller. DJ Zoontje was rocking it nice with a blend from hip hop to reggaeton to local Arubian music. If we had to explain their music, we would say it is a blend between calypso and soca. The bpm (lemme doh use no DJ terms), I mean the speed of the tune tempo-wise, was not as slow as calypso, but not as fast as typical Trini soca. Somewhere in between was Arubian jump up music! What was refreshing was that most of their music sounded live with plenty brass in yuh face! We were anxious to see how our music would be accepted. A quick rounds, some flicks, and by this time my London crew representing to the max in d dance (photos doh lie ).

We saw some outfits.... and wow, fellas with pacemakers stay home! By the time I start spinning the party was ripe for bussin'. Boom! Hard Trini Soca in allyuh roo-kun-te-kun-kun! Raise the pace Arubians, this is how we do it on our side! Hands in the air, wining down to the ground. But ey ey, we in Trinidad??!! They know older tunes but new tunes a little too advanced. So tonight we go keep it simple! Session nice and by the last tune I was satisfied with the set and felt glad for the appreciation of we culture. So much niceness, I promise myself that I not missing another Arubian big jam. Youth Etreme took over to once again bless the natives. Them fellas have a nice sound, good melodies, groovy at times and they jump up tunes on point! We have to get some of their tunes online here and allyuh judge for yuhself!

All in all it was a real enjoyable night. I learn some manners and my London Crew have yet another good story for the archives. The Aruba massive large! They could drink, know how to party and most of all they embrace we culture. Not to sound like a politician, but that is what we need more of ... UNITY! So Jungle Juice massive, Holland and whole of Europe as a matter of fact looking promising for 2008, some big things coming up and God willing we right dey in the thick of tings to "Run It Wet" once again. So stay tuned.

Guidance and Blessings,
D1 for the TJJ Fam