Magnum's new king and queen

The finals of the 11th season of Magnum Kings and Queens of the Dancehall promised a night of non-stop action and top-class entertainment - and that's exactly what was delivered on Saturday night.

There was threat of rain earlier in the day, but the skies cleared and the show went on as planned. The Melbourne Cricket Club was the venue for this year's curtain-closer, and scores of Jamaicans turned up to show their support for this year's finalists. Before long, the venue was filled to capacity as patrons awaited the start of the show.

The show started off with some familiar faces, as the top 10 contestants returned to perform their most impressive songs from the competition. Reader man; Ashrock, Addia, Radiance, Danish and Famous Flames were among the standout acts from that segment, proving why they were a part of the top 10.

Highlighting immense growth since the audition stages, all three judges heaped praises on title sponsors Magnum for their continued support of dancehall music. Pointing out the need for young talent to be given a platform, the judges thanked magnum for unearthing fresh talent year after year. "What I love about this competition is that it take artistes right outta the streets and put dem pan live television, pan a stage, pan a platform they have never been exposed to before; and even though you see the flaws, we understand that it is a continued process of growth," noted Skatta.

Miss Kitty agreed. "When I see the contestants and where they're coming from, I'm very happy about their growth. When you see them at the audition and then when you see them on TV, it's really a wonderful opportunity to unearth talent every year," she said. "Even if you did not win, once you're on the Magnum stage, you're a winner. Big up to the entire Magnum family and the entire Magnum team for continually supporting dancehall music and young artistes, which is very necessary for Jamaica, land we love."

Proving exactly why a show like Magnum Kings and Queens is necessary, the four finalists dominated the night. They came out 'guns blazing' for the lyrical battle, and when the onslaught was over, Safiyah and Bluugo emerged the 2018 queen and king, respectively. They walked away with $1.5 million in cash, a single and a video for their efforts.

The final night was action-packed and saw performances from not just the top 10, but guest artistes Konshens, Lalee Ranks, Tarrus Riley and Chi Ching Ching.