‘We had a great run’

Countless tours, several brand endorsements and eight World Sound Clash Championship titles later, internationally acclaimed sound system pioneers, Mighty Crown, has announced their retirement.

Established in Yokohama, in 1991, the group has been influencing and leading on the dancehall scene in Japan and not only represented for their birthplace but have carved their names as global ambassadors for the Jamaican genres of music. In 1993, when they started clashing other Japanese sound systems, they became known as the ‘undisputed and undefeated sound clash champions’ in Japan. Originators of the annual Yokohama Reggae Sai event, Mighty Crown has attracted over 30,000 people annually to the central baseball stadium.

“Sound system culture birthed everything we have accomplished. We had a great run. We are satisfied, happy business men now ... who started off in sound system culture but we don’t want to stop there. Leaving the game will allow us to represent sound culture in an even bigger way,” said Mighty Crown co-founder Sami T to The Gleaner.

He added, “So, why retire now? The time is right. After this year, all our dubs will be locked away and Mighty Crown members will stop playing altogether but can continue to work together on other projects. One of our greatest successes has been forming a family among all Mighty Crown members, where each person is valued and plays a different role.”

Sami T also explained that he, along with the other members of the sound – Masta Simon, Cojie and Ninja – never planned to be involved in the industry for as long as three decades but from early in their careers, gained popularity that they were able to capitalise on and retirement allows for 100 per cent focus to be placed on other businesses. Mighty Crown’s myriad of businesses and commercial ventures have catapulted the sound to a prime position, worth further cultivating he said.

“Enabling growth for the Mighty Crown brand has always been our key focus; the goal was never to become just a sound team. Our ambition was always to work hard to become popular and then market our popularity to open doors for other businesses, including our own Nine Rulaz clothing line and a label, Lifestyle Records, which was signed to a major label here in Japan, where we were able to help and further develop Japanese reggae,” he said.

“I believe we became one of the sound clash arena’s most visible and respected sound teams and used that to score five sneaker collaborations with Nike, one with Diadora in Italy, one with French brand, La Coq Sportif, one with Clae and we also partnered with Clarks Originals a second time to release five new, custom shoes. Now, as we celebrate 30 years, there are some major opportunities on the table, which will not allow us to focus on being sound men with the discipline needed to win competitions. We will, however, be sound men, mentally, for the rest over our lives.”

TOUR

Having lived in the US from the early ‘90s, they gradually learned the Jamaican language and “the dancehall flex” by frequenting studios, record shops, and engaging music loves in the streets of Brooklyn, New York. With their tour, ‘The Final Round Tour’, culminating the three decades in the entertainment industry, Mighty Crown shared that it is “emotional”. Currently under way, the tour sees them travelling across Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Caribbean region. The first leg of the tour dubbed ‘Early Juggling’ was in Japan from March 17-22 and featured popular disc jockey and radio personality David Rodigan. The 30th anniversary commemorations will officially conclude with the five-day Far East Reggae Cruise, the first reggae-themed cruise to touch the Asian region, sailing from Japan to Korea aboard the luxurious MSC Bellissima from July 15 to July 20. It will feature performances by leading Japanese and Jamaican recording artistes and sound systems. It was inspired by Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock cruise, Sami T shared.

“We always wanted Japanese people to fall in love with the real culture and not be fooled by the commercialised version of Jamaican culture. Having travelled the world to entertain fans with reggae and dancehall, now, we’re asking the world to come to our side of the world and witness our last performances, which many have never enjoyed or experienced. There are a lot of emotions with this serving as the ultimate farewell, and our final connection with the people we love, the authentic people of reggae and dancehall,” he said.

Although the sound may be playing its final round, Mighty Crown’s manager Garfield ‘Chin’ Bourne of Irish and Chin, said there are still select performance dates available from March to June. He commended the team on a job well done.

“The entire team has achieved something that even the greats before did not accomplish. For me, one of the most memorable endorsements was our first sneaker deal with Nike because when those sneakers were released, it changed the game; people were lined up for blocks at the Mighty Crown store in Yokohama, Japan, to buy a pair. It was a confidence builder. It said we were on the right track and we are about to take the game to another level,” Chin said.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com