CONCERT REVIEW: Capleton and Special Guests @ B.B. King’s, NYC

Elvis may be “The King” and Beenie Man may be the self-proclaimed “King of

The Dance Hall,” but Capleton is the Emperor, as well as the emissary of Bobo

Shanti enlightenment. His performance in the heart of Babylon, at B.B. King’s in Times Square, New York City, on Sunday, June 15, was positively electrifying. Capleton and the David House Crew burned a fire so hot B.B. King’s almost spontaneously combusted. Special guest artists Jah Thunder and Culture Knoxx supported Capleton while The Prophecy, a five-piece ensemble, backed all three.

B.B. King's was dank and stank with the smell of sticky icky wrapped in the cloying scents of strawberry, blueberry, vanilla and honey blunts, which, thankfully, cloaked the rancid smell of bidis.

Capleton’s radioactive neon orange outfit was brighter than the neon lights of Times Square and perfectly accessorized his high-octane, off the Richter scale activity on stage.  The consummate performer, he mesmerized the crowd, moved with the dexterity of a mountain lion and shined like a solar flare. 

He practically did jumping jacks throughout his radiant, 1000watt set. The fire was burnin' red hot underneath Times Square. Not even the rattling of the subway trains running underground nearby could eclipse the energy Capleton exuded as the audience roared with approval.

Opening artist Jah Thunder elicited a huge forward from the audience when he said he didn't like it when he came to “foreign” (lands), and heard people calling each other “dog.” He said, "Dogs piss up yuh yard inna Jamaica, so mi nah wah hear people call each udda dat." He said he's not a dog, but rather, he's a lion. (Maybe that’s why Snatcha Dogg changed his name to “Snatcha Lion”!) He said, “Call im ‘Snoop,’ leave out di ‘dog.’ Call im ‘Daddy,’ leave out di ‘Puff’!” These remarks were greeted with screaming cheers of approval as he segued into his next song, "Name."

In between tracks, Jah Thunder expressed his controversial views about homosexual and oral sex; both considered equal acts of perversion within Bobo Shanti society. Meanwhile, Capleton used his performance time to preach the virtues of vegetarianism and racial unity.

Capleton performed his entire catalogue of hits like “Slew Dem," "Tour,” “Jah Jah City,” “Love Potion,” “Good in Har Clothes,” as well as his new tracks “Toppa Tings,” and “Gimmie Di Ting,” released on the Truck Back label. The enthusiastic crowd chanted along with every single word with their lighters and hands aloft, high above their heads. He gave a stellar, two-hour performance worthy of Sumfest in the intimate underground venue, which included an unprecedented five encores. The crowd just would not let him leave.

Capleton’s manager, Queen Claudette Kemp, looked as regal as ever.  Shawne Lee, AKA Miss Black Empress, and Lady Saw’s DJ Missy represented the lovely ladies in attendance. All three beauties proved that wearing alluring yet humble attire is always more attractive than wearing batty riders.

For those of you who missed this amazing performance, you can catch Capleton on the 29th of June at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York.