Mr Vegas Takes A Big Bite Out Of The Big Apple, Completes Six Shows In Three Nights During Popular Labor Day Weekend In NYC Pushing "Bruk It Down" To #14 On HOT97's Music Chart.
Labor Day Weekend might be a popular time for rest and relaxation in the United States but Mr Vegas demonstrated once again he won’t rest if there’s a party to ‘tun up’ or a chance to ‘bruk it down’. So this past weekend Vegas brought the party to the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan in 6 high energy performances over 3 days assisted by DJ Starr on the ones and twos and the Big Apple’s eye-popping dancer Lickle Bit offering visual inspiration. The result? -- This week "Bruk It Down" entered the HOT97 music chart at #14, a major milestone on arguably the most influential radio station on the planet.
Mr Vegas @ On Da Reggae Tip
It all started on Friday the 31st at HOT 97’s annual On Da Reggae Tip stage show held at the famed Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. To a packed house of 3500 appreciative fans Vegas put on a magnificent display of how to celebrate Labour Day Jamaica-style. From the moment he stepped on stage Vegas got the crowd moving and made sure the “Party Tun Up”. He never looked back. At one point the Caribbean Soca Queen Alison Hinds joined Vegas on stage for their soca remix of Vegas’s dancehall anthem “Bruk It Down”. At the end of the show, everyone was in pieces.
Next stop that same night was ‘Brass Fest’ at the Brooklyn Museum where Vegas headlined with Machel Montano the West Indian Day Carnival Committee’s official party in front of 5000 people. Alongside soca’s biggest stars (Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, Edwin Yearwood) Mr Vegas represented for the dancehall reggae nation and blew the crowd away by the experience.
On Saturday, September 1st Mr Vegas made an appearance on stage at POWER 105 and DJ Norie’s ‘Anything Goes’ Labor Day Edition at Pulse 48 which confirmed what Vegas knew all along.“You dun know, Labour Day Weekend in New York City is like crazy vibes day and night,” he says. “People don’t stop party until the weekend done and by Saturday ‘Bruk It Down’ and ‘Party Tun Up’ were like the anthems for the whole weekend.”
Vegas could be found sitting down (finally) on Sunday the 2nd with Beenie Man, Konshens and Christopher Martin at HOT 97 for an interview with HOT 97’s Bobby Konders and Jabba on the #1 radio station in the #1 market in the USA. Joking and sharing stories, dancehall’s brightest stars showed the unity that dominates at the very top today.
Mr Vegas @ BB Kings
Sunday was highlighted by three unforgettable performances on three different stages starting with the 5 Alarm Blaze capacity show at Webster Hall hosted by HOT 97’s Mr Cee. Billed as the ‘Biggest Caribbean Show Ever’, Diplomats Rapper Jim Jones watched from the corner of the stage while Mister Cee was out ‘palancing’ with Vegas. Vegas ignited the vibes in the building with a clutch of gallis hits until the ladies didn’t know which was up from whining so hard.
Now well fired up, Vegas left Webster Hall to join again with HOT 97’s Bobby Konders and Jabba at their Labor Day Shutdown event inside the legendary BB Kings venue. A free event, the show was at capacity from 12AM and the line out the door went for blocks. Inside, the UK’s #1 Hip Hop personality, Tim Westwood, watched as Vegas orchestrated an hilarious ‘Bruk It Down’ dance competition in which participants went ‘big’ or they went home. To conclude the memorable night, Vegas welcomed Konshens, one of dancehall’s most exciting new voices, on stage putting two of the most creative figures in the music together on stage at the same time.
Mr Vegas, Tim Westwood, Konshens
Ready for more, at 4AM Mr Vegas was escorted to a packed Club Mingles in the Bronx. The club was held open after-hours just so Mr Vegas could complete his set. With Dubmaster Chris from IRIE JAM 93.5 FM on deejay duty, the audience sang along with Vegas to “Sweet Jamaica”, the title track of Vegas’s recent double disc album, and let their bodies do the talking on “Bruk It Down”.
Before leaving New York Vegas sent a shout to all radio deejays, fellow performers and the fans, "I had a great time in New York,” he said. “It was great to perform along side Machel in the Brooklyn Museum. All the other shows were crazy! God is good!"
For Vegas, the craziness continues this weekend with a full slate of shows scheduled in the UK where fans will ‘bruk it down’ from London to Birmingham and in between. He will also make special appearances with reggae radio royalty in the UK including Sir David Rodigan and Robbo Ranx.
