Vybz Kartel and Mavado at Sting 2008

The highly anticipated clash between Vybz Kartel and Mavado, which the crowd declared overwhelmingly that Mavado won when canvassed by Ninja Man, closed Sting 25 on a high at nearly 7 a.m. on Saturday.

Billed as 'final frontier' and 'the settlement of all argument', Sting 2008 saw a huge turnout at Jamworld, Portmore, St Catherine, on Boxing Day. And although there were two stampedes, the first just after 3 a.m. when Queen Ifrica was performing, the stage action was not interrupted. And the concert ended without the 'dash' of missiles on the stage which has closed many a Sting billed as a clash event.

Ifrica's plea

"No badda wid it arready! Black people, do betta dan dat!" Ifrica pleaded during the first stampede. "Everybody expec' big war an yu a get fidgety."

She closed off a good showing with Daddy and advised the wanna be bad men "keep it to yusself".

Shane-O was one of many performers for the night to do short performances with little or no reaction from the crowd, while I-Octane, who followed him, was one of the few non-combative artistes to score with the crowd going down the stretch to the clashes. He lyrically stabbed the vampire with a peg and introduced Spragga Benz, who rejoiced that Rasta Run the World.

The billed 'Three The Hard Way' with Ginjah, Stevie Face and Terry Linen was remarkably soft, the three coming on in quick succession rather than performing at the same time. Black Ryno was the first Portmore Empire member to come onstage, Pamputae was raw and scored more with humorous quips than her sex-laden chants. Zebra received very little love and Flippa Mafia's Dem Ya was punctuated with liquor splashing and money tossing, for which the audience cheered.

'Monster Flop' blast

Bugle 'exercised', Serani demanded Doh and Bling Dawg escaped as the handclaps started.

The wars began with Kip Rich, who blasted the 'Monster Flop' crew (which would later get booed in their stint onstage) and Aidonia wore out his good reception remarkably quickly, although the handclaps and the cheers alternated with confusing rapidity.

Spice came out in sexy boxing gear and, before the climactic clash, Kartel stepped out to do Ramping Shop with her. Assassin showed his skill and courage yet again, putting on a performance which gradually engaged the clash-hungry audience as he worked his way to a "wha do dem guy deh" and dismissed the Sissy.

Monster shack booed

Monster Shack was blasted with boos, Merciless was in superb clashing form although he got no one to battle and Bounty Killer was booed after a great start when he declined to battle, saying "mi war wid everybody an mi wi war wid dem again, mi hear people a tell people bout dem mother an dem dead faada. Me no go dem way deh".

Beenie Man partied the morning away and the audience did so happily with him, the dancehall doctor coordinating hand waving while he did Frame I and Red Red Red, among other songs.

Then it was war time, with Mavado and Kartel, Mavado getting some boos at points where his lyrics were a bit slow in coming as the battle went back and forth until the climactic moment when Mavado capitalised on a moment when Kartel went too low for the Sting crowd and was booed resoundingly.

MCs for Sting 2008 included Ragashanti, Miss Kitty and Nuffy.