Filmed and Directed by @pureprimary and @aymentv
Produced by @aymentv
Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest street party in the world. 1.5 million people attend and its a celebration of london diversity. Started by the post-war West Indian immigrants, after a racially tense start in the 60s in UK, it was a sort of gift from the city to keep rioting to a minimum. It happens in Westbourne Grove and Notting Hill, Shepherd's Bush, all traditionally black neighborhoods in West London but they are now a bit more like upscale yuppie post up mixed with folks that bought houses when they were dirt cheap and now they are bankrolled for life. There isn't much romance there but I can still feel the bohemian vibes. The area is beautiful. It's still the place where kids, fashion and culture initiates It will remain bohemian for a lot longer.
The carnival is two days, Sunday and Monday, of Trinidad, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Africa and all British commonwealth territories waving flags and mixing and mingling with the rest of England. It's the most diverse carnival in the world by far. It's a sort of celebration of London's totally awesomeness I suppose. The sound systems that litter the street are a sort of trophy room of how badass this city is at originating music.
From dreads with homemade sound systems pumpin mad professor era dub, classic disco and house floats, UK grime and funk is well represented. Plenty of reggae and turbo charged soca, dustup and jungle (probably the most powerful carnival sounds for nearly 20 years. Rodigan even played some of the classic of jungle/ragga/hardcore tunes on DUB) and then there's the Major Lazer corner at the end of Portabello Road that is now on its 4th year!! I can't possibly believe it, to have all the energy, excitement and fans come represent at the carnival in London is very big. Just to be part of this weekend is a huge deal and I'm honored to be invited.
I remember the first year we were just playing on the ground in a small DJ booth and Santi did a PA of creator and absolutely ripped it. Switch and I only had one tune finished, an Elephant Man tune that samples J.B.'s The Grunt! We were mad late but I think me and Switch were just getting our sound and project on its feet back then and kids were just there to hear some madness. Now we have upgraded to full stage dancing robot dinosaurs that spit fire, wall size vinyl murals and enough Red Stripe to last until 9pm. Playing new tunes this year was really special. You can check out a rough version of our set HERE.
The Redbull Major Lazer at carnival feels like the london version of the block parties we put on throughout the US every year. It's free and full of the loudest, maddest, craziest, youngest music in the world. Every year I think we get hella lucky with our lineup. Picking fresh young people that we want to promote started with just me, Switch, a young Rusko (first time we ever met! he played for just a few hundred kids back then!), Santigold and Sinden.
Other guests we've had were Heatwave, Toddla T, David Rodigan, Black Chiney Sound, One Man, Jackmaster, Dillon Francis, Brodinski, Jesse Rose, Joker, Porier, Douster, Drop the Lime and so many more. This year we had a live show by Toots and the Maytals. I don't know if you can fathom that, but Toots invented the word "reggae" in a song called "Do the Reggae". To catch a little history on Toots, check this documentary HERE.
The only sad thing I found out is that one of the oldest reggae shops, outside of Jamaica, Dub Vendor, had to close its doors due to damage form the riots last month. I used to shop there and it's a very sad story. I used to go there and just hang out 5 years ago. I learned so much about reggae music through those record crates. Big up, Dub Vendor!
Photo Credit: @ Shane McCauley
Here are a few sets from this years Carnival!
Total Comments: 1