Kurt 'The Party Animal' Riley

It is near the peak of the Christmas party season and Mavado and Vybz Kartel are riding high on the list of hot artistes for the season.

Despite being part of the Bounty Killer-led Alliance, Boom Boom said he eliminated all his biases in naming Mavado, who is also a member of the Alliance, as one of the best artistes for the season.

"Unu see it clear: David 'Mavado' Brooks a di hottest entertainer for the Christmas season, Serani too. And (Vybz) Kartel a gwaan wid a likkle thing too," Boom Boom told THE STAR.

"Mavado a go tek di show dem because him is a better performer than Vybz Kartel. Beenie Man a gwaan good. Mi a look pon Laden as a new artiste," he added.

Like Boom Boom, Stampede, who also does the Stampede Street Chart, says Mavado and Vybz Kartel are the established artistes who will make their mark this Christmas.

"Di clash weh ago gwaan between Mavado and Vybz Kartel at Sting deh pon everybody lips right now. People all turn up a west Kingston jamboree (on Sunday) a hope seh dem a go see it," Stampede told THE STAR, while highlighting Laden, Stevie Face, Bragga Dat and Classical Eska as credible new artistes.

Best responses

Nonetheless, Stampede said Terry Linen and Elephant Man would also do well.

MC Nuffy listed Busy Signal, Mavado, Assassin, Vybz Kartel and female deejay Spice, as the entertainers who will get the best responses to their songs and performances at stage shows and parties during the Christmas season. Based on his expertise as a master of ceremonies, he said Beenie Man would always be "di girl dem choice", while I-Octane is the best new artiste.

Though there are several upcoming artistes with 'daggerin' songs, MC Nuffy does not believe they are capable of "working" a stage.

"For me, most a di new artistes a daggerin artistes and no dagger artistes caan come mash up a stage show," said MC Nuffy who is booked to host Sting, GT Taylor Christmas Extravaganza, Island Explosion and Reggae Camp Fire.

From the radio perspective, DJ Kurt Riley of Fame FM said Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Elephant Man and Konshens are the deejays currently doing well.

As for the singers, Riley said the ones creating waves now are Etana, D Major, Da'Ville, Richie Spice, Queen Ifrica and a new singer called Torch, who has a song called Warn Dem.

"I think it is because of the songs they do and the producers they are working with (why they stand out). It is also how they say what they are saying," Riley told THE STAR.

He said other new artistes like Laden, Chino and Serani, have also been gaining momentum.

M.C. Nuffy. - File

Boswell 'Stampede'Lammie, artiste manager/publicist and record producer. - Contributed photos