By Marcus Johnson-Smith, Kush Groove Co-Founder
That was THE BEST THING I’VE EVER seen in my life!
If you’re not hip to what I’m referring to, I’m talking about the Beenie Man & Bounty Killer Verzuz concert that was broadcast on Instagram, sponsored by Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, Saturday night, May 23, 2020.
See replay of concert below.
For the millions who watched the concert (yes, to me, this was a concert of epic proportions) on their mobile phones and computers on Saturday night along the likes of Rihanna, Gabrielle Union, Snoop Dogg and countless fans from around the world, I know there is a global thanks from all of us who witnessed a musical experience beyond explanation.
I just felt the need to share my personal thanks for the “moment”.
“I feel eternally blessed, thankful and energized!”
When I woke this morning from the concert-in-front-of-my-computer I went to last night, I wrote down a few reasons why I felt so thankful to Beenie Man and Bounty Killer for their humbly professional and outstandingly entertaining performances they gave to me and the rest of the world who watched.
Here’s why I’m thankful:
Nostalgia of the Music: I grew up in a multicultural community with the majority of us of Caribbean decent (Haitian, Jamaican, Barbadian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, etc.) and this was the music that was always played, especially at this time of the year. The music was just ubiquitous with being alive. I never knew when it was made (and never cared to ask) it just always felt like it existed on earth. I was always so happy to hear it and be around it. As an adult who throws parties to this music, travels to the Caribbean often and can really connect with where this music is inspired from, the appreciation sits even more. This musical event, wrapped in the energy the artists delivered to us, was an unforgettable moment that reconnected me to all my happiest childhood moments, with the people I love and respect the most.
The Feels: This experience gave me so many feels! For those who can relate, it felt like a High School dance party in the late 90’s, early 2000’s. It felt like the hood after party I stumbled into in Nassau, Bahamas.
IT FELT LIKE MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SUMMER TIME.
Front Row Seat to the Best Reggae Concert EVER: Seriously, I felt like I was in the front row of the best Reggae concert I’ve ever seen with millions of others equally energized by the experience. Instagram registered a little under 500k viewers but with all the viewing parties and and multiple people watching from single devices around the world, I’m sure many millions more shared in the experience like I did. Where in the world would millions of concert goers get a front row seat to the best Reggae concert EVER, for free? This was epic!
The Timing: The timing could not have been any better. This music is naturally THE soundtrack to everyones backyard party, car stereo blasting and summer evening wind down, as its typically set off at this time of the year. Big kudos again to Swizz Beatz and Timbaland for putting this together for the world to experience. Timing was immaculate.
The Healing: The energy and spirit of the music and how it was delivered to us with so much passion and expression, will active, as it’s activated me even on a minor level to share my thanks, the healing we all need as we dance ourselves through this strange period of social distancing and quarantining. Even if it’s in front of our computers and mobile phones.
To Beenie Man & Bounty Killer.
Much Respect
Marcus Johnson-Smith, Kush Groove
