Feature: Problem Sean of Killamanjaro Sound System

Problem Sean of Killamanjaro Speaks on taking the reigns of Papa Jaro’s infamous sound system killer.

Treasure Aaron

May 2024

Problem Sean of the infamous sound system Killamanjaro sat down with us after his reent sound clash win against one of the New York veteran sounds Soul Supreme. After much controversy if Jaro would actually appear. Sean took on the heavy load of carrying a sound with a huge reputation for winning any sound system competition, and also has rarely lost in recent years both locally in Jamaica and internationally. Sean, who reigns from Brooklyn, NY describes playing on a mega sound system from Jamaica that has been a staple in the clash culture as a bit different. He stated, “People want to see you come up through the ranks in Jamaica, but in NY we have our own ranks and its just as difficult”. His humble beginnings on his family’s sound Stereo Force gave him the experience he needed, and as a longtime fan of Killamanjaro he studied the craft of sound system clashing.

Sound system clashing is where two groups of DJ’s or a solo DJ uses custom songs recorded by the artist as a means to compete. Who has the most expensive recorded songs, who has the rarest recordings and who can collaborate reggae dancehall and sometimes hip hop artists on a single recording. In past Wycleff Jean and his Refugee Sound System even recorded a country dubplate “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers for a sound system clash. DJ Khaled vows that he owes he career to beginning his career in Miami as a sound system that clashed. It’s a unique craft all and not for the faint of heart as with these single recordings called dubplates the MC’s will also be competitive as if they are in an all-out assault war. Sound clashes are sometimes titled after to describe what is to be expected. A sound who can’t keep up or win over the crowd is considered dead and killed by their opposition.

In Problem Sean’s most recent clash “Total Annihilation” he competed against New York’s Soul Supreme Sound at Club Amazura Concert Hall in Queens, NY. The event was promoted by local promoter Tek 9. This year’s annual event held hevay competition and it was difficult to predict between the winner since both were powerful, heavyweight sounds. They ultimately appeared before a sold-out crowd on Saturday May 18th, 2024 after once cancelling the appearance but finally deciding to give it their best effort for their fans.

Andrew Williams a longtime supporter of sound clashes attended and declared “Jaro beat dem bad, the crowd said Jaro, and I say Jaro, everybody expected Jakes to take it. We know Sean is good but bwoy the man came prepared for them! He deserve the win, no lie.” Andrew spoke what many people expected that Problem Sean would not be able to handle the challenge of appearing alone without his counterparts from Jamaica against such a stiff competitor like the MC, Jakes from Soul Supreme Sound. Sean said he was a bit nervous about playing alone for the first time in such a big clash, but after praying on it and speaking with his team they were determined to go out and shoot. “Shooting”, referring to playing their dubplates and using the sound as a weapon to try and “kill” their opposition by outplaying the better of songs to entertain the audience.

Sean said after the first introduction he felt more confident that he could handle the task and felt after years of studying Killamanjaro as a fan and working on the sound for several years he knew what the crowd wanted to hear, and he was adamant he would beat them in the musical war. In the end Sean was declared the victor and added a huge stripe to his music accomplishments.

His night was successful, and he has since put the other Big 4 New York City Sound Systems known as the 4 Pillars, on notice that Killamanjaro is ready to go into the battlefield and compete more in the very near future. He is looking forward to future events in Spain, Italy, a United Kingdom tour and several festivals that were all immediately booked after his win over Soul Supreme.

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