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Ayia Napa 12-19 July 2002. Solomon Malcolm - He's there again.

This bar was again as popular as ever with a mixture of live entertainment from DJs and and party games. This season the bar was sponsored by Pzazz and Rise club, which meant only the djs appearing in those clubs could have sets, unlike last year when everyone had a go.

There was a lot of House and Trance with some UK Garage and Rnb and even foam parties! However I was to learn that even when it was mainly Hardhouse, the Uk Garage and Rnb djs still rocked it for the last hour making sure all tastes were catered for.

Just thought I would give it a mention, this wine bar and restaurant opposite Pizza in the centre of Napa, appears to be the unofficial meeting up point for the DJs and MCs.

They are there in the afternoons before hitting Nissi Beach and afterwards, before they head to the Square in the evenings. If you want a game of 'spot the DJ/MC' head for the Dive Inn! Haji Mike conducted his interview of 13 year old DJ sensation Little Charlie at this venue, it was most appropriate.

Last year I commented on moodiness and violence that infected the London garage clubs, had arrived in Ayia Napa. This year there was a marked improvement.

The So Solid Crew were resident at Club Ice,, and were very popular. They are of course unable to play out anywhere in the UK due to fears of violence. There was the odd scuffles but nothing on the scale of last year or what became commonplace in London.

However there was a big fight in the Gas club which carried on outside, this time involving 2 leading MCs from the big name Crews. (Bushskin of Heartless Crew and Major Ace of Pay as U Go, they were dissing each other on the mike, over the former's 'Female Skanker' lyric and the latter's diss: 'Bushkins a wanker)As we all know in the MC world, there are intence rivalries with verbal dissing either on vinyl or live on the mike standard practice.

However some could be friendly some not so, in this case the verbal battles and clashing became violent and it was a shame. The MCs should realise they have a responsibility to the UK Garage scene.

We don’t need reminding of the violence and shootings going on already in the UK, and leading MCs being jailed for carrying guns which gives the music a bad name. It is in the best interests of everybody for the MC clashes to be kept verbal and not violent.

Maybe it was down to the ages of the MCs involved but we don’t want the murderous clashes as seen in the East/West coast rivalry in the USA, which led to the deaths of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.

Another positive note, I personally was not approached or arrested by the police accusing me of drug dealing. Maybe the article by Haji Mike in the Cyprus Weekly did the trick! or the police are switching to more effective methods based on proper surveillance and intelligence not crude stereotyping based on appearances.