Photos by Neil Berment & Shabazz Photos

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A'ight people!!! Carnival once again!!! This time it was in Atlanta, Georgia. Now for those of you none carnival hunters (do you really exist?), I'll inform you that there are carnivals all around the world and not just in February, da'ling... and we thank the Carnival Gods for dat! One of the great things about Atlanta Carnival is that it's on Memorial Day Weekend so, you get that extra day off, and for all the activities it offers... trrrrust me, it's much needed! The TJJ crew was everywhere! Well at least that's what all the carnival fete-goers told us, "You guys are everywhere!!!" We aim to please baby ... we aim to please!

At the parade we started trekking backwards from historic Auburn Avenue 'til we found the music trucks. The day was hot and sunny - perfect combo for the masquerades. We were greeted by a wall of policemen on their motorcycles. Talk about SEE-Q-REE-TEE BABY! Now, for those of you who know the TJJ ladies, we cannot pass up taking a lil' wine on a man in uniform at carnival time! But these boyz were on their motorcycle and muffler burns are not so sexy! So, the next best thing was to go on top of one of them ... the motorcycles that is! That was actually the brilliant idea of one of the officers, and shuuu, I do as they say... they represent the LAW! Boyz, you did a grrreat job!

You could hear the music from blocks away, the crowd on the sidewalk was waiting for the bands to pass so they can take a wine. Even the kids picked up pieces of costumes from masqueraders passing by. The masquerades were having a ball and the onlookers were feeding off their energy. The sound system of each truck was doing a fantastic job! (playing the big tunes while not blowing any speakers) You see, this is what you ATL Carnival absentees didn't get... Soca Jammin' + Waist Throwing = Plenty Wining!

The theme of the 20th Anniversary of this Atlanta Carnival was "Unity through Diversity" and trust me, there were nuff flags from every Caribbean flavored country, no not just islands, people!!! I saw plenty Belizean, U.S. and Panamanian flags as well as the usual Bajan, Grenadian, Haitian, Dominican, V.I. (big up da boyz), Jamaican, and somebody missing... somebody missing... Trinidad and Tobaaaagoooooo!

The parade route ended right in front the vendors. People, seriously.... de food and drinks, yuuuuummmy! And dat pineapple, mango somet'ing somet'ing that was very popular, niiiice! Overall... vendors, fantastic service! (Me 'appy! Wasi, grrrreat job man!) The sun was coming down by the time the stage performers started at Festival Village. Burning Flames from Antigua got de people pumping, before Problem Child, Jamesy P, Peter Ram, Tizzy and Iwer George put the cherry on the sundae! (or in this case, the Saturday)

Mista Machel Montano whom by the way, made a guest appearance; was told by the stage manager, "Remember, you are not performing, you are just presenting the award" Lawwwd, that was sooo funny to see. Machel looked at her like, "Do you know who yuh talking to??!!" Machel came on stage and mashup de place!! "Barrrack Barrrrack!" Hmmmm.... yeah you're right, he did not sing a whole song but he got people jumping like it was his own concert!

The TJJ Crew had a time! Wasi, Yana, Glenda, Paul and the rest of the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival committee ... nuff respect!

Atlanta Carnival 2009 is for sure! TJJ will be dey... the question is, will YOU?

Ciao!
Panidad for the TJJ fam