Jamaican-American music sensation Sean Kingston enthralled a jam-packed crowd of nearly 9000 people at Agri Expo site, Chümoukedima on Thursday evening as he kick-started his North East India tour from Nagaland. As the concert unfolded, the multi-platinum superstar performed some of his smash hits like “Me Love” (opening act), “Take You There,” “Letting Go,” “Beat It,” “Eenie Meenie”, “Beautiful Girls” etc.
Kingston also shared personal anecdotes, notably expressing his attachment to the song “Beautiful Girls”, written at the age of 17. As he sang the chart-topping hit (Beautiful Girls) as a special tribute to the Nagaland audience, the crowd also sang along and the unison of their voices reverberated the packed arena.
It may be noted that Sean Kingston’s 2007 debut single “Beautiful Girls” reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, which was followed by “Eenie Meenie” (with Justin Bieber) and “Take You There”.e. During the electrifying performance, Sean Kingston also disclosed that it was his DJ, D-Nice’s birthday.
Presented by Elmer Ventures and Listen proudly, the first edition of Hyper Sound was a once-in-a-life time experience, not only for Kingston’s fans from Nagaland, but also fans from neighbouring states like Manipur and Assam. The event also witnessed opening acts by local artistes Meyisanen Lemtur, DJ Sanaa, Moko Koza, DJ Ina, and Rapper Juztino x Savizo, all of whom performed for the Nagaland rendition alongside the main celebrant. Supporting acts included Tyah Longkumer and Sinister Virgil.
Besides VIP, VVIP passes, ticket prices were pegged at Rs 1,500 for general passes, Rs 3,000 for premium, and Rs. 5,000 for fan pit. Several food stalls were also opened in the VVIP area.
Meanwhile, Dr Lika Yepthomi, one of the seven founding members of Hyper Sound India, delved into the motivations behind collaborating with Sean Kingston for this concert tour.
She said selection of local artistes aligned with the same genre, ensuring a justified musical experience. She disclosed that future events by HyperSound would delve deeper into the local talent pool that suited invited performers. Despite the fan base of local artistes, the primary draw remained Sean Kingston.
HyperSound India sees this tour as a catalyst for cultural and economic growth, serving as a unique opportunity in the absence of outbound tourists.
Lika envisioned this mega event as a stepping stone, paving the way for future festivals, contingent on continued support from the community. The evening, hosted by former Femina Miss India Nagaland, Ruopfu Whiso, showcased a diverse musical experience that resonated with the audience. The next stop for Sean Kingston will be Aizawl on December 29 and Shillong on December 30 before wrapping up his Northeast tour.