Beating out major Jamaican selectors Black Kat and Tony Matterhorn, Japan’s Mighty Crown repeated as champions at Irish & Chin’s eighth annual World Clash Jamaica: Death Before Dishonor event. The dancehall DJ music showcase took place Easter Monday, March 24 in Montego Bay at Pier One. A preliminary event was also featured, the veterans clash, with New York’s Downbeat, Jamaica’s King Jammy, Black Scorpio sounds, and the U.K.’s David Rodigan. Selector Rodigan, who clashes more regularly than his peers, prevailed in the prequel event.

However, the main stage belonged to the now dominant soundclash team Mighty Crown, also known as the “Far East Rulers.” Mighty Crown is the only non-Jamaican soundsystem to have won a World Clash event on Jamaican soil. The five-member crew’s latest victory cup will join a bursting trophy case. Crown has also won World Clash U.S. twice (’99 and ’07), the U.K. Cup Clash (’02 and ’05), and World Clash Antigua (’05). It’s a fitting win for the Japan and New York-based team. Mighty Crown will celebrate their 17th year in the reggae business with a number of high profile reggae concerts in Japan, where they’re known to pull up to 40,000 fans to their shows.

How has Mighty Crown been so successful in international competitions? They cut big dubs and have the chat to hype them up. The group’s dubplates feature special dedications from artists like R&B megastar Rhianna and 70-year old toasting legend U-Roy. On the mic, crew generals Masta Simon and Sammy scream their lungs raw to get the crowd excited. Prior to Monday’s victory, promoter Chin said, “Mighty Crown has the fire, the dubs and the overall might to once again win this competition.”