Spice rewards fans at birthday party - Artiste hints at bigger venue for 2020 celebrations

If there was any question about whether or not she was the queen of dancehall, those were settled on Monday night as Spice celebrated her birthday with hundreds of fans inside Mas Camp.

From as early as 7 p.m., excited fans began flooding the gates of the venue. And when THE STAR arrived at approximately 10 p.m., the venue was jam-packed with long lines still at the entrance and ticket booths.

The party was well under way by then, with popular selectors taking turns at the consoles and men busy spraying water into the crowd.

By the time Spice arrived, operation 'cool it down' was in full effect, as she came in a giving mood.

Every half hour, one lucky female fan walked away with a brand new Windy AC unit, provided they could prove they were indeed a fan.

Singing and dancing competitions determined the winners and the contests were not short of participants, as eager fans clamoured at the chance to win the units.

In an interview with THE STAR, Spice said that given all the support she has received from fans over the years, it was only fitting that she gives back.

"I already gifted my supporters with fans and refrigerators as part of the 'cool it down' theme and I wanted to go bigger this time, and looking at the crowd out there tonight, how could I not go big for my fans when they always go big for me?" she said. "My career has grown. I'm not the same Spice I was last year or the year before, and when I used to keep it at Oneil's Place (Hagley Park Road), the turnout was always bigger than we could handle and so I said since I've grown, I'm going to expand my wings and try at a bigger venue. And next year I'm planning to come bigger and better so I may need to look at other places now."

Aside from the fans, the music fraternity also turned out in droves to celebrate with Spice. Cham, I-Octane, Vershon and Laa Lee even turned in surprise performances.

The latest internet sensation, Candy also acted as a co-host of sorts, helping Spice with the giveaways.

Even former beauty queen turned politician, Lisa Hanna, was among the guests. The former Culture Minister told THE STAR that she and Spice share a special friendship that may puzzle persons.

"People have to understand that friendships are not because of where people come from. But there's always a kindred spirit between people that are of similar value systems and Grace (Hamilton, Spice's given name) is a tenacious, hardworking, brilliant woman, and we have helped each other in different ways. It's a friendship, and I don't think it's anything that anybody should try to understand."