The year 2007 will be known in the annals of dancehall history as the rise of the Portmore Empire as a bonafide force. A loose collection of young artistes with different styles and lyrical flow, under the guidance of Vybz Kartel a.k.a Addi the Teacha, the Empire has matured into a more cohesive unit which is capable of holding its own on stage shows, and is commanding more respect on the nations airwaves.

The Empires first lieutenant, deejay Deva Bratt is leading out the Portmore Empire in no uncertain terms. He faced his most difficult test at Guinness Sting 07 with a great performance that clearly showed the arc of his growth from mere novice to prospect to watch for in 2008.

Placed in a challenging slot right after an awesome set by Busy Signal, Deva Bratt walked onstage dressed in a black leather trenchcoat, black pants and shirt, and a black ten gallon hat. He asked a rhetorical question: Portmore say ah real bad man time, right?

The crowd roared its response, and he deejayed Bundle a Gal, and the torches stabbed at the early morning sky from large sections of the crowd. He quickly segued to Bundle a Gun and the forwards rolled on. He then said, say kill dem and go home before launching into Autotune, and two large banners, one of which bore his name, punched the air.

He paused a second, and made a reference to his recent punch-up with Munga at the Stone Love anniversary dance in Kingston by asking oonu watch oonu TV, yu know say nobody caan violate Portmore bad man. He then deejayed a line from his war catalogue, Guns and 12 gauge rounds, before segueing neatly into the ultra-popular Bullillett, and this time, the forward came from an even larger section of the crowd as torches blazed, and fire rockets whistled across the early morning sky.

Deva Bratt then deejayed his latest radio hit, Gussie Clarke on the Gearbox rhythm and then left the stage, only to return a few hours later to deejay with the Empire.

A few hours later, the Empire closed the show instead of Bounty Killer who had opted to perform earlier and leave. One-time Portmore resident Vybz Kartel was not intimidated by the prospect of closing the show in front of his hometown crowd.