(L) Merciless (left) was outclassed by a confident Gabriel during their lyrical showdown at The Settlement, held at Links in St Thomas. (R) Mr G (left) and L.A. Lewis performing at The Settlement stage show, held at Links in St Thomas. - Nathaniel Stewart Photos

As dancehall's veteran act Merciless nervously attempted to salvage some pride with the crowd booing heavily, it was evident that a lyrically-gifted Gabriel, armed with sharp lyrics and relentless approach made him a clear winner at The Settlement, held on Saturday at Links in St Thomas.

Merciless, who was struggling badly in a clash dominated by Gabriel, was perhaps overcome by emotions and resorted to intimidation to get the better of his more prepared rival.

A confident Gabriel was primed and ready to deliver from the start, bringing titters of laughter to the crowd when he remarked, "send him out, who guh prison mek ... bend him out?"

sexually deviant

He deejayed and edited bits of his famous Long, Plain and Straight single, leaving out the former prime minister's names, and replaced it with Merciless.

Then a string of 'forwards' followed when he counteracted Merciless' Letter To Mama saying, "mek mi tell yuh bout yuh letter. The blue steel letter'. He continued to deejay a song to Leonard's mom that suggested her good son had been involved in sexually deviant behaviour during his incarceration. The crowd erupted with laughter.

By this time Merciless was still standing in one section of the venue, even though the crowd repeatedly asked for his response. Then, on walked a weird-looking man reportedly from Merciless' camp, who called himself the 'war waiter'.

Gabriel summed up the emotions of the crowd sufficiently when he said, "Rt a who him?" He never got the chance to deejay and quickly bolted off the stage.

Gabriel's confidence surged even higher as lyrical disses were now beginning to flow smoothly. He laughed and remarked, "Merciless know him life a guh end, suh him hide and send out him friend."

The crowd lost its composure. Screams, whistles and cheers filled the venue. Then Merciless appeared on stage, but by the time he had finished pleading to promoter Tommy Thompson saying, "this is not how clash supposed to be, yu have to pay mi gud fi kill people," the crowd was already smelling *lo**.

So, even when he performed old favourites like Lend Out Mi Mercy, the crowd was booing loudly. And when he didLetter to Mama, he was soundly booed again, but, to his credit, he deejayed throughout the boos.

Merciless even attempted to intimidate Gabriel when he grabbed at his microphone and threatened to use his knife. The two were involved in a slight rumble before security squashed the situation.

The clash ended there, bringing to a close a hilarious night of entertainment.