DJs Jibri Lewis and Bakari were 16 the first time they played at a party.

They chose Young Men’s Social Club for their public debut as King Jyrus.

The bar was locked, and soda was the only drink the teenagers could offer. To their surprise, they “filled the place up”.

“We were expecting less than 100, but people kept coming,” recalled Mr Lewis, now 34.

They were thrilled when the event led to a stint at Clayhouse Inn.

“We weren’t even old enough to get in, and people were paying to hear us play,” he said. “In the world of reggae and dancehall in Bermuda, Clayhouse was where it was at.”

Nearly 20 years later, the group has five more DJs and is still going strong. Its next event, Need for Ninetyz, the Clayhouse Edition, is a nod to their roots. “The music goes back to the 90s and early 2000s when it was really about dancing and partying,” said Mr Smith.

Souljah One, King Star, Selecta Fray and Mark P will perform with them at Devonshire Recreation Club on Saturday.

“Everyone playing also played at Clayhouse,” said Mr Smith. “That was a major factor in us picking who was going to perform.”

He was excited by the throwback feeling.

“We’ll be playing those songs that make you say, ‘I remember this’,” Mr Lewis said. “It is just about fun and having a good time.

“We are trying to cater to people who don’t usually go out. It will be good fun. It will have that old-school feel.”

It’s their fifth Need for Ninetyz. They held the first five years ago, when Mr Smith turned 30.

“It was a major success,” said Mr Smith. “People were talking about it for weeks afterwards. They loved the atmosphere and the music.”

They started King Jyrus in their early teens, inspired by the music of that era. “I called it King Jyrus,” said Mr Smith. “I don’t know why but I liked the sound of it.”

They were encouraged by Troy Lewis of the Embassy Crew.

“He was our mentor,” said Mr Lewis. “In the beginning, we used his equipment and he taught us how to hook it up and transport it. He gave us our first steps in this whole business.”

The group has performed all over the island, and been the local headliner for Soca versus Reggae for several years.

“Our music has a party atmosphere,” Mr Smith said. “We are not scared to do different things.

“A lot of people just want to play it safe and do what other people do.

“We try to play different types of music to please everyone.

“At Need for Ninetyz we’ll be playing all the favourites from the 90s — reggae, hip hop and R & B.”

Mr Smith said these days they don’t practise as much as they once did. They have day jobs now, and families.

“Now it’s in our DNA to just go out and perform,” he said.

• Need for Ninetyz kicks off at 10pm. Tickets are $10 at Menco or kingjyrus@gmail.com, or $20 at the door. The event is for people 18 and over.