Jersey’s Kiff started making waves last year with a style he had coined Jersey soca; a unique blend of Jersey club and the island sounds he grew up on. The pairing picked up on similar traits between the two, specifically Barbados’ style of crop over. The remix culture that such a big part of both soca and Jersey club led to his expansion into broader, less definable, but more deeply Caribbean styles that make up Mix N Ting. From dancehall, to soca, to just straight vibes, Kiff has the cure for your post-Memorial Day tabanca right here.
Tag: Soca
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HEAR THIS: Leadpipe & Saddis Kick Off Evolution Sound Soca Mixtape
Porgie & Murda Bring Dreams To Life
Crop Over 2016 may be winding down, but Barbados is still bubbling. This year the island revellers had to do without Rihanna (she spent the weekend in Toronto rocking OVO Fest) but the party continues on this exclusive Evolution Sound soca mix featuring Bajan soca duo Leadpipe & Saddis (aka Porgie & Murda). Their tunes—and a mix of fresh reggae/soca collabs like Jus D & I-Octane’s “Perform”—are a perfect way to set the mood for the Philadelphia Jerk Fest on Sunday August 28, 2016. Leadpipe & Saddis will be performing live and direct alongside reggae legend Luciano Jah Messenger and dancehall star Assassin aka Agent Sasco. No more long talking, DJ Jamol Jenius let off! Audio & Tracklist After The Jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: Fadda Fox ft. Runtown “All Day All Night”
From Lagos to Bridgetown Comes A Cross-Cultural Collab For Cropover
These are exciting times for open-minded music lovers, as genre distinctions break down and the unifying forces of tempo and technology work their magic around the globe. No matter what name you choose to call them, certain songs have the power to move the crowd. Whether you’re in Africa, the Caribbean, or someplace else, the elements of a big tune remain consistent: combine a lively drumbeat, a supple bass line, spicy lyrics and a sweet melody and watch the people react. “My team and I are on a musical mission,” says soca artist Nicholas “Fadda Fox” Sealy. “It is our aim to showcase Bajan talent internationally, collaborating with other artists being one of many strategies to execute our goals.” During a recent tour of Canada, the man known for running the streets of Bridgetown, Barbados with tunes like “Ducking” was sharing breakfast with Nigerian-born Afrobeat star Douglas “Runtown” Jack Agu. The conversation turned to collaboration, and within days they’d come up with a soca-meets-Afrobeat anthem for Crop Over 2016. With writing by Jovan James, Runtown and Fadda Fox, and production by Darien Bailey and Hector Cesar for Decibel Productions. You may call it what you wish, we simply call it a Certified Boomshot. Audio After The Jump… (more…)
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Machel Montano Rules Carnival With
“Waiting on the Stage”—Is He Leading Soca Down The Road To EDM?Trinidad & Tobago’s “Minister of Road” Takes Third Consecutive Road March Title
Trinidadian soca superstar Machel Montano has won his third consecutive road march title. Since 1932, the Trinidad Carnival Committtee has awarded the prize to the musical composition played most often at the “judging points” along the parade route throughout Port of Spain during the big carnival celebration. This is the eighth win of Montano’s career. Not since Tambu hit the trifecta in 1988, 89, and 1990 has one artist dominated the competition three years in a row. The winning tune, “Waiting on the Stage,” was produced by Trini production squad Badjohn Republic. But with its strong EDM influence, it almost sounds like it could be a Major Lazer record. Check out the tune and judge for yourself. Video After The Jump… (more…)
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WATCH THIS: Kes “Endless Summer” Original Music Video
Trini Soca Stars Gets Loose On Ricky Blaze’s Uptown Julie Riddim
Here it is the first weekend of August, and we’re not really ready for the End of Summer. When you’re Kees Dieffernthaler of Kes the Band, your life is an endless summer. Dude can hop on a plane and find the summertime vibes anywhere in the world—maybe because this Trini soca star brings those vibes with him wherever he goes. Kes recently teamed up with BK hitmaker Ricky Blaze to voice a tune on the big bad Uptown Julie Riddim the result was a sure-shot party-starter called “Endless Summer.” Now comes the challenge of creating a video with vibes to match the music. Video After The Jump… (more…)
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Reasoning with Machel Montano “You’ve Got To Be Yourself”
After (Almost) 33 Years in The Game, The King of Soca Tells Reshma B How He Stays Fly
If you don’t know Machel Montano, you don’t know soca. He was nine years old the first time he represented Trinidad & Tobago at Madison Square Garden, and since that time he’s dominated the soca scene from year to year. (In 2014 Machel will celebrate both his 40th birthday and his 33rd year in showbiz—more on that magic numnber later.) When the King of Soca passed through NYC the other day, of course he took time out to link with the Boomshots posse. And just as soon as Machel Motano sat down with Reshma B, they came up with a brand new tune with a dance craze to match called “Mop Di Floor”—it was a rainy night, and RGAT had towels on her feet; long story. That’s what you call inspiration meets creative genius pon di spot. As the conversation continued, they spoke in depth about the development of the soca industry, Machel’s deep roots in NYC, and his forthcoming collaboration with Trinidad James. Machel spoke candidly about his his efforts to gain wider popularity by blending soca and reggae, but also cautioned that it’s important not to get caught up copying other people’s style. He recalled the days when Kes the Band was considered a rock act and Bunji Garlin was calling himself a dancehall artist. In the final analysis, Machel said the secret to soca’s growth was simply to keep making quality music for the whole world, but never forgetting that “you’ve got to be yourself.” Videos After The Jump… (more…)
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Jabba Pledges Best of the Best 2014 Will Be 100% Caribbean, Says Reggae and Hip-Hop “Come In Like Oil and Water”
Promoter Promises to “Learn From His Mistakes” at BOTB 2014: Reggae & Soca—but NO Hip-Hop
For the past eight years Best of the Best has been a fixture of Memorial Day Weekend in Miami, a big outdoor reggae and soca show that normally features top hip-hop acts as well. But this year, Reshma B caught up with Jabba who explained that this year he’s “learned from his mistakes” and made BOTB 2014 a 100% Caribbean festival. That’s right, for the first time the festival will feature reggae and dancehall and soca but NO hip-hop. “Me get back to my roots,” say Jabba. “This year we involve more soca into the show more than just keep mixing the hip-hop and the reggae, because it come in like oil and water. We notice it’s eight years going in. When I first begun I just, you know, coming from a big urban radio station, I feel like hip-hop is part of my culture as well. Because you done know is a Jamaican man who started hip-hop in the Bronx—Kool Herc big up yourself anywhere you deh. So I felt like I can take that mission to a next level and just know say, Hear wah gwan now, let me mix up hip-hop onto reggae on the next level like it’s never been done before. And big respect to all the rappers, but it come in like the worst idea we coulda ever do. But you learn from your mistakes. Because when you come to a Caribbean culture festival, nobody no wan’ hear say “Yo, turn the motherfuckin mic up!” and “Where’s my niggas at?” You understand?” Video After The Jump… (more…)
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50 Tips Everyone Should Know For Carnival
Tips To Make Sure You Have A Safe And Enjoyable Carnival Experience
It’s less than one week to the greatest show on Earth, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2014. Veteran masqueraders are already descending upon the twin island republic this week along with a slew of Carnival virgins who really don’t know what they’re in for. The good folks over at Lazymas.com compiled a solid list for the first timers and a few pointers for the more seasoned. Everything from what to wear, what to eat and even how to party is all covered in these helpful tips. Check Them Out After The Jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: Machel Montano “Ministry Of Road (M.O.R.)”
Double M Is About To Destroy The Road With This One
Machel and Precision Productions collide once more and they’re are committed in destroying everything in their path. Don’t worry they’ll fix everything right up after. Presenting the “Ministry Of Road,” or M.O.R. as its commonly known will mash up any road, anywhere, day or night. Do you have a road that’s in need of a little mashing up? Call M.O.R. now! Tune After The Jump… (more…)
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HEAR THIS: Bunji Garlin ft. Busta Rhymes “Differentology” Remix
Vikings And Conglomerates Connect. Axes Up!
Not only was “Differentology” the top-ranking soca jam of 2013 and winner of MTV Iggy’s song of the year compeition, it’s an undeniable outernational smash that’s ready for the road around the world. Now just in time to wrap up the year, “Differentology” gets an outernational refix courtesy of the Dungeon Dragon himself. Vikings—Axes Up! Audio After The Jump… (more…)
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Lord Kitchender “Sugar Bum Bum”
He Wasn’t The Lord For Nothing
As the work day winds to close most of us (myself included) are already thinking about what trouble to get in to this fine Labor Day weekend. The numerous fetes, boat rides and tonight especially Hot 97’s On The Reggae Tip concert going down at the Hammerstein Ballroom are just a few things leading up to the West Indian Day parade which graces Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on Monday. The Labor Day parade has involved into more than just a celebration of what island you were born from or what island your parents were born from, its a become a symbol of unity even if you’re not from the caribbean, one day out of the year you can be from any one you choose. So let’s start your weekend of right and take it back to one of the foundation artist in this business, calypsonian Lord Kitchender and his 1978 classic “Sugar Bum Bum.” Tune After The Jump…
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: “Machel Montano “Teacher’s Footsteps”
Machel Was Always A Star
We really dug in the crates today to pull out this little gem. We reached back all the way to 1984 and found a then nine year old Machel Montano performing at the Dimache Gras show as a special guest, the same year he ran away with the Junior Soca Monarch title. Even at this tender age we can see that Mr. Montano had all the makings of an international Soca star, his stage pressence, subject matter and even how he held the audience shone through at just nine. Hit The Jump For This Treat… (more…)