The Kalling by Kabaka Pyramid: The Best Reggae Album of 2022

"The Kalling" by Kabaka Pyramid

Okay so, I wasn't going to do this because I'd been declaring it to be the case from since I'd heard the album but, just in case you were curious, the single best Reggae album I heard in 2022 was definitely "The Kalling" by Kabaka Pyramid. Lyrically that album will probably go down as one of THE finest that I've ever heard and it would take a quite of bit of thought for me to go back to the year we had where it would NOT have been the best album. I bring it up because recently (yesterday as of this writing, tomorrow by the time you read it) the Grammy.... committee (whoever is in charge of awarding it) officially declared that they agreed with me and awarded it the 2023 award for Best Reggae Album. This came as a complete shock as The Grammy's tend to stick to more 'regular' artists when it comes to Reggae music and, the Pyramid's fellow nominees included the very popular likes of Sean Paul, Shaggy & Sting and Koffee, all of whom were previous winners of this same award. In fact, in our preview of the event, I actually stated, "....I feel he has the last chance of winning" .... so OBVIOUSLY he would win.

A very brief look back at the Grammy winners for Best Reggae Album shows that they've 'gotten it right' -- at least as far as I'm concerned -- maybe two or three times with albums from Beenie Man and Damian Marley, but I never would have expected them to actually choose Kabaka Pyramid with an album such as "The Kalling". Last year the winner was also a surprise as US Reggae band, SOJA, would take the honour and a few years back it went to Morgan Heritage, a group who had certainly paid their dues (and nominees that year also included the likes of Barrington Levy, Luciano, Rocky Dawuni and Jah Cure - making for an unusual year for the Reggae Grammy), so perhaps things are changing. Regardless, around here I like to think that we give credit for people for getting things right musically and, in 2022, Kabaka Pyramid got something RIGHT in a major way to the point where it has become impossible to ignore, even by The Grammy. "The Kalling" was THE BEST REGGAE ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

See Review

Destra 2012!

We have a lot of work ahead of ourselves which is a fact that I'm not terribly thrilled with because I'm lazy, but I have to say that when I saw this, it got my blood running just a bit. Carnival 2K12 is well on its way and it's damn time to get excited about it! To mark the occasion, the reigning and defending World's Most Wonderful Human Being, Ms. Destra Garcia has redone her website and everything else apparently. It's Destra 2.0 with the new look and I'm waiting and waiting for that big tune to drop. So definitely check out Destra's blazing website, MyDestra.com (not yours, mine!) and also pick up some of her recently erupted catalog which is all over the digital scene now - Which means you don't even have to get off your ass to make it happen.

{Note: Fun things tomorrow}
{Note 2: We actually got a press release from Destra's PR people}
{Note 3: WHAT!}

Ricky T: 2011 St. Lucia Soca Monarch

Okay so, in a very predictable occurrence, Ricky T has just captured yet another Soca Monarch crown in his native St. Lucia with his tune, ‘Madd Ting’. I do have to say that while I did predict Ricky T would win, his wasn’t my favourite of the night. I think that you should have to do something SPECIAL to capture a crown and what was special about Ricky T’s performance was his crowd reaction. There was SPECIAL on that stage, however, it appeared twice. Once via Superman HD, who did, as I suggested that he may, have Mr. Killa with him to perform ‘More Mash Up’, which was insanity and my choice as the second best moment of the night (he would take second, Teddyson John, who had a very nice performance and the first good one of the night, would take third). The best went to a Sir Lancelot who (literally) combined water and powder on his MIGHTY tune ‘Soca Riot’, which I thought should have won, but . . . Yeah that’s just me.

'Soca Riot' by Sir Lancelot

Not too many good performances outside of those. The best of the rest was defending champion, DJ HP, and Ilah Man did respectably also, while others, such as Ambi, disappointed in my opinion.


But there you have it, once again, Ricky T is St. Lucia Soca Monarch 2011 and I do have to confess ALWAYS seeing that crowd go that mad does something for me, so biggup Ricky T.

Check back later today for a little visual treat from a favourite of ours.

Stuff: Inferno

I really hope you're not looking down here to figure out who that is

Yow!
I told you not to worry! I’m back! I’m not going to be sticking around for too long, however, but you’re likely to have me for the next week if you care (and you probably don’t) and then I’ll finish up my hiatus - And return sometime in August (after I, miserably, turn 30) (I wasn't actually planning to come back writing so quickly, but something nice caught my attention and I kind of knew that it would at some point) (oh and if you do blog, you know this stuff is like therapy and I did miss it). I didn’t want to make this too long (because it's two weeks ago now), but biggup Fireman Hooper, winner of St. Vincent Soca Monarch 2011. What can I say? I had absolutely no problem with him winning. I did think Skinny Fabulous did excellent (albeit in a VERY chaotic manner), but the Fireman was top notch and although I do always lean more towards Skinny, I just have to give the man credit - Fireman is ALWAYS top notch - No exceptions and it was great this year, with a special cameo appearance from none other than Shrek. I would think that Skinny might think to take off 2012 (maybe make a song directly for TnT (just a thought) and come back in '13) because a lot of people seemed to want to see him lose this year, but I more than got what we went looking for. Skinny Fabulous is a fantastic artist and one of the greatest Soca performers of his time, so big him up - But it's all about the 'Animal' in 2011 as Fireman Hooper takes the honours in SVG for the 927th time (and biggup the oldest man in the world, Gao, for taking the road) (and keep an eye out for Fya Empress) (and biggup Jamesy P) (and Problem Child). Just more and more vibes for THE idea of all ideas which I’ll tell you about a week from now.

'Animal' by Fireman Hooper

In other Soca news, completely unrelated: Tonite (Saturday) is St. Lucia Soca Monarch 2011. I will not be there, but I will be watching (HAPPILY, because I don't give a damn who wins). Who wins??? The only way Ricky T, with 'Madd Ting', isn't taking the crown is if he doesn't perform. He could probably go on stage with no props, no band and just a record, wearing a tuxedo and still win. He could probably simultaneously HUMM his own riddim and deejay at the same time and still win. I'm not terribly fond of the tune, but Ricky T does not need a great song to take Monarch in St. Lucia.

'Madd Ting' by Ricky T

Shockingly (at least to me), he also took the Groovy Monarch competition and Ricky T is mashing up St. Lucia in 2011. However, that's not to say that he isn't without competition. There're some pretty good tunes coming out of Lucia this year. I’m loving efforts from the likes of Ricky's brother, Ambi, Alpha, Mantius (with a Jab Jab???) and a few others (like defending champion, DJ HP). In my opinion, although Qpid is mysteriously absent from the final list (at least the one we saw) (placing that phrase here is just terrible, terrible writing! It's awful, but I'm rusty, so please accept my apologies), I think the main competition comes from Pringles with 'More Mash Up' and Achis Reggae favourite, Ilah Man with 'Destruction'.

'More Mash Up' w/Mr. Killa by Superman HD [aka Pringles]

'Destruction' by Ilah Man [This song is fucked up!]

The former is interesting because should Pringles draw Mr. Killa on the stage, he may very well have a chance to pull an upset, as the two link for another season with BIG results. Ilah Man, of course, has absolutely no chance (he's been robbed before), but I LOVE that damn song! MAD! Also, it should be said that even though CLEARLY this is his tune for Monarch (he even says so in the song), everything I've seen thus far suggests that Ilah Man will be doing 'Vex'. Which is probably a better song . . . But nowhere near as INSANE.

'Vex' by Ilah Man [considerably less fucked up]

And that’s it. If you are headed to St. Lucia Monarch (starting to wish that we were joining you) (it doesn’t take much to get me excited) [your joke here] tonite, definitely have a great time.

So this week, just look forward to a pretty FULL (but strange) week. A couple of reviews (one of which I’m currently half done with) and a “Check It” DEFINITELY (so much nice things around now) and blah blah blah. I’ll probably finish on Saturday and let you know about what we’re working on (even though I kind of told you already).

Bredz, answer your fucking phone! Biggup everyone I don’t feel like naming [Hey Elena!] [biggup yourself Dale Cooper] and yeah! It’s Achis Reggae - Common Sense Deficiency.

BALANCE & No Behaviour
RasAchis

{Note: Biggup the World Cup. We watched a couple of games - Very impressive!}
{Note 2: Tomorrow we pay tribute to . . . A very attractive person who sent us a lot of nice stuff!}

Stuff: No Behaviour . . . In The Cave

Yow!
We haven't done a "Stuff" post in a while (because they're really really terribly written generally) , but here's a new one and with good reason (and it, too, shall be awful).

Vincy Mas 2K11 and (farrrrrrrr more importantly) St. Vincent Soca Monarch 2011 is upon us! What does that mean? That means Skinny Fabulous (!) is going for a fourth consecutive Vincy Soca Monarch crown and, on a strictly musical level, you can go ahead and pass the man win right now and we'll be there to see it, like last year. Over the past few years with 'Head Bad', 'Leggo Di Beast' and 'Charge Up', Skinny has advanced St. Vincent Soca music on an international level and, seriously is in the prime of his career and is establishing a legacy which will last WELL beyond his days of walking the planet. So, if you can attend - This coming weekend [Victoria Park!], it's truly one of the greatest spectacles the entire Caribbean has to offer and, even if he doesn't win, you’re likely witnessing history in the making.

'Animal' by Fireman Hooper

As far as the actual competition, there's of course there's the Fireman who has won the competition seventeen billion times and who . . . Should likely come in second with his big tune, 'Animal'. There's Problem Child who has a line of people thinking he'll now never winner the biggest crown. And others still such as veteran Jamesy P, last year's Road March King, Maddzart, Skarpyon who won Ragga Soca a few days back and Fire Empress as well (no ICON, curiously).

'The Cave' by Skinny Fabulous

Still . . . I mean . . . My favourite Skinny Fabulous song for the last year has been 'Scary', his entry this year 'The Cave', may have just outdone that one in my opinion. It is absolutely BRILLIANT! It’s dark and bright and happy and ANGRY - It’s just magical moody, carnage and chaos inducing Soca music and I love it and if the man hauls a big cave on the stage, or does a Fred Flintstone show, I’d have problems with myself if we missed that. He’ll have to fuck it up mightily to lose (the young people are saying "caveman nyam animal") (which is cool).

Okay I’d written all of this stuff which was just ridiculous. But that’s it! I write too damn much anyway (no! My reviews won’t be shortened for anything) (don’t even ask) (because if you do, I’ll make them longer). Biggup everyone we biggup, but especially LeClaire, biggup Linya, Dale Cooper biggup yourself and biggup Camille for UnitedReggae.com. And everybody else, you know who are, I mention you all the time - Biggup Nico The Mighty and everybody at Zojak, present & past. Hey Heather! And everyone over there on the side. Biggup the guy from the T-shirt company who I was supposed to mention but forgot about.


Biggup Cheick Kongo (DAMN!), biggup DeMario for showing me. WWC??? Uhmmm - Okay I’m wanting one of the Afrikan teams to win, so we’re going for Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea - But as far as who I think WILL win? Germany (I know VERY little about women’s football, so forgive my ignorance if that’s ridiculous and definitely feel free to make fun of me when I am wrong).

Oh and speaking of Germany, everyone go and check Da Ville’s guide - Festiville 2011 - on Reggaeville.com. Biggup yourself Markus and Julian.

Oh (!) and according to a reader (biggup Nat), Sara Lugo said my name on a radio interview last week. I haven’t heard it myself, but we’re waiting for that.

Remember me??? New album from Black Dillinger, "Better Tomorrow" - In stores now -
Isn't Reggae media just wonderful???

I won't be paying attention to anything onlinish so don't send me anything, but if you have to Bredz can get it until Thursday and after Monday, because he’s joining us - and I'll be back writing in a few weeks (a healthy break from writing (every fucking day, like I'm getting paid for it) (and I'm not) is GOOD), unless I find something better to do (and I might), so if we never make it back - We had a great run and a greater time and know that I lov . . . Kind of like . . . Some of you . . . Sometimes. And it's Achis Reggae!

Completely Random Song Here -

No common sense! No manners! No respect for authority!

And NO BEHAVIOUR!

“Achis! Not even a little???”

No! None!

Say it proudly!

BALANCE & No Behaviour
RasAchis

Stuff: The Return

Yow!
I’m back! “And I feeeeeeeeeeel like I just win a million dolluzzzzzzzzzzzzz”!

So yeah, that was that, that was a very refreshing and INTERESTING few days in Trinidad. Trinidad is always so interesting because basically half of my family lives there and we go to meet and it always seems to be a few more family members to meet. Like I’m almost 30 years old (as shit) and I feel like I’ve probably met about a third of my family (and that’s just on my Father’s side) (biggup Mama, whose family has spread everywhere - I’ll never meet all of them). But, in particular of course, biggup my Grannie, biggup my Uncles and biggup the man himself because, just as 'expected', my Father did show up (although I kind of knew he would) and biggup my Mother with whom he, ‘allegedly’, stayed on the phone with his entire trip (married 30+ years and still act like newlyweds).

So that’s that. Now, there was also the matter of a certain Soca Monarch competition and there was the matter, in that matter, that we had two new winners as Machel Montano HD took the biggest title of the night in Power and matching his fete in Groovy was Kes.

Even more impressive than that (not really) was the fact that out of the top eight positions (top four in both), I got seven correct in my predictions and because I predicted Bunji coming in third, I got actual position correct also. So I thought that I’d give my thoughts briefly on both and then tell you what to look forward to around here in March.

So, the top four in Groovy were:

Kes Groovy Soca Monarch 'Wotless'

1. Kes
2. Benjai
3. Destra
4. Blaxx

My Thoughts

Kes did one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my life and outside of calling up Lord Nelson, he didn’t really do anything too special. He just had a HUGE tune, ’Wotless’ (which I underestimated) (never again) and huge energy as well. When you do that, it’s pretty hard to lose. But Benjai did manage to do just that with ’Trini’, his performance was excellent as well, but he had neither the tune nor the energy of Kes. Destra didn’t do her best, but she still managed to come in third. Like I said, I’m picking Destra for EVERYTHING (and if they wanted to cancel the entire event and just give her everything, I’d go home with a smile), unless there was a WALL and Kes was definitely a wall, but Benjai was not and I think she could’ve beaten him with that tune, so hopefully she’ll play again next year (especially in Groovy, I think she can win Groovy). Blaxx also did very good with 'Tanti Woi', but Blaxx barely said two damn words his entire time on stage.

Other Stuff

• I don’t know what happened to Shurwayne Winchester with his ‘we are the world’ song.
  
• Biggup All-Rounder who is like 200 years old, had a blond thing on his head and gold spandex (which my Wife claimed was so tight she spotted male camel-toe) (what a lucky girl). NO ONE had a better time on stage than All-Rounder so DEFINITELY big him up!
  
• Biggup Saucy who did excellently with half a voice as did Patrice, but no one seemed to notice (I did!).
• Ras Star won the Digicel Rising Synergy Soca Trinidad Idol competition and it apparently earned him a spot in Groovy Soca Monarch . . . Ras Star (to my opinion) makes Reggae and hopefully he’ll be steered in that direction because he is well talented (and he looks almost exactly like Revalation) (biggup Revalation).
  
  
  In Power, the tops were:
  
  
  
  Machel Montano Power Soca Monarch 'Advantage'
  
  
  1. Machel
  2. Iwer George
  3. Bunji Garlin
  4. Fay-Ann Lyons
  

My Thoughts

As usual (with the exception of a couple of years ago in recent memory) there was controversy here, but if I’m trying to be COMPLETELY impartial (and I am), the top four, completely expected, were in the correct order. The main source of debate here was that a great deal of people thought Iwer deserved to win. He did absolutely AMAZING with ‘Come To Meh’ (although that performance was probably 2 weeks long), but for me Machel’s performance was on the greatest . . . Anythings I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It was Soca in the Matrix and he did what he needed to do to win and then some. If you take that same performance, with the exception of 2009 when we met Superblue, he wins any of the competitions in recent memory in my opinion. I remember reading an article with Bunji saying that he was going to move out of his house to prepare his show away from Fay-Ann and everything and while the performance was good, eventually he relied upon his main skill (more on that on Thursday) (I think) which are lyrics and with a bit of ‘gamesmanship’ towards Machel (which Machel, somewhat surprisingly, started in response to Bunji taking swipes at him in events prior to the show), he did what Bunji Garlin does best and although Machel‘s performance, like I said, was absolutely amazing and he pretty much FUCKED UP everything with that display (and I mean that in a great way), Bunji gave me my own personal height of excitement for the evening (can we just take Bunji and . . . I don’t know pick a fight with someone to get him at Sting this year???) (Kiprich will do it) (Merciless will too (Oooh! Does anyone else think Merciless looks a little like Benjai????).

Merciless & Benjai

I digress. Fay-Ann looked amazing and her performance. Fay-Ann gave Soca Monarch blue balls with all of the pausing, but eventually everyone did what you usually do in such a case and took matters into our hands. Fay-Ann doesn’t even have to approach doing her best to thrill and after watching her performance - That song is LIVING in my brain and it isn’t going anywhere - ‘Consider It Done’.

Faya-Ann Lyons At Soca Monarch 'Consider It Done'

Other Stuff

• Shal Marshall did EXCELLENTLY with ‘Doh Drag De Flag’.
• JW & Blaze clearly had no chance of a repeat, but everybody warmed up to them throughout their performance (especially when they admitted that they wished they had ‘Palance’ again this year) (‘Wild & Frisky’ was their tune).
  
• Also doing pretty well, to me, was Patrice & Nadia Batson (they even called up Roy Cape) and even Tian Winter.
• After having watched the song presented, I think ‘Fetting For Days’ may’ve been more of a Groovy song actually.
• Skinny Fabulous didn’t do great (didn‘t do bad either) with his tune ‘Charge Up‘ in a third Soca Monarch competition, but if they keep allowing him to participate in the competition (and they are, because he’s NEVER going to lose in Vincy), one of these years he’s going to figure out how to win.
• Destra did a song, ‘We Own It’, which I didn’t expect her to do (was looking forward to ‘Welcome Me Back’), and she didn’t do too well and just stopped all of a sudden . . . BUT! Destra wins cutie of the night (with the greatest respect to Mrs. Achis who looked exquisite as she always does) because she looked damn delicious laying in that bed and she looked nice in the second half of her Groovy performance also.
  
• Three years running now (four actually, because Fay-Ann should have won with ‘Get On’ in 2008) that the tune that wins Road March also wins Soca Monarch (presumably, of course, but no way in hell Machel doesn’t take the road at this point).
  
• Biggup Daddy Chess who repeated as Dominica Soca Monarch as well.
  

And I think that’s it. Blood also did pretty good and Cassi did too in Groovy, but I’m all Soca Monarch-ed out and that will be it. It is in our plans to reach Soca Monarch in St. Vincent again this year (I believe that’s in July) and that’ll wrap it up for us as far as traveling away, although if I get the same offer to go to Spice Mas this year that we did last year . . . Doing that! And I just want to say that we had an EXCELLENT time and biggup everybody who even performed because I couldn’t do that shit. Oh! And this call of ‘anybody from Grenada. Anybody from Alaska. Anybody from Nebraska. Anybody from Pluto . . . ‘ - And saving Trinidad for last because you think it’s going to make the crowd remember where most of them are from - That shit is evil and it needs to stop, I swear ten people had to have done that bullshit and I fucking HATE it.

ALRIGHT! It’s a new month - What’s going on? Let’s see!

The Message Riddim

• Tomorrow I’m catching up with a big ‘Coming Soon’ post because obviously no one else is doing that for you.
  

• Reviews! Where else in the world can you get hard hitting (not really) thoughts on Soca Monarch and a review of Paille’s new album ”Inflammable”? We also have a review of Anthony B’s new album, “Rasta Love” on its way. And you can also look forward to reviews for albums from the likes of the aforementioned Kes. Maybe Singing U, maybe Ed Robinson and maybe even Machel Montano as well. Oh and maybe a double dip from Don Corleon also. And definitely look forward to the next 'Modern Classic' coming pretty soon.
  

• I’ve been in a pretty good mood as of late, so that means random shit. Look forward to a few, hopefully funny, ‘Completely Random Thoughts’.

• A lot of stuff I meant to do last month (which I won’t mention specifically because I don’t want to sound like a broken record) (again), hopefully we can get to in March).

• I alluded to this earlier - Thursday - If you don’t too much listen to Bunji Garlin, definitely find your way back here because I’m going to show you wait (some of) the fuss is about.
  

• I think I have to do a ‘Video Drop’ and I have a few other ideas I’m looking at and of course you can expect the general ridiculousness from Achis Reggae.
  

TUNE?!
Easy one yeah.



{Biggup Bredz who is a SCIENTIST on the computer}

Stuff: "Charge Up"

YOW!
So I tell you I'm coming back on such a day, such a day reaches and I'm back yeah! So let's go, no long talking. Of course the big piece of news round here is the fact that Skinny Fabulous charged up and took St. Vincy Soca Monarch 2010, his third crown consecutively, which is ridiculous now. In my mind, he took the crown with his third or fourth (or even fifth if you count the remix), best tune of the season, 'Duracell'. I thought (and predicted) that he would win, but I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to take in too much information - So make no mistake about it, Skinny Fabulous currently is the best Soca artist St. Vincy has to offer and from the first word utter, ". . . LIKE A PACK AH DURACELL!", you know it was over from nobody ever have so much intensity before him and the ones who figure to maybe have such, Fireman Hooper and Problem Child had already gone.

The man killed the bunny, charged it up and brought it back to life. It was madness and I cried like a baby! AND I THINK I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE! The Wife, who hates everything, of course was a bad ass and showed no emotion whatsoever, besides losing her damn mind, but I happened to glance at Bredz (my Wife's brother for the new people) and obviously overwhelmed, his spectacles came off several times during the performance . . . And I'll leave it there.

Besides Skinny, Fireman came second with 'Battlefield', he was high intensity like usual and like last year I do think he deserved second. Problem Child with 'Delinquents' was likely to grab third, but he didn't because he was (really) bested by Maddzart, whose 'The King Road' took third, but all four at the top did very well in my opinion. I also liked the girls - One was Fire Empress, and Tisa and Tomisha - They all did good to my opinion. Everyone was decent, people were talking about the show should be shorter (it was 18 this year) and, of course, I'm always in favour of that (and if you're headed to Lucia this weekend, you'll agree with me like hell come Sunday morning), but I didn't have a problem with this year's show at all. I was very entertained and it was well worth the trip. I think they announce Road March tomorrow (today when you read this) and 'Duracell' is the most popular tune in Vincy now, clearly, but I'm still not picking it to take the road and I'm actually leaning more towards Maddzart (who even alluded to it maybe being his focus in his performance. . .

I think that's it, oh! The Fireman does leave the season with a bit of hardware as he surprisingly took Ragga Soca Monarch (Vincy's 'Groovy'). I had Galanaire there (who came second) (Maddzart was third) and biggup Alison Hinds and all that ass. So yeah, great trip, got a few business things done also and ran into a familiar face or two also. Don't know if we'll be back next year, but chances are likely. Biggup Vincy massive.

This Saturday - Is St. Lucia's Soca Monarch. Unsurprisingly, we're sitting this one out this year and as I read on it, we made an excellent choice. For me the story here is that they're putting both the Groovy and Power Monarch competitions on the same stage on the same day and they both have fifteen 15 competitors. WHICH MEANS THAT IF YOU REACH ST. LUCIA SOCA MONARCH 2010, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND THERE FOR THIRTY PERFORMANCES IN ONE FUCKING NIGHT! Good luck with that!

Last year's winners Alpha (Groovy) and Ricky T (Power) are both back and defending. They're also the favourites and I'm pretty sure Ricky T is going to win again (which would be the 1900th time he won that thing), but I think the most likely source to spring the upset is someone liek Q-Pid or maybe even DJ HP, everyone is eating his tune up. Still, you know my favourite tune from Lucia this year comes via the same artist who gave it last year as Ilah Man apparently did not get his money back last year and is apparently now just all fucked up in his brain and mad as hell!

And I'm also thinking Q-Pid can trouble Alpha in Groovy (she's going to win one of these damn things one of these years) and I think she'll be joined by Nicole David and her innuendo laced 'Mr. Dean Dough' and TC Brown with the coolest song in the world 'Ah Taking A Wine':

And of course Ricky T will win Road March, because he wins every year. So check that out, good luck if you're going and I plan on watching as well.

Okay, with all the madness out of the way, turn our attention to more madness because my Dutchies are in the finals of the World Cup and could potentially be joined by Spain in a few hours. I predicted Spain to win, but The Netherlands, of course, are my favourites left and I'll be cheering for them mad against either Germany or Spain. Germany looked crazy against Argentina, but Spain should be pretty damn hard to beat, considering that they ALWAYS HAVE THE DAMN BALL. I didn't watch as much in the past two weeks, but you know I went mad out when Holland ate up Brazil's food and I liked Argentina, but I didn't at all mind seeing them lose. Oh and France of course went out, but I think I mentioned Florent Malouda from Guyane and lo and behold France scored one goal the entire competition and it was he who dun it! So biggup Malouda and France has apparently gone mad. Loved the game today (yesterday by time you read this) with Holland erupting in the second half and then Uruguay just going crazy at the end, which I watched nervously with a towel over my face.

Coming Up

So we're back and it's business as usual. Big things coming in July, already have one with Capleton (in stores now and biggup Bredz who greeted me with a package containing it and three other albums when we linked him) have another on Friday and probably two more next week. Let's go!

• Expect the big review for Luciano's new album "United States of Africa" coming on Friday. Next week you'll get Busy Signal's "D.O.B." on its release date and you'll also (HOPEFULLY) get a review for Jah Mason's new album which I have already (but do not know the name of). And in the coming weeks expect reviews for Gentleman (hopefully before the end of July), Bryan Art (done), Franz Job (done) and who knows who else. Also have a 'Modern Classic' written and ready to go (have no idea when I'm posting that, however).
  

• Have a big edition of 'Check It' hopefully sizing up for tomorrow. A lot of very interesting things dropped (and are coming still) in the last two weeks and hopefully we're going to play catch-up and tell you about a few of them that you should check out.

• Have what is probably the best edition of 'Video Drop' that I've ever done (still have one more to add to it actually) and you can expect that sometime this week and biggup Ras Champion on that (and you know why).

• Of course, whole heap of other things as well. Maybe a vault review of the most interesting sort (because I haven't done one in awhile). And the end of July marks the end of the first half of the year so you know you can expect first half 'Best of' lists in the last week of the month and after a month's divergence (I had a good excuse), the return of 'Artist of The Month'. Oh and definitely send in suggestions for big tunes which WILL be running on this coming Sunday and for this week only I have absolutely no problem posting multiple suggestions from multiple different people, so do your best my friends.
  

Biggup everyone, I have a ton of email to go through and if you asked me for something you can really do me a big favour and send it back again so I can see it up top. It was interesting how I get like 7 emails from new people saying that they're new readers while I'm not writing. It's like the time give everyone a minute to read the old stuff so, welcome my new friends and re-welcome my old ones. We're back. More life, more madness.

BALANCE
RasAchis

Song?
Meet my neighbour



Pictured

Charge Up

Like a Duracell

Stuff: Ecnalap

Yow!

I'm back! And I'm Black! Okay I'm in a generally better disposition, but right now I'm actually quite perturbed, because I just typed up a whole heap of STUFF and accidentally deleted it. So, I'll try to make this quick (ain't happening). Few things to tell you about, but of course, first things first:

Predictions

I actually did pretty good I think, out of the top 8 spots in the competitions, I literally got four correct and I technically got 5 correct. In Groovy, my predictions were:

#1. Patrice Roberts

#2. Faye-Ann Lyons

#3. Shurwayne Winchester

#4. Zoelah

The actual results were:

#1. Shurwayne Winchester

#2. Faye-Ann Lyons

#3. Rikki Jai

#4. Patrice Roberts

I think that's pretty good! The main thing here is that he who deserved to win - Won. Shurwayne has done better in my opinion in the past ('Carnival Please Stayyyyyy'), but this performance were he was actually KILLED, was definitely one of his best and he deserved it. As far as how I would've ranked it, I have no problems with Faye-Ann in 2nd, although a lot of people seemed to think Rikki Jai (who did EXCELLENT) deserved that place (wouldn't have had a problem there either) and Patrice DEFINITELY did well. I've said it in the past and I'm sticking to it - if continues to compete, Patrice will take Groovy Monarch one year and I'll actually cap it by saying sometime in the next 2-3 years yeah. Oh and my Dark Horse, Nnika, also did very good and I THINK she actually took 5th position which makes me kinda right don't???

In Power my predictions were:

#1. Faye-Ann

#2. Blaxx

#3. Skinny Fabulous

#4. Iwer George

The actual results were:

#1. JW & Blaze

#2. Faye-Ann

#3. Shal & Screws

#4. Tallpree

Okay. As is the case with Road March (in a second), I had NO IDEA that 'Palance' was as big as it was. The tune has certainly grown on me (after hearing it about a billion times), but I just didn't know the tune was destroying TnT like that and. . . DAMN! Had I known that, I would've at least slotted them in the top four. ALSO, I didn't know that Blaxx was going to have the worse performance of the evening basically and I didn't know that Iwer George was going to get sick (I THINK) and not perform. But, you can hold me to Blaxx and Skinny (who did very good in my opinion), but since Iwer didn't reach, you can go ahead and bump up my Dark Horse which was Tallpree and there you go! I'm going to give myself credit for that one. So that's 5 out of 8 and 2 actually in their correct spot and I don't think that's too bad! Again, like in the Groovy, in Power THEY who deserved to win - Won. The performance of 'Palance' (which you can see up there at the top, along with the video for the tune) was a beautifully done light show and it was really the crowd response that gave it the win in my opinion. Other people did better (biggup the Transformer) (aka the Silver Surfer) (aka Faya-Ann) in terms of demonstration, but the winning tune probably had more crowd response than about 4-5 other performances put together.

Okay and in terms of Road March. I don't think they've announced it just yet, but there's no way in hell JW & Blaze aren't taking the road. GUARANTEED!

And just in general about the competition and this'll be the last thing I say about it - A lot of people thought it was bad and one of the worst ever. I won't go that far, I thought Groovy was VERY good, Zoelah did well, Chuckie did well and you had a dominant performance in both and I think that's the best thing - that who deserved to win actually won. No controversy. You can, of course, argue about the placing was incorrect, but you can't argue about the winners, so well done. And we had a great time, so I don't give a damn!

And on the trip in general. Biggup my Family! Actually got a pretty nice shock when going to see my recently moved Grandmother in Arouca and who do we see just kind of. . . like hanging out around her house? MY FATHER! Just decided to up and stop by. So biggup the greatest man on earth. And biggup my Cousin Tia who had twins like two months ago (Nigel & Noelle) and her boyfriend Nicky who told me he played in a band in Guyana (more on that real quick).

Oh and BIG BIG BIG BIG respect goes to my Brother in-law who taught me a nice little computer trick that worked EXCELLENT running the emails through (most of which I didn't answer anyway) (sorry), but I had no problems there and I actually had it going pretty fast too. The man is a GENIUS, new school (legal) hack yeah.

The only other actual stop we're making for Carnival will be in May I believe. We WILL be at Vincy Monarch this year. Missed it last year and it was RIDICULOUS! Of course Sunshine City in April and speaking of which, Regatta is in like two weeks and apparently Maxi Priest will be on so, probably will be there also. And that is it for 2010.

That means that we won't be in Guyana this weekend when Achis Reggae favourite SHELLY G defends he crown and I read an article with her saying her competition was essentially some shit, so I'm expecting her to take the crown again (no Dutchin, no Malo), with the only fight figuring to come from reigning Road March Queen, Vanilla. Shelly G's tune, 'All Dat', doesn't really sound like a Monarch winner, but I thought the same thing about 'Work It' and everybody knows what happened there:

She performed the hell out of that song and won the crown and on Saturday she should do the same thing again.

Okay! With Soca and Carnival business out of the way (kinda sorta), we still have blog business to deal with and I'm BACK, which means every damn day so what's coming up?:

• The first bit of business, I'll be dealing with for tomorrow (Thursday), is a big ass Check It/Coming Soon feature. I'm going to try it get it as close to twenty as I can, but if I don't, forgive me! Nothing too major happened in the last couple of weeks (although apparently Junior Kelly's new album was pushed back to the first week of April) (which is fine), but definitely there're a few nice releases you should know about.

• I did a bit of writing so I have some old stuff mostly on reviews, a Modern Classic and a vault review (which I haven't done since November) of a damn near Modern Classic. The Vault Review will be on Tuesday and I may mix in another review or two on off days as well.

• You can definitely expect some Soca reviews through the rest of February and March. Machel has a new album, as does ALISON HINDS which I'm trying to get my hands on (both of which are available right over there>>>>> at Trinidadmusicstore.com) and hopefully Bunji drops the new album pretty soon also (could that be a VP???).

• Monday will mark one year on the blog and I'm sure I'll do something (equally corny and lame) about something to mark the occasion so stay tuned for that.

• I have a LIST that's kind of mean, but I think I'm going to veto my better judgment and do it anyway, so you can expect that sometime next week also and of course if you have any suggestions for a list, definitely pass on a recommendation.

• Have a look at My Favourite Places because I'm going to add Trace because I couldn't find a damn thing worth writing about for Zouk, so go over there and fill all of your Zouk-ish needs!

• And there'll be a Video Drop at some point, my first five star album review of 2010 will be next week I believe and just the general stuff yeah! I got like 5 emails from people that thought I was never coming back, well I'm back! {And on that note, if/when I decide to stop blogging, I WILL NOT tell ANYONE so that I may continue to receive free stuff for doing nothing at that point} And appreciate the love sameway. Biggup Junior Kelly's newest fan and Buggy's biggest fan Dale Cooper, and Nico, and JC (nice piece JC) and Marcus sameway and that girl Stacie on the predictions post too.

• COOL New Artist this month. It'll be up on the last day of the month but definitely watch for that one, I already wrote the piece too. She's VERY interesting. And speaking of New Artists, my last one, Naptali (more on him tomorrow I'm sure) has gotten a lot of response. Besides on the actual post the feature is also on Naptali's website so you can also check my favourite links for him also (just as soon as I finish here).

I think that's it! Uhmmmm. Yeah. Okay, I have to say one more Socafied thing. My actual favourite tune from this season proved to be 'Brave' from Bunji Garlin. Bunji did not do what I thought he might at Monarch, but he reached anyway very nicely (and biggup Ronnie McIntosh!) (and Daddy Chess). And interestingly enough, he also dropped a video for the tune which I think is his first in quite awhile actually so, check it, here. VERY lyrical and the video synchs up BEAUTIFULLY!

I'M BACK WHAT!

Wait wait wait!

Two things I forgot!

#1. I got Bunji Garlin for Soca Monarch 2011, saying it right now.

#2. Faye-Ann. . . You didn't win the crown, but DAMN! Bunji is a lucky guy, not as lucky as am I, but lucky still yeah!

oh and #3. Biggup some dude name Taylor Radke, used my Marcus Garvey article in a paper he did apparently that Bredz sent me, so let me see if I can find that. . . yeah Check It.

Mr. Killa: 2009 Grenada Soca Monarch

Mr. Killa

Unfortunately we were unable to attend (wife got sick) but last night Mr. Killa (aka Baby Killa) (aka Hollice Mapp) dethroned reigning Grenada Soca Monarchs Luni Sparks & Electrify to once again take the crown. I don't know how many times now he's won that title but Killa is by far one of the maddest, craziest and most ridiculous performers in all of Soca and is always amongst the favourites to take the crown going into Spice Mas. His tune, Swing It Away, in my opinion, was CLEARLY the best that I heard from out of Greenz this year

Luni Sparks & Electrify (pictured alongside Killa) did take second with their tune, Eruption.

Although I think they should have went with Mad Energy

But they probably would not have won with either tune as Killa's tune was absolute madness. Also hoping we get an album from Killa this year as he definitely had a couple which were top notch and would look mighty fine headlining a long player. ANDDDDDDD of course the winner of Grenada's Soca Monarch does qualify for next year's big show in TnT, so hopefully Killa can get a sponsor and some decent funds because in such a competition which figures to be wiiiiiiiiiiiiiide open next year, he can definitely be a dark horse in the race (like Skinny Fabulous). So congratulations to Mr. Killa and see you in Trinidad boss.

Ricky T: St. Lucia Power Soca Monarch

RICKY T

It's slowly but surely proving to be the year of repeats in terms of who takes the crown at Soca Monarch this year as last night in Mindoo Philip Park in Castries, St. Lucia, Ricky T joined Skinny Fabulous & Faye-Ann Lyons (who everyone knows really won last year but was robbed) as repeat winners of Soca Monarch. In my opinion, however, he wasn't the best performer on the night (more on that in a minute) and the competition was rather strange also. One of the first performers (second actually) was an artist by the name of Kakal who spent half of his time showing a movie on a screen wheeled in on stage which I couldn't really see well (and it was in Creole) and then reached the stage looking like Swamp Thing. He actually didn't do too bad and neither did the first performer who was a youth name Orion (who had some backing dancers who were VERY easy on the eyes) but it was so strange. And speaking of strange, it was also very strange a performance by one Platinum George of a song name Funny:

(be careful as hell with this damn song, it grows on you and stays with you).

George was dressed up as a clown and at that point had to be voted second as he followed Superman (bka Pringles) alongside Teddyson John who did a BIG performance for the tune Up, Up Away which was the first time the crowd REALLY got mad (including yours truly). That performance ended up hanging on for third actually.

The favourites, all of them, didn't file in until the second half of the show with Isla Man being one of the first performers after the intermission. To my opinion, Isla Man should've taken the crown. He had crazy crazy crowd response, his song, the MASSIVE I Want My Back is probably the best I've heard overall from St. Lucia 2K9 and the song really has nice lyrics and a POINT. Ricky T and the rest came much later as the final artists on the show. His performance was, of course, really good. I, my wife and my cousin and others around us IMMEDIATELY figured he was going to set himself on fire as he came dressed in a costume with everything but his face covered in a fire suit looking thing. And, of course, he did. The performance itself was MADNESS! I'm not AT ALL saying Isla Man was robbed because, in my opinion, either Ricky T or Isla Man (and only them) had done enough to win. QPid also did pretty well although she apparently had audio problems which she (made a mistake in doing) acknowledge on the mic! You can't do that and win a crown like this and she didn't even end up placing.

The last two performers were Mantius who did a very nice creole song name Kote Moumou (or something like that) which had to be one of my favourites of the night. And Alpha, who (previously unbeknownst to me) had won this crown on multiple occassions and who had taken the Groovy title last week (where I thought QPid had won, although I wasn't there), closed the competition with a song named What U Waiting For:

Which I absolutely LOVE! But he stayed on stage entirely too long and it didn't help him that he was going last either. And for the first time in how long, we left BEFORE they announced the results (good for us!).

The worst performance definitely came from some Frankenstein looking Calypso who I'd never heard of and probably will never hear of again. He was joined by a fellow name Winter who the MC (who was entertaining all night, both of them, despite the fact that they, like most MC's, talked too damn much) said lived in Barbados and he did a song name Carnival Again which was pretty standard but received ABSOLUTELY NO CROWD RESPONSE. There was also 'Jessica' who turned Black and Caribbean Xena Warrior Princess with the very strange Road Warrior.

All in all, despite the fact that, looking around online today, the response internationally has been very poor, with people calling the show really bad from watching it. I, eternally easy to please when it comes to Soca, had a pretty good time. Even in the bad performances, I liked looking at the show and learning the new music and artists.

And its been a minute since last we've ran to St. Lucia and its always nice, I love how you walk around and listen to the people talk CONSTANTLY varying between English, Patois and Creole and sometimes all three in the same conversation. I was a little disappointed that Nicole David didn't perform her hit Release De Tiger

(which you can now download on Amazon, iTunes (I think), Emusic and fine digital retailers everywhere). And I'm looking at David (who I think won it back in like 2005-06) or QPid to represent for the ladies and take Lucia Road March this year.

But the wife and I are headed back to Michigan tomorrow and FINALLY back home next weekend. Biggup my cousin Mackee Fyah and his lovely wife Kasandra for putting us up for the weekend and showing us around the place.

Official Results

1. Ricky T

2. Isla Man

3. Superman & Teddyson John

My Order

1. Isla Man

2. Ricky T

3. Superman & Teddyson John

Skinny Fabulous: 2009 Vincy Soca Monarch

SKINNY FABULOUS

Big respect has to go to Gamal 'Skinny Fabulous' Doyle who repeated on his 2008 feat of taken the crown as 2008's Soca Monarch of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, this past weekend at Victoria Park. Last year, Skinny took the crown with the WICKED tune Head Bad [On The Spot] which went on to make the famed Soca Gold 2009 compilation and did so as one of the, if not THE biggest tunes on the album and you can probably expect a return visit from him on next year's edition as his tune for Vincy Mas 2k9, Leggo De Beast is definitely amongst my favourites from this year altogether. With all of his successes, Skinny has also turned himself into one of the most popular (and most talented) Soca artists in the world, using a style reminiscent of people like Bunji Garlin, Ricky T and others who infuse far more lyrics, Dancehall style, wonderfully into 'standard' "jump and wave" style Soca music.

A bit of controversy has arisen since the competition as quite a few people favoured five (or six) time Vincy Soca Monarch Fireman Hooper's performance over Skinny's but I leaned toward the eventual winner. You be the judge:

For my opinion: In Monarch Competition you need to go above and beyond the normal and both certainly did that but in terms of what it is, and I consider Vincy's to be amongst the most highly contested crowns that exist, the WINNER, whoever he/she is needs to give the viewer something he/she may NEVER forget. What Fireman did was PERFORM THE HELL OUT OF HIS TUNE and I didn't like it beforehand but I think I do now! But Skinny PRESENTED his song so well that I thought he had to get the nod. With a crazy performance and a crazy tune and special effects, a nice speech explaining the proverbial 'Beast' and even a nice bit to the fallen King Of Pop, he just won me over. Of course, I was watching on a NICE satellite feed (biggup my friend Leo everytime for patching me through) and I wasn't there and I know from experience, that can definitely play a role in determining one's choice but of the 8 or so people who I've since spoken to who did attend, 5 of them said Skinny clearly won, 2 could go either way and only one said highway robbery took place to Fireman Hooper.

Regardless, it was a great show and as for Skinny Fabulous definitely keep an eye and two ears out for him in the future. His win here, like it did last year, grants him a pass into next year's big show in Trinidad, the mecca of Soca music and Soca Monarch competition and he may very well improve on this year's performance of Head Bad.

I was there to see that and I didn't see three finer performances than Head Bad, I though he definitely deserved to place and I predict that should Skinny stay on his current roll, he MIGHT actually one day win the Trinidad crown as well despite the always present reported fuck-ups behind the scenes. I'm not a judge AT ALL but the man just does really great performances to my opinion and his songs (especially Head Bad) are popular to a degree in Trinidad.

Skinny's older brother, Problem Child, took 3rd in the competition after Skinny and Fireman as one and two despite having some health problems he still gave a strong effort with his tune Mad House and Demus took forth with Rum Junkie. And after that it was a LARGE drop off in my opinion including someone named Dolpin who I've never heard of and looked like he was about 400 years old singing some song you would hear in a loose cabaret. He actually had less cheers than the gap between the previous performer, as it started to rain and the crowd cheered and went MAD (and we wished we were there) (and we will be next year) for just the rain alone.

Also biggup Alpha who took St Lucia Groovy Monarch (I thought QPID deserved to win) despite a problem with his vocals and I will be there to see him try (and fail) to take the Soca Monarch crown from Ricky T (QPID did place second and TC Brown was third I believe).