Words by Jillionaire—
Tonight, the biggest event in the run-up to Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival and the biggest event of the year for soca music, the International Soca Monarch competition, goes down at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain. Last week, we had our Trini correspondent Jillionaire (a/k/a Trini Chris) weigh in with his his top Power Soca picks for this year’s Road March. Now, Jilli’s back with his picks for what promises to be an even more heated Groovy Soca competition.
Hello universe!
So carnival dis year is definitely about the groovy. The music keeps getting better and better, and las year crop ah chunes was real good but like this year even better.
10. Benjai, “People’s Champion”
I eh go lie, this is one of my favorites this year. Jai definitely know how to make chunes to drink rum to. Call ah nex rounds!
9. Swappi, “4D Gyal”
Swappi is a boss — always willing to experiment with forward sounding production, and he always have some kinda clever wordplay going on. 1st Klase on production duty so you know is a hit.
8. Super Jigga TC, “Action”
TC in the game long time now – he parlay his way from sound system DJ to radio entertainer to television presenter to soca star. and his chunes always have a vibes.
7. Shal Marshall, “Trouble”
Shal and TC both have the same kinda vibes going on – they both took a similar path to soca music, and have been performing together, wowing the ladies this carnival.
6. Farmer Nappy, “Surrender”
Nappy is another who know how to make a good rum chune, a good chipping chune. When you see Carnival Tuesday evening reach and we just eat lunch by Jackson Square, Nappy providing the soundtrack for the chip round the savannah and into St James.
5. Kerwin Du Bois, “Bacchanalist”
Kerwin has been writing and producing tracks for all the bosses – Machel and Kees, jus to name two – but he come real strong this year, and “Bacchanalist” is already carnival anthem.
4. KI and JMC 3veni, “Single Forever”
Yuh know every year yuh muss have a good chat-ah-nee in the lineup. A Chaguanas man myself, I have a soft spot for chutney and puncheon – ah go be single forever!
3. Shurwayne Winchester, “Wine on It”
I play this dancehall tinged monster every night and it goes off every time. Shurwayne is a bag ah boss.
2. Machel Montano, “Vibes Cyah Done”/”Mr. Fete”
I couldna jus pick one nah! The names say it all!
1 . Kes the Band, “Stress Away”
This song gives me goosebumps every time. I will always remember the first time I heard it, and thought WOW—BANGER. And then I ran into Kees and Klase one night, and we rolled back to the studio with a big crew for a late night lissening sesh. By the end of the night everybody knew all the words, cuz we’d lissened to this track about ten times easy — for all who hatin, I doh geh upset.
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