Toppa Top 10: The Biggest Soca Tunes of 2013

Words by Jam Central, Tishanna Williams and Jesse Serwer—

This year saw soca music stand up and declare itself alongside other international genres. No longer relegated to the Carnival season, soca has become a year-round phenomenon, and a global one, too, as DJs across the U.S. and the U.K. add it to their repertoire, and international production units like Major Lazer and Jus Now add their sound to Carnival music.

Originating from Trinidad, with grounding in the calypso and rapso movements of past years, soca is ever evolving and so too seems to be the public’s taste. Unlike past years, it was the groovy soca genre —a relatively new category that has been gaining popularity over the years—that got the heaviest airplay internationally (check out Jillionaire’s Fog Up D Place mix for LargeUp for an overview of this year’s best groovy). While Super Blue’s “Fantastic Friday” might have been the talk of Trinidad Carnival, it was easily eclipsed as the year wore on by songs with far less impact at Carnival, and, of course, one big tune that’s got the whole world getting ready for di road. Female artists seemed to be underrepresented as well this year, and that may be why so many tracks that allow for a tight squeeze and slow wine made the cut.

Away from Trinidad, Bajan and Grenadian soca artistes are also going strong and setting the pace with tracks that have us predicting a hot and sweaty 2014 soca year.Click here to scroll through our picks for the best in 2013 soca.

10. Mr. Killa, “Rolly Polly”

2013 saw thick ladies claiming their bodies as never before and Mr. Killa was right there to welcome them. The Grenadian soca star has been heating up the airwaves and fetes with his declaration of wanting only “Rolly Polly” women. Even the video for the track, directed by Ronnie Homer of Ahtick Studio Production Inc, features Killa rejecting slimmer women in favor of the wining skills of bigger girls. The Grenadian soca sensation, known for his high-energy hits and stage acrobactics, debuted the tune at Grenada’s Spice Mas Carnival this year, and has been slowly but surely gaining Caribbean and international traction. This track is a definite winner that will definitely be around for the 2014 season as well. —Tishanna Williams

9. Denise Belfon, “Wining Queen”

“I is the Wining Queen of the soca. They call me so since ah small….” Trust us when we say this diva lives up to her name. With her impressive dance moves and a long list of hits (she’s been a soca staple since the age of 22, after an ankle injury made her unable to accept a football scholarship to Howard University), “Saucy” has been waving the thick and sexy flag throughout the region for years. “Wining Queen” became one of the top tracks off the hard hitting Project5 Riddim produced by StarBlu Entertainment and Millbeatz, and one of the few  female-sung tracks to make a major splash across the region this year.—Tishanna Williams

8. Porgie and Murda, “Condense”

Porgie N Murda is a Bajan Comedy television series but the pair behind the show created a piece of musical genius that didn’t just have us laughing, but also wukkin up— and asking, “what are they saying?” A big song for Crop Over 2013, “Condense” refers to ladies who are said to be as sweet as condensed milk. For a song supposedly written in 15 minutes, “Condense” has taken on quite a lifespan, gaining steam at Brooklyn Labor Day and Miami Carnivals, and now ahead towards Trinidad Carnival. Barbados has always stood its ground in the soca arena with acts like Krosfyah, Allison Hinds/Square One and Rupee. Will this unlikely duo be the next names added to Barbados’ soca hall of fame? —Tishanna Williams

7. Lil Rick, “Kotch De Bumper”

Another hit released for the 2013 Crop Over season, Xtreme Platter’s Addicted riddim features hits from other artists including soca superstar Machel Montano, but Lil Rick’s “Kotch De Bumper” kotches out. The inclusion of wine, drop, jiggle, twerk, wuk up, and 6:30 all in one tune makes for interesting feting.—Jam Central

6. Machel Montano and Kerwin Du Bois, “Posessed”

“Possessed” saw Machel Montano and Kerwin Du Bois take soca back to its roots by enlisting South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The group most popularly known for their work with Paul Simon on the 1986 album, Graceland, lends their soulful harmonies to this ambitious collaboration. Much like its title, the song captivates the listener and encourages them to lose themselves in the moment and all that the artform has to offer. So, if you find yourself in a fete a little out of character, “Possessed” makes it safe to say you can blame it on the music. —Jam Central

5. 5 Star Akil, “Partier”

For some, a “partier” is someone who frequents clubs and fetes a few times per week. But a true Trini, especially for the Carnival season, takes it to the next level. 5Star Akil gives you the gist of what that means in the intro to his popular 2013 soca hit for 2013 when he declares, “I in meh zone. When ah partying ah feting alone…” Akil definitely made a smart move in teaming up with Samuel Jack and Sheriff Music (Sheriff is also the mastermind behind Bunji Garlin’s “Differentology”) to produce what may just be the breakthrough that will forward his career in the international soca arena. Two years ago, this DJ-turned-soca star narrowly escaped death after being shot five times for reasons that still remain unknown, since then he’s been making every moment count, striving for a level of excellence that has made him a role-model for young and old alike. —Tishanna Williams

4. Kerwin Du Bois and Lil Rick, “Monster Winer”

3. Blaxx, “Leh Go”

Love him or hate him, this long-standing member of the band Roy Cape All Stars has proven his mettle in the soca arena and is without a doubt here to stay. With hits such as “Breathless,” “Tusty” and “Tantie Woi,” Blaxx has consistently turned out crowd pleasers, but his 2013 hit “Leh Go,” off Julio/Nu Generation Studios’ Soca Future Riddim, has remained in rotation on the party scene throughout the year. Never fazed by negative comments directed at him during his career, Blaxx is 13 years deep in the soca business, with no sign of slowing down. The artist is already gearing up for 2014, expanding his musical reach with a dancehall collaboration, and promising surprises for the upcoming year. —Tishanna Williams

2. Machel Montano, “The Fog”

He’s been a household name in Trinidad since the age of nine, and the leading voice of soca music internationally for over a decade: Machel Montano continues to push forward with hit after hit. This year, his track “The Fog” brings us back to that feeling of euphoria known to all die-hard party animals.

Produced and mixed by Precision Productions and written by the artist in collaboration with Full Blown Entertainment, Nikholai Greene and Kasey Phillips, “The Fog” vibe was encapsulated with a wicked video shot by God Loves the Fighter director Damien Marcano. Shot on location in Carnival central, Trinidad, the golden boy of soca showed he was not out of touch with his fans and their need for something epic to move with on the dance floor. We can’t wait to see what he will be heating up the soca charts with for Carnival 2014. —Tishanna Williams

1. Bunji Garlin, “Differentology”

“Differentology” wasn’t just the biggest soca tune of 2013, it was the biggest song in the Caribbean in 2013. Not even the Chronixx-led reggae revival made more waves. Like most songs for Trinidad Carnival, it was actually released the year prior, in November 2012, but it was of course propelled into the stratosphere by its popularity at the event it was made for.

Sounding more like a war chant than a happy party tune, “Differentology” had the distinction of being that rare soca in minor key, chords usually associated with sad music as opposed to uptempo, glorious soca. The result was a distinctive energy that has proven unforgettable. As 2013 blends into 2014, the track is still gaining steam, playing on radio stations across the U.S., and at basketball arenas like the Barclays Center. This month, we even brought Bunji to Brooklyn Bowl to perform “Differentology” with the Roots, the first time the world’s No. 1 hip-hop band had ever played soca. “Differentology” is also the No. 1 most “Shazammed” song in many markets, according to the smartphone app Shazam, as new listeners try to figure out what that “‘We Ready’ song” is called.

So yeah, “Differentology” isn’t going anywhere soon. When we’re doing our best of the “Two Thousand Teens” wrapup in six years, don’t be surprised if this one comes out on top. —Jesse Serwer

Honorable Mention: Bunji Garlin, “Savage”

Experimentation paid off in a big way for Bunji Garlin in 2013, as “Differentology” wasn’t his only tune this year with a sound all its own. Produced by Anglo-Trinidadian production team Jus Now (sample their One Time EP featuring Bunji’s “Tun Up” here) “Savage” was built around a sample of Trini calypsonian Maestro’s classic tune of the same name, giving it a  soulful, analog feel that easily differentiated it from any other soca tune this year, or any other. —Jesse Serwer