Kerwin DuBois, 101: From “Wotless” To “Too Real”

Words By LargeUp Crew—

Trini soca star Kerwin Du Bois’ Fantastic Friday coronation last week—he won the Groovy Soca monarch title with his song “Too Real”— was a long time coming.  While his 2012 Carnival hit “Bacchanalist” marked his birth as a performance artist and immediately made him a staple on the groovy soca landscape, he’d been cultivating the bacchanalist in you before he admitted he was one himself.

Du Bois was cranking out hit after hit behind the scenes for years, producing and writing for the likes of Kes and Machel. As an artist, he’s kept up that spirit of cooperation through collaborations with other artists from Trinidad and beyond, showcasing his lyrical prowess while generating international appeal. A subtle force once before, he is now one to be reckoned with. Not sure how much of your worst behaviour he’s responsible for? Well let’s take a look at the man before he was too real.

Blaxx — “Breathless” (2008)

The breakthrough hit from Blaxx of the Roy Cape All Stars, “Breathless” is a great example of Kerwin Du Bois’ writing and production savvy. This track went on to establish Blaxx’s music career, securing his spot at the 2008 Soca Monarch Finals and earning him Soca Song of the Year title from the Copyright Music Organization of Trinidad & Tobago (COTT), Trinidad’s equivalent to ASCAP.

Alison Hinds, Destra and Denise Belfon — “Obsessive Winers” (2009)

What do you get when you get three of soca’s leading ladies on one track? Captivating vocals and a whole lot of West Indian attitude encapsulated in what’s known as “Obsessive Winers.” This Du Bois brainchild features the vocals of Destra, Allison Hinds and Denise “Saucy WoW” Belfon on what has become a quintessential anthem for winer gyals.

Destra and Kerwin DuBois — “Baddist” (2011)

Destra Garcia has been a driving force in the soca world ever since she first showed up on the scene in the late ’90s. So when Du Bois teamed up with the Queen of Bacchanal, it was no surprise the end result would end up like “Baddist,” a bold anthem encouraging worst behaviour.

Kes the Band x Kerwin Du Bois— “Wotless” (2011)

Kes the Band’s single “Wotless” helped renew and spark international interest in soca when it dropped in 2011. As the song’s co-writer with Kes, Du Bois managed to turn this local concept into a cultural movement, embracing the unapologetically laid-back demeanor of many West Indians. Infiltrating the West Indian diaspora and the urban music industry here in the US, it even earned a nomination for Best Caribbean performance at the Soul Train Awards. Kes and Kerwin’s chemistry was also on display in “Ah Ting,” a collaboration that gained commendable traction during the season as well.

Kerwin Du Bois- “Bachannalist” (2012)

You can’t celebrate Kerwin’s music career without mentioning his 2012 success “Bacchanalist.” The track stood out amongst others on Precision Production’s Antilles Riddim, which also included tracks from Machel Montano and Nadia Batson. With infectious lyrics and a smooth melody, it resonated deeply with Carnival fanatics and seasonal soca fans who let it all go during the season.

Kerwin Du Bois and Bunji Garlin- “Runaway” (2012)

The celebrated songwriter also collaborated with the Viking of Soca, Bunji Garlin, on the groovy sensation “Runaway” in 2012. With the plethora of parties and fetes that come during the Carnival Season, the concept of a home surely becomes a foreign one—hence the title of “Runaway.”

Kerwin Du Bois & Lil’ Rick- “Monster Winer” (2013)

For the 2013 Cropover season, Bajan hit maker Lil Rick (of “Go Dung” fame) summoned Du Bois for what has become the latest winer gyal anthem. “Monster Winer,” with its upbeat tempo blending soca and EDM and authoritative lyricism, gained momentum throughout 2013, with its popularity lasting well through the Trinidad carnival season.

Kerwin Du Bois- “Too Real” (2014)

Kerwin Du Bois had been leading the way for Groovy Soca these last few years, and this year he finally got the official recognition for it as his “Too Real” won in that category at last Friday’s International Soca Monarch competition. Taste in soca has been gravitating progressively towards a “wining groovy” sub category, a trend first evident evident with Jaiga’s “Action” from 2011 and perhaps best exemplified by “Too Real.” Even before Du Bois hit the stage in Port of Spain last Friday, the crowd could be heard chanting his name in anticipation of his performance. Watch his winning performance below.