Toppa Top ’15: The Best Soca Tracks of 2015

Words by LargeUp Crew
Photo by Colin Williams

No matter how you slice it, 2015 was a sweet year for soca. The usual suspects (Machel Montano, Kerwin Du Bois, Destra) made some of their best music yet, while newer names like Olatunji and Lyrikal made moves towards a place in the genre’s top rung. Barbados and smaller islands like Antigua, St. Lucia and tiny Carriacou made their mark, too, with top-flight anthems that traveled far beyond their local Carnivals.

We’re so hyped on this year’s crop of soca that we had to go extra long, with 15 (actually, 16) picks, just to scratch the surface. And we couldn’t even pick one No. 1. After much debate, we found two tracks were equally worthy of top status, so in the tradition of International Soca Monarch’s dual crowns, we’ve got two “winners” this year.

Start the list here.

15. Peter Ram – All Ah We

Not only did Peter Ram’s “All Ah We” win “Tune of De Crop” at Crop Over 2015, but it is already a hit in Trinidad which means it will be going strong into 2016. The Bajan soca star, well known in the Caribbean for making hit music like “Woman By My Side,” co-wrote “All Ah We” with Trinidadian Jason “Shaft” Bishop, who is also responsible for Fadda Fox’s “Duckin,” and Destra’s “Lucy.” Not only did this track hit upon a groovy sound with a call and response chant that gave it a well-rounded feel but Ram also scored a hat trick in Barbados with“All Ah We” winning Party Monarch, Foreday Morning Stagjam King and the Road March crown. —Tishanna Williams

14. Fadda Fox – Ducking

We’ve all been there; woke up a morning and decided we weren’t going to work but understood the rest of the day would be spent ducking; ducking your responsibilities, ducking your co-workers, and duckin your boss. A song dedicated to the natural gravitation to feting that happens around every Carnival, Bajan artist Fadda Fox’s contribution for Carnival 2015 couldn’t have been a more fitting soundtrack for the season. Thanks to its addictive hook and a catchy riddim from Darien Bailey and Kerwin Marshall, “Ducking” has made itself a Carnival staple. —Marcha M. Johnson

13. Kes – Fallin

A talented vocalist with a penchant for invigorating, feelgood lyrics and an ear for melodic instrumentals, Kes is one soca artist who has definitely found his niche. Every year he reaffirms his status as soca’s lover boy, releasing blissful tracks that provide a sweet escape from the high-energy releases that tend to dominate once Carnival comes around each year. “Fallin” is a soundtrack for masquerade bliss, encouraging listeners to follow as Kes advocates partying literally to his physical limit (i.e. “falling down.”) Between Mad Men Production’s captivating production and Kes’ memorable hook, this was one of those Carnival anthems that was impossible to ignore this year.. —LargeUp Crew

12. Lyrikal – Loner

In a season where all the tunes are geared towards the women, Lyrikal came with this one for the guys. Lyrikal provides the perfect response for all the women worried about letting their men out into the streets for Carnival: “Don’t Worry/But I can’t promise I won’t wine on nobody” His rationale? “The road have too much woman….” We couldn’t agree more. Every Trini knows Carnival is never complete until you “tief a wine” on a sexy gyul in a skimpy costume. After all, with women outnumbering men on the road in Trinidad, the guys really are providing a service. Let’s just hope they take in our “Rules for D Road” before they take to the streets unsupervised. —Tishanna Williams

11. Fay-Ann Lyons – Raze

In 2015, it was the Queen that held the kingdom down. With so many pining for the “Differentology” effect, Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez gave us “Raze.” A soca that wasn’t only a soca, the best part of this song was the rock and EDM undertones, which kept it prominent in our music libraries long after Trinidad Carnival season was over. —Tishanna Williams

10. Cloud 5 – No Behavior (Shell Down)

Soca from the Caribbean’s small islands reached much further than usual this year — the most remarkable example being “No Behaviour” by Cloud 5, a conglomerate of previously unknown teenage artists from tiny Carriacou, in the Grenadines. The song’s odd, discordant melody immediately sets it apart from, transforming the energy in any room, while Bigred, Melo, KC and Scout’s jab jab vocals carry you right into J’Ouvert morning anytime it plays. —Jesse Serwer

9. Kerwin Du Bois – Circles

Kerwin Du Bois keeps coming stronger and stronger every Trinidad Carnival, and he definitely outdid himself this year with tracks like “Circles,” one of his biggest-sounding anthems to date. “Circles” was also possibly the most underrated song of Trinidad’s Carnival season this year (the same could also be said for the bouncy “Magnetic”) as it failed to gain the same traction as last year’s Groovy Soca Monarch-winning “Too Real” or this year’s “No Apologies.” But Du Bois’ triumphant production and R&B harmonies on the track took beyond the realm of soca into new melodic territory we’re hoping he continues to explore with his releases for 2016. —Jesse Serwer

8. Teddyson Johnson – Allez

Another small island entry, Teddyson John’s “Allez” rose out of Lucian Carnival in the summer to become one of the major anthems in Miami this October. A Caribbean answer to Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Allez” has universal lyrics, and its own signature dance — it definitely isn’t your typical soca track. With an appeal that clearly goes beyond Carnival concerns, it is sure to keep waists wining right into next summer and beyond. —Jesse Serwer

7. Kerwin Du Bois — No Apology

Kerwin Du Bois might as well be dubbed the King of Groovy Soca. The Trinidadian is a surefire hitmaker with a penchant for interspersing a slow croon with a power soca-type drop that sends the crowd into a frenzy, before taking them down for a short breather and back up again. His 2015 anthem “No Apology” is a clear statement of intended bad behavior without remorse. The artist encouraged the crowd to “get nasty” and the ladies to “take jam” — something the Caribbean knows well with the acrobatic wining styles showcased during each island’s Carnival. If there was a perfect ratio of groovy to soca required to make a song an across-the-board hit, Kerwin has found it: This year “No Apology,” which lit up Crop Over, Spice Mas and Trini Carnival, was his piece de resistance. —Tishanna Williams

6. Benjai — Phenomenal

After an interesting 2014 season (he stripped down to boxers for almost every show!) many wondered if Benjai’s career was over. But with “Phenomenal” and it’s memorable proclamation “Soca does give me meh powers,” every Carnival goer was Team Benjai in 2015. Olatunji won the Groovy Soca Monarch title at this year’s International Soca Monarch competition with “Ola,” a different track on the same riddim, Kan Kan riddim, but “Phenomenal” may have well been the people’s choice, as its popularity has only grown. —Tishanna Williams

5. Lyrikal – Cloud 9

As a resident of Brooklyn, Trinidad-born Lyrikal has been something of an outsider in the soca world. But this year he made himself an insider with two big tunes that played throughout the season. His biggest contribution to the Trinidad Carnival season was “Cloud 9,” a track that’s only become more prominent in the months following the big event, soundtracking peak moments at fetes from BK to Bridgetown. —Jesse Serwer

4. Angela Hunte ft. Machel Montano – Party Done

Trini-American singer/songwriter Angela Hunte stated in 2014 that, “A song is a piece of you. You must treat your property like it is gold!” The then very pregnant Grammy awardee went on to deliver both a baby girl and one of the hottest collaborations the Caribbean has felt in years. Enlisted by Machel Montano for his “Monk Monte”-themed 2015 Carnival season, the duo dropped “Party Done” providing the anthem for every man, woman, crew and DJ’s entrance and exit at any fete. The only thing that could have possibly made this soca even bigger was a hit video, which Monk and Hunte provided by enlisting Pan! Our Music Odyssey director Jerome Guiot, who brought a style similar to that of the award-winning Trini film God Loves the Fighter. The video, featuring talented actress Kimberly ‘Kimbo’ Crichton and two sidekicks turning up in clubs, stealing cars and making out with unknown men in dark corners, raised controversy among viewers who found it too risqué — but that just gave this track more steam. “Party Done” continued to be a big hit for the entire year, and has definitely earned it’s spot in our top 3. —Tishanna Williams

3. Olatunji – Ola

The African influence in soca music has always been there, but the rising popularity of Afrobeats has made it significantly more noticeable lately. Soca artists and producers are incorporating African elements into their instrumentation and lyrics, fusing the two worlds into one AfroSoca sound. This trend really revealed itself this past year, with the fusion of cultures and genres perhaps best exemplified by Olatunji’s “Ola,” released on Advokit Productions’ Kan Kan Riddim, an enchanting instrumental perfectly complemented by Olatunji’s now-signature chanted vocals. The simplicity and charm of “Ola” gave it a firm grip on the Carnival season festivities, from its release early in the fall to Fantastic Friday, when it earned Olatunji first place at the 2015 International Groovy Soca Monarch competition. — LargeUp Crew

1. Machel Montano – Like Ah Boss

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Wait, ‘Where’s No. 2?’ you’re probably asking. That’s not a typo above. There’s no No. 2 this year, just two No. 1s. Because both of the following tunes deserve it.)

Released this time a year ago, Machel Montano’s “Like Ah Boss” set the tone for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2015 almost immediately. And while we’ve come to expect nothing less from the reigning king of soca, “Like A Boss” brought together the multitude of cultural elements that inform the season’s activities, with a mixture of elements to appeal to today’s generation, and others for those who have come before.

Roc Nation’s Deputy — the Brooklyn-based Trini-American producer behind Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” — aling frequent Machel collaborator London Future constructed “Like Ah Boss” together, cleverly interpolating defining characteristics from Carnival’s past, present and future, from blowing whistles and beating metal (which set off the explosive energy that sparks the beginning of the tune faithfully persists for its duration) to the brass band melodies with which the track climaxes.

“Like Ah Boss” also incorporated the writing talents of up-and-coming soca artist Preedy, and Roy Cape and his All Stars, Trinidad’s most iconic brass band, each piece setting a perfect foundation for lyrics rooted in local colloquialisms and expressions of patriotism. The artistry in its arrangement translated into overwhelming popularity, earning Machel this year’s Power Soca Monarch crown, and sweeping to Road March status on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It was an integral ingredient of the Carnival experience this year, overcoming listeners with the spirit of bacchanal no matter when and where it was heard. —LargeUp Crew

1. Destra – Lucy

In 2015, the feminist movement took exponential jumps forward, women globally taking back once inhibited rights of sovereignty and independence. As a man who stands for equality across the board, it is pleasing to see the disparaging walls of sexism being trashed. Here in the Caribbean, the movement culminated with music, as most things do ’round yah. The most notable example came from Trinidad’s Queen of Bacchanal, Destra — no stranger to themes of female empowerment — who composed the song “Lucy,” a driving soca track produced By De Red Boyz, with Jason “Shaft” Bishop.

Immediately you could feel its impact on the airwaves, and through stereos and ringtones. The situation was reminiscent of the impact Ms. Alison Hinds had with “Roll It Gyal,” however in 2008 Ms. Hinds did not have the expanded social media/Internet output generated by the Caribbean currently. Ms. Garcia does, and she used it well proper. She manifested the addictive song of female independence and growth into the character, Lucy, in an entertaining, animated video. (Leading to more videos with “Lucy,” and even apparel). Young ladies began using the term for cordial endearment with each other (“Aye Lucy!”), while the track became the most utilized song for mas bands with high female contingents. All of this signalling that the song took on a cultural embodiment, which is the highest rung of artistic accomplishment. Though “Lucy” did not garner any competition awards (which usually boil down to stage performance), it had already won over the streets and countrysides. Lastly, from a male perspective here, when “Lucy” comes on in the dance… c’mon son… C’MON SON! It’s the tropical “Single Ladies.” Sit back and enjoy the Queens having their moments. Lucy was the pinnacle for 2015. —Kaya.lah

Honorable Mention: Ricardo Drue – Vagabond

Along with Lyrikal, Antigua’s Ricardo Drue was definitely the breakout soca artist of 2015. Now, “Vagabond” was actually released in 2014, for that year’s Antigua Carnival, which technically should make it ineligible for our list. But it really broke out as a regional hit leading up to this year’s Trinidad Carnival — and since we missed it on last year’s list —we’re rewriting the rules a bit to make a rare exception to our typically rigid criteria. “Vagabond” just deserves it. You certainly couldn’t play a soca fete this year without running it. Drue’s colorful, rum-soaked approach to vocals has made him the Caribbean’s new King of drinking anthems—his 2015 Antigua Carnival contribution “Professional,” could just have easily made the list. But it’s “Vagabond” that is Drue’s master work, and the template for that track as well.  —Jesse Serwer