Toppa Top ’16: The Best Soca Singles of 2016

Words by Jesse Serwer, Kamara Williams and Tishanna Williams
Photo by Eddie Pearson

2016 saw soca continue to venture on new paths and blend with other genres. While its influence could be heard in pop and R&B tracks like Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “Not Nice,” its own direction was less inspired by EDM and pop than in other recent years. Dancehall and Afrobeats were major influences, as Afro Soca fusion emanated out of Trinidad, St. Lucia and St. Vincent by way of Nigeria, while Barbados’ Bashment Soca sound really came into its own via riddims like One O’Clock and Zika. More than anything, there was great diversity.

Here’s the 16 tracks that had the soca massive wining up at Carnivals and fetes all year long. Note that these are all songs released for 2016 carnivals. New songs released in the last few months for Trinidad Carnival 2017 are not included — and the best of these will be duly acknowledged next year at this time!

Click here to start the list of 2016’s Best Soca Singles.

16. Marvay, “Know The Face”

Sometimes you know a star when you see one, and that’s how we felt when we saw Damian Marvay, or Marvay for short, perform “Know the Face” in Barbados this summer. While this singer is not new to the stage in Barbados, this breakout release made him a household name on the island, taking the People’s Monarch title at Crop Over this summer. It’s life may be just beginning, as it’s now made its way to Trinidad. With some serious vocal chops, and big-time charisma, Marvay is definitely leading the way for Bajan soca’s next wave. — Jesse Serwer

15. Machel Montano and Timaya, “Better Than Them”

Jamaican producer Kurt Riley’s Jambe An riddim keeps on thriving. Occupying a sweet spot between dancehall, soca and EDM, the instrumental first dropped in 2014, with a mostly Jamaican cast (Mavado, Khago) along with Guyana’s Timeka Marshall and Trinidad’s Shurwayne Winchester. Out of that came Charly Blacks’ “Gyal You a Party Animal,” one of the biggest crossover *dancehall* tunes of the last few years. Dancehall gets an asterisk here, ‘cause this one is bigger in Panama, Colombia and Trinidad than it is in Jamaica. With “Party Animal” still big in the soca fetes, Machel Montano and Nigeria’s Timaya connected for a new track on the riddim for the 2016 Trinidad Carnival season. The duo, who previously connected on a remix of Timaya’s “Shake Your Bum Bum” in 2014, showed their chemistry once more, but they weren’t the only ones with the same idea; Trini soca artist Pternsky put his own Carnival-focused spin on the Jambe An with “Non Stop.” — Jesse Serwer

14. Ricky T feat. Eempey Slicker, “Freaky Girls”/Motto feat. Problem Child and Mr. Legz, “Bend Dong” (Remix)

St. Lucia has been a hotbed of creative soca activity lately. Producer/artist Lashley “Motto” Winter of Fox Productions has been blending soca with Angolan kuduro on tracks like “Bend Dong,” a 2014 release he revisited this year on a remix featuring St. Vincent’s Problem Child and Grenada’s Mr. Legz. And Ricky T and U.S.-based Eempey Slicker brought a zouk vibe on “Freaky Girls.” Then there was Islah Man’s “Madd Madd,” power soca with a mad, comical energy and lyrics touching on the financial hardships of Carnival time. All worthy of mention here in what was a big year for the Lucian massive. — Jesse Serwer

13. Mason, “Dem Vincy”

Like the other smaller islands that are not Trinidad and Barbados, St. Vincent is sometimes overlooked within the sphere of soca. Behind the scenes, Vincentian producers like Kubiyashi, Weddy Beats and Stadic have been killing it with their inter-island collaborations, but local artists haven’t gotten as much shine off the island lately. This year saw an explosion of great music out of Vincy, but if you weren’t feteing in SVG or close by, you might have missed it. One tune that we couldn’t ignore was “Dem Vincy” by Mason, an artist who also goes by the nickname “Panty Man.” After one listen to “Dem Vincy,” you’ll have a good idea why. Just try and sit or stand still when this one comes on. Not possible! Like so much good Vincentian music, Kubiyashi had a hand in the production; if you’re feeling the vibes, check out some of his other work this year, like the brilliant Rebel Panda riddim featuring Skinny Fabulous, Problem Child and Antigua’s Tian Winter. — Jesse Serwer

12. Machel Montano, “Waiting on the Stage”

Machel Montano proved yet again why he’s the King Of Soca (and, specifically, Power Soca) with his mega hit “Waiting on the Stage.” The heavily EDM-infused track captures the overwhelming excitement and anticipation every masquerader feels right before crossing the stage at Carnival. I mean, what’s more invigorating than hearing, “Is whole year that we waiting, and we anticipating” right before parading the iconic Queens Park Savannah stage at Trinidad Carnival? With the complete euphoria this tune insinuates, it was only right for Monk Monte to snag his third-consecutive Trinidad Carnival Road March win, and eighth such title overall, with this one. Just like ah boss. — Kamara Williams

11. GBM Nutron, “Scene”

GBM Nutron really had the crowds grooving with this one this Carnival. “Scene” introduced this artist to the masses but true soca lovers would know that he has 13 years of writing and producing under his belt, as part of the NY-based Trinidadian team Great Brooklyn Movements, or GBM. 2016 saw Nutron experiencing what would be his most successful year. Timing was perfect with the vibe of the Carnival moving from hard-pumping power hits to a groovy beat and “Scene,” with its brass section riffs was right there to run away with the crowd. — Tishanna Williams

10. Kes, “People”

We know ain’t nothing a Trini massive loves better than a song that promotes turning up with our Day 1s at our favorite time of year. Kes has been giving us vibes for years and his style of soca has an international appeal none can deny. For 2016, he gave the road an anthem and paid tribute to his fans with “People” — a track for the road, the club or the backyard cookout, since we all can relate to the concept of ‘Day 1’ friends. Although we can’t say he has always had it easy as an artist, the years he spent proving himself to tough Trini crowds has paid off, and what better way to celebrate and show his gratitude than with a soca filled with heartfelt lyrical gratitude for his long-time supporters? — Tishanna Williams

9. King Bubba FM, “Calling in Sick”

In soca, a tune is truly a hit if it survives multiple carnivals — a rule Barbados’ King Bubba FM knows well, as he has a few of those crossover bangers in his arsenal. After taking Crop Over 2016 by storm, “Calling in Sick” is quickly picking up steam for Trinidad Carnival 2017. The irresistible sing-a-long melody and the all-too-relatable concept of faking sickness to fete, a norm for every West Indian, help make this one an instant classic that’s surely here to stay. We can’t wait to see how many carnivals this track is going to concur. — Kamara Williams

8. Bunji Garlin, “Take Over Town”

Bunji Garlin’s “Take Over Town” didn’t make a huge mark at Trinidad Carnival, but this uniquely-paced track has picked up fans like St. Thomas/USVI pop stars R. City, who added their touch to this cross-island remix. Produced by St. Vincent’s Stadic, one of the most consistently creative soca producers at the moment, “Take Over Town” fuses a driving dance melody with some heavy drumming from legendary Trinidadian drum group, the Laventille Rhythm Section. But it’s Bunji Garlin’s vocals, which describe Carnival with the drama of an Ancient poet narrating a Roman siege, that make “Take Over Town” truly epic. — Jesse Serwer

7. Angela Hunte, “Mon Bon Ami”

After scoring the sleeper hit of Trinidad Carnival 2015 with her Machel Montano collaboration “Party Done,” Angela Hunte, the New York-based Trinidadian singer/songwriter best known for her work with Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, stepped back into the soca arena for a big tune of her own in “Mon Bon Ami.” It was the standout track on the Ti’Punch riddim, an ethereal fusion of soca and French Antillean sounds produced by “Party Done” beatmaker DJ Buddha. Hunte’s soaring vocals and the track’s accordion-based melody combined to create a unique, wistful feel atypical of soca — a genre more typically associated with explosiveness and celebration. This one was definitely a sleeper. — Jesse Serwer

6. Erphaan Alves – “Intentions”

This one is for di gyal who “doh play,” the “bess” winer in a fete, the performer, the woman who’s been waiting to show the world what she’s been practicing in front of the mirror. Or all of the above. Written by Erphaan Alves himself, produced by Chainlinxxx Productions and mastered by Precision Productions, “Intentions” is an anthem for any woman wanting to unleash her dancing skills, and any man itching to “take ah wine and ah touch.” With tunes like this under Alves’ belt, let’s just say the future of soca is safe. — Kamara Williams

5. Machel Montano, “Need It”

The uptempo beat to “Need It” sweeps you off your feet again and again within the short distance of four minutes. This monster hit from Machel, produced by LA-based, Trinidadian producer London Future, is a fusion of so many sweet rhythms that it’s overwhelmingly good. And if that isn’t enough, there’s a mellow sample of Bob Marley’s “Jammin” that comes in at the end to heal your soul. It’s definitely a mood lifter with a fitting title, as it always leaves you needing more.  Undoubtedly one of those ‘on-repeat’ type of songs. — Kamara Williams

4. Olatunji, “Oh Yay”

Soca diehards everywhere can count on Olatunji to bring the traditional soca vibes with a twist. As of late, that extra special something has been an infusion of Afrobeat rhythms into soca, as heard in 2015’s “Ola,” and this past season’s “Oh Yay.” Right from the jump, this tune throws you into an infectious tempo. After that nothing could stop the full-body dancing, while chanting “Oh yay, yay yay yay”! — Kamara Williams

3. Marz Ville feat. Snap Brandy, “Bang Bim”
(Honorable Mention: Stiffy, “Tek Off Something”)

Bashment soca is a distinctly Bajan fusion of soca and vintage dancehall or, as one YouTube commenter put it brilliantly, “soca music that does mek ya wuk up stink stink with ya face push up and one leg in the air.” Although it’s been bubbling in Barbados since at least 2010, when Lil Rick’s “Go Down” became a massive hit, the sound really made its presence felt this year. LargeUp even produced a Bashment Soca mixtape with Barbados’ Jon Doe, bottling the raw energy of this growing sub-genre. The breakout song out of the Crop Over was Marz Ville’s “Bang Bim,” an exuberant anthem delivered over the infectious energy of DJ Spider’s One O’Clock riddim. One O’Clock is chock full of what Bajans might call dibbiness, like Stiffy’s “Tek Off Something,” which actually won the inaugural Bashment Soca Monarch competition — and belong just below “Bang Bim” as an honorable mention. But “Bang Bim” was literally unstoppable, hitting all the post-Crop Over Carnivals (New York, Miami, etc.) like a runaway Carnival truck. This is the song to “get on bad” to right now.  — Jesse Serwer

2. Tron, RR Rhythm (feat. Salty, M1, Orlando Octave, Blaxx and Fantom DunDeal)

Yuh want speed? Yuh want speed? These words became the soca catchphrase of the year (see also “Bang Bim”), thanks to Trinidadian radio announcer Salty’s “Gyal Meets Brass F Jam,” a standout track on the RR Rhythm from DJ/artist-turned-producer Dawg E. Slaughter (a/k/a Tron). The rhythm itself proved to be the most unique release of the 2016 Trinidad Carnival season, having begun its life as a project for one of Slaughter’s courses at the University of Trinidad & Tobago. Featuring a traditional brass band and the “iron” sounds synonymous with Trinidadian riddim sections, the track immediately stood out for its use of organic instrumentation. While “Gyal Meets Brass F Jam,” which was also remixed with Fay-Ann Lyons, was perhaps the most widely-heard track, the rhythm deserves to be heard in full.

1. Voice, “Cheers to Life”

Some years the choice for the No. 1 spot is tough. This year, Aaron St. Louis, better known as Voice, made it easy when he shattered soca’s glass ceiling with “Cheers to Life” and an insane musical trajectory that landed him in the most coveted title in the genre — the International Soca Monarch.

Having previously worked behind the scenes on Machel’s “Like ah Boss” and Kerwin Dubois’ “Too Real,” this year Voice took up the mic and destroyed the soca formula, proving that positive lyrics (“From you wake up this mawwwnninnn/You’s a winner!”) could move a crowd to get on bad. “Cheers to Life” is a song soca lovers were waiting for: One to make you jump, scream and reflect all at the same time. No matter who you were, we all latched onto his feelgood lyrics as we jumped high and wined low this Carnival.

Stardom in the soca fraternity generally takes years, so when you can make the move from songwriter to artist, become the youngest person to win the International Soca Monarch Competition, become so in demand that you put your degree on hold for a year to fulfill tour obligations, and release two more consecutive hits with “Get Away” and “Far From Finished,” all within a year… how could you not deserve a place at the top? — Tishanna Williams

HONORABLE MENTION: Runtown featuring Machel Montano, Wizkid and Walshy Fire, “Bend Down Pause” (Remix)

Nigerian Afrobeats star Runtown’s “Bend Down Pause” wasn’t necessarily “a soca” when it first dropped but when Machel Montano joins the party in the middle of the Trinidad Carnival season, well that’s what it becomes, dammit. Released amidst hype over the arrival of Afro Soca — Soca with an African accent, or Afrobeats with a Caribbean twist — “Bend Down Pause” gets grouped with Afro-themed soca hits like Olatunji’’s “Ola” and “Oh Yay,” although rhythmically it pulls more from a dancehall tradition. In the end, the beauty of this song was how seamlessly it defied category, becoming a truly international anthem, exhorting girls from Trinidad to Jamaica to Nigeria to do exactly as the title says. — Jesse Serwer

Various Artists (St. Lucia) – Wahalla Riddim

Various Artists (St. Vincent) – Rebel Panda Riddim

Mr. Killa x Jus Now – Bam Bam

Lil Rick – Break Down De Fence

Scrilla – Gyal Drop

Machel Montano – Temperature

Destra – Dip and Ride

Nikita – Bun It Up

Ricardo Drue – Stamp Yuh Name