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