Bois Bandé, Dominica’s Love Potion
This natural aphrodisiac, made from the bark of the Richeria grandis tree, is an ingredient in a popular local rum.
Road Movies: Eight Soca Videos For Trinidad Carnival
Words by Kimberly Burgess—
If you're ready for Carnival, but can't revel in the bacchanal of Trinidad & Tobago's second-to none annual street party (the best street party in the world, in our opinion... Read More...
Iz Ah Trini: Trinidad James On Trinidad (+”All Gold Everything” Soca Remix)
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Rapper Trinidad James returned to his birthplace of Trinidad last week, performing at Machel Montano's Machel Mondays concert and shooting a video for his new single "Females Welco... Read More...
Toppa Top 10: The Best Caribbean Carnivals
Words by Steve Bennett, Erin MacLeod, Jesse Serwer and Jillionaire—
It's officially, unequivocally carnival season. Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Dominica, Martinique and Rio de Janeiro are just a few ... Read More...
LargeUp Premiere: Jus Now’s “One Time” Video
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Occupying a space between power soca, steelpan and the freakiest outer limits of U.K. dance music, "One Time" is the debut single from Jus Now, the Anglo-Trinidadian duo of Interfa... Read More...
Video: Machel Montano + Freetown Collective “Represent” For Trinidad
Words by Jesse Serwer—
The 13-minute-long clip for Machel Montano and Trini band Freetown Collective's "Represent (Remix)" is definitely not your typical soca video. As much of a short film as it is a mu... Read More...
Soca Survivor: The Return of Super Blue
Words by Jesse Serwer—
The biggest news in soca this month is the return of Superblue —father of Fay-Ann Lyons and Terri Lyons, and the originator of the jump and wave craze—to Trinidad's Soca Monarch co... Read More...
Toppa Top 10: Jillionaire’s 2012 Best of Everything List
Words by Jillionaire—
LA-via-Port-of-Spain DJ/producer Jillionaire spent the better part of 2012 traveling the world as part of the current incarnation of Major Lazer, spreading Trini vibes everywhere fr... Read More...
Audio: Stream Bunji Garlin’s “Savage”
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Bunji Garlin isn't one of these uptown soca artists who rides in to Carnival on a high horse. No, on his new groovy tune "Savage," Trinidad's most rugged-voiced soca warrior emphat... Read More...
Toppa Top 10: The Caribbean’s Best Rum Creams
Hold the egg nog. Nobody does liquor + cream like the islands.
LargeUp Investigates: Trinidad James
Words by Jesse Serwer—
If you follow rap music closely, you've probably heard the name Trinidad James come up recently. Essentially unknown a few months ago, the Atlanta rapper has a sudden swell of hype... Read More...
Impressions: The Styles of Miami Broward Carnival
Photos by Jesse Serwer and Simone Serwer—
Visitors from New York are a huge contingent at Miami Carnival weekend but the October event (or the Miami Broward One Carnival, as it's known in full) is a whol... Read More...