rolling soca / chutney / jab 2016

Soca Season 2016 has been bubbling for a while now and Kerwin Du Bois's Arrogant is one of my absolute favourites thus far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XcwKGhJXbg

oh-oh-OH!

ILM's Rolling Soca Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist
^ will be updating in February

YES!

"arrogant" is a banger!!

these are all from the back end of 2015 i guess but i'm v into suit of black's "she bad" - it's bunji garlin x assassin x kardinal offishall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rBBHxVPTC0

fay-ann lyons and especially mavado also killed it on the same riddim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Mvz6-nTq4

and here's kimba sorzano with a soca version of biebz' "sorry" <33333

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfn_0_FRJMM

Stadic Music, who did the "She Bad" riddim, also did this afropoppy (rather than afrobeats-y) Olatunji track:
https://soundcloud.com/stadicmusic/olatunji-oh-yay-stadic-x-wetty-beatz

If we're indulging in 2016 Soca Season that really came out in 2015 (as we should) this godly Bunji Garlin tune must surely be mentioned. Not sure if it has been posted on ilx before:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKxGFw0VVow

yeah love that one!. posted it on the Bunji thread at some point iirc, but I'm glad you started this thread as there were a bunch of confusingly similar soca threads that were hard to keep track of.
I posted this on one of those other threads, but I really dig this Olatunji as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8r9UtFvegg

Runtown ft. Wizkid & Machel Montano "Bend Down Pause (Carnival Remix)":

https://soundcloud.com/machelmontano/walshy-fire-presents-runtown-bend-down-pause-remix-ft-wizkid-machel-montano

Nice!

I just fell in love with the gracefully understated Soca Buzz Riddim - here's the bunji version, although I could listen to almost anyone over this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq7BQJv70RA

This is so sick:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heKaQ2DysnY

^^Salty ft. Tron & Brass - Girl Meets Brass

And this one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_6lMgXdLSE

GBM Nutron & Fay-Ann Lyons - Scene (Remix)

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAD!

Let me just shake off this dreari realiti with some proper life-affirming stuff:

Farmer Nappy - Bambilambam...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYtQarpLFjc

Ricardo Drue - Bet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkjTLkGcZMg

ahhhh.... there...

lol longneck i promise i will listen to these before spring

okay can we all just agree that this deserves to win next year's poll and get on with our lives?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDBnNOHyEjw

relentless!

i'm all over this today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRYzjVhPpTw

Shal Marshall & Talpree - Fraid Jab

The new Patrice Roberts is good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56GnN7iyTXY

O Yay by Olatunji is fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud0lM7CWd1A

Omarath with one of the best chutney songs of the season so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG1dbU5WvnU

I should be getting a shipment of mixtapes from my cousins in a few weeks.

I know this Skinny Fabulous is from last season, but it started playing at the end of "Arrogant" (which is nice) and I had to post it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5qUaZFtyvo

will listen to the rest of the thread now.

I'd heard them all before but listening to all the Stadic Music tracks together (She Bad, Bad Rule, Take Over Town, Oh Yay), dude is super talented.

not as impressive as the aforementioned, but I'm a sucker for anyone doing the Zungguzungguguzungguzeng flow: https://soundcloud.com/stadicmusic/bunji-garlin-x-general-grant-time-to-wine-feel-good-riddimstadic-musicmp3

woah, Girl Meets Brass is a jam!

Yep. And Stadic Music is definitely on a roll right now.

"Truck Driver" is massive, though I still can't get over "Girl Meets Brass"...tempted to make a thread for it

only 5 minutes in, but this is pretty awesome so far: https://soundcloud.com/so-shifty/vital-supply-2016-soca-mix

New Machel and Timaya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ambSwWOxHj8

It's not bad at all.

Riddim's from 2014?

It was big in 2015. Mavado will always own that riddim to me, but pretty nice, yeah. And I'm all for these afro-soca-dancehall collaborations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAn_KeHeY_U

And oh yeah, Charly Black's version was pretty big throughout the year.

great tracks in here, partic love bambilambambilambilambam

updated playlist, will check back in a month

Rolling Soca Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

thanks, forks!

Has anything been written about carnival in trini that somehow touches on this year's music yet? I'd love to read a recap of which tunes were the biggest.

Nothing much but Waiting On The Stage got played twelve times more than anything else. KI got Chutney Monarch.

I think the Trinidad Guardian or Express usually do a supplement with a good run-down at the weekend but idk if it ever ends up on the Internet.

Were you there, ShariVari? I'd love a full update!

No, I don't get over to T&T regularly. My dad is visiting there at the moment so might bring the newspaper back, though.

Nice. The Precision remix of Waiting For The Stage is pure madness, btw.

omg "gyal meets brass"

remix with fay-ann lyons is amazing too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y61DiEMGd0Q

omg "scene" as well and "waiting on the stage"

http://www.thefader.com/2016/02/25/afrosoca-trinidad-carnival-olatunji?utm_source=Fader+%28Daily+%26+Events%29&utm_campaign=1a4eaeae86-The_FADER_Daily_Newsletter_2_25_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_58ecd52b41-1a4eaeae86-180816641

How Soca Is Absorbing Afrobeats To Create A New Subgenre
Caribbean and African artists like Olatunji, Machel Montano, and Timaya are reaching across the Atlantic to create a global Carnival sound.
By JESSE SERWER

Nice summary I think (but you folks may know more and differ)

not much added, but the playlist is updated.

February has been slow for obvious reasons. I've been playing Stadic's remix of Vybz' Bicycle Ride - feat. Bunji a bit lately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhfEodws5E

Also enjoying the Precision roadmixes of Cheers To Life and Unforgettable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgjwV-DMdRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F8pdUtl7aU

And oh yeah I made a spotify playlist of 2016 soca season highlights. A lot (Take Over Town/Bad Rule/She Bad etc) is missing because of spotify, and some, surely because of me. There's a longer, really messy one as well but this is the short list atm. Please feel free to make suggestion for obvious, spotify-available omissions.
https://open.spotify.com/user/mariusemanuelsen/playlist/0lICAhSXx7gI7IWgKYQIMJ

xpost, to curmudgeon:

I linked to that Fader piece over on the Afrobeats thread as well, there's some responses there.

Thanks, saw that.

Found this on one of longneck's playlists. So good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgTPBGray_Q

GBM Nutron "Dat Body Could Roll". It's from last year apparently.

Yeah that's one of my absolute favs - so bittersweet. (And as long as it's Soca Season 2016 it definitely belongs in here.)

Somewhat similar in mood is this gem from Angela Hunte, Mon Bon Ami. I just love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJGZRWH_HXg

v curious what you all think of this 5Star Akil video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p83nhMHSPY

Playlist is updated through end of March:

Rolling Soca Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist

Anything new?

There's a great monthly night that specialises in Caribbean and African pop near me. Everything they play is fantastic but this one grabbed me especially the other night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxdHuysQ6wE

That's Hypasounds - Sugar Rush

glancing at the Soca Gold tracklist, this stood out; Fay-Ann Lyons on a Stadic riddim:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJfc7OlVx5I

Nice, and just learned her parents are Superblue and Lady Gypsy and her husband is Bunji Garlin

Fay Ann Lyons is always full-on. Love her stuff.

Speaking of Bunji, I'm really enjoying this Bad Royale track with Suit of Black atm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRVcici0CXM

I'm enjoying this new Shal Marshall:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkJEdxsvzl4

as usual I feel like I'm missing tons of good soca this year, but caught this on LargeUp and it's nice:
https://soundcloud.com/system32now/night-away-micalteja-x-system32-master

same producer as this Olatunji: https://youtu.be/dQ_KAdYnC1s

it's not quite Girl Meets Brass, but this is pretty sweet, love the little synth brass on the outro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlIdxZfmD5k

some real naija/afrobeat vibes on this Voice track:

https://youtu.be/r98W2saTNcU

Just saw Bazodee and would definitely recommend it if the idea of a mostly frothy soca musical with vaguely bollywood-ish story beats appeals at all. Machel Montano isn't exactly an accomplished thespian but he is awfully charismatic. The ending is a bit huh? but it was a pretty joyful experience in the middle of a deeply gloomy week in Montreal. No idea what an actual Trini would think (though the audience apart from us was entirely composed of black women and they seemed to dig it), but I would fly there tonight if possible.

http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/bazodee-review-1201829771/

Variety is not crazy about it (but I trust Rob's take more). Here's part of their review

Three different cultural traditions come together in “Bazodee”: the melodrama of Bollywood, the calypso-infused Indo-Caribbean “Soca” music of Trinidad and Tobago, and the sitcom humor and aesthetics of American TV. This uneasy hybrid from director Todd Kessler, former showrunner and co-creator of small-screen kids staple “Blue’s Clues,” never finds its rhythm while detailing the tumultuous romantic dilemma that befalls a young woman smitten with real-life Soca superstar Machel Montano’s musician. Devoid of drama and light on memorable melodies, it’s apt to find scant appeal outside its niche target audience.

As one of the most popular Soca acts in the world, Montano is undeniably “Bazodee’s” biggest draw, though he proves a rather one-note presence in this, his acting debut. As admired singer Lee de Leon, Montano smiles brightly but emotes clunkily, which would be a more significant hindrance to the proceedings were it not for the fact that his co-stars are similarly wooden. That Kessler shoots his material (his second feature after 2008’s “Keith”) like any number of single-camera network comedies — full of blandly functional master shots and close-ups, all drenched in bright primary colors — only further lends the action an enervating flatness.

Not sure if it's getting a UK release but i'm looking forward to catching it on DVD at some point. Probably quite a good Christmas present for any number of aunts, too. I'm struggling to think of any films i've seen that were made in T&T post 1980.

I don't want to oversell it--my positive experience was aided by having pretty low expectations--but that review is excessively harsh. I didn't really see the sitcom angle--most of the humor was pretty low key, though I suppose the cinematography wasn't exactly dazzling, but I'm definitely part of its "niche target audience" so fair enough on that point. I actually kind of like the occasional "devoid of drama" film so that didn't bother me too much (though it figures into the not-greatness of the ending), but "light on memorable melodies" can go fuck itself. The soundtrack is on Spotify if you want to verify that opinion.

I mean there's a reason I posted in this thread and not on I Love Film; the main draw is, as ShariVari notes, seeing a film from T&T that puts the country's hybrid cultural dynamic at the fore but without making a huge deal about it. Plus it was fun hearing lots of soca played decently loud on cinema speakers and there are some very beautiful people in this movie. Frankly, I fully expected it to be kind of inept and cringey, and instead it was super likeable. Obviously it's not sophisticated stuff and there are a few weird/bad choices (a strangely long paddle boat sequence comes to mind; the villain might as well wear a shirt that says "I am a bad man" on it) but my only strong criticism is that I wanted more scenes during Carnival.

If nothing else I went home afterward and jammed a bunch of soca, including this from Machel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dV806x1hbk

absolutely brilliant soca mix by a local DJ I know:

Soca Obsession Mix Part 2 by Atki2
https://soundcloud.com/atki2/soca-obsession-mix-part-2

Will check that mix, dog latin. Spending an hour now combing through my 2017 soca downloads. Will post some highlights in here, starting with this Olatunji & Stadic banger, Bazu (Push It Back):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPd_Q1h8x3M

Uncle Ellis - I Doh Mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XTsVXaGCu0

Iwer George - Take A Bathe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b6pe4nU9yo

Bunji Garlin - Bunji Turn Up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHxL8p1GHqI

This guy is me, obvs:

Crazy - Oh God Oh God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHnBeV0vYiM

So is this Voice tune just late to the Bieber party or a legitimate tune? I can't decide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5LKO2gFBGY

Loving this mellow Benjai though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v9IREbyX98
Feel It

Calypso Rose, Manu Chao & Machel Montano - Leave Me Alone... is a banger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pReipRq6se8

Enjoying the dancehall-ish Thanos Riddim:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBrMKiSJ86M

OMG Destra!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoizvhBgj8Q
Run Road

okay this was fun but i need to catch some sleep now. I'll try to put in another hour tomorrow.
Here's Farmer Nappy - X-Man:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0G58jhifTY

everyone murders Stadic's V13 riddim. Here's Nadia Batson but they're all great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmQW-LoMdrA

I know he's not cutting edge soca exactly, but I am a longtime fan of David Rudder (or maybe you consider him calypso or something). His 2015 "Catharsis" album was kind of uneven, but had some songs I liked. Anybody else a fan? I don't even know what released this year, if he did.

I've been a fan since i was a kid (when was Rally Round The West Indies, 88?) but missed Catharsis. I'll look out for it.

Largeup has their Soca singles list out:

http://www.largeup.com/2016/12/17/best-soca-singles-2016/

nice, I'll type it up in a minute since I really have nothing better to right now

love too serve

1. Voice, “Cheers to Life”
2. Tron, RR Rhythm (feat. Salty, M1, Orlando Octave, Blaxx and Fantom DunDeal)
3. Marz Ville feat. Snap Brandy, “Bang Bim”
(Honorable Mention: Stiffy, “Tek Off Something”)
4. Olatunji, “Oh Yay”
5. Machel Montano, “Need It”
6. Erphaan Alves, “Intentions”
7. Angela Hunte, “Mon Bon Ami”
8. Bunji Garlin, “Take Over Town”
9. King Bubba FM, “Calling in Sick”
10. Kew, “People”
11. GBM Nutron, “Scene”
12. Machel Montano, “Waiting on the Stage”
13. Mason, “Dem Vincy”
14. Ricky T feat. Eempey Slicker, “Freaky Girls”/Motto feat. Problem Child and Mr. Legz, “Bend Dong” (Remix)
15. Machel Montano and Timaya, “Better Than Them”
16. Marvay, “Know The Face”
HONORABLE MENTION: Runtown featuring Machel Montano, Wizkid and Walshy Fire, “Bend Down Pause” (Remix)

<3 Calling In Sick

I can't decide if their pan-caribbean approach is admirably diverse or if I'd rather see a more T&T-centered list. ofc I have no idea how much these songs travel from fete to fete, so maybe this is just an accurate picture of facts on the ground. Anyway, plenty of never-heard tracks here. Kind of surprised to not see "Different Me" since I heard it through LU but I'm essentially a dilettante in this area.

omg how have i not heard "Calling In Sick" before? a new personal anthem for life

btw that should be Kes not Kew at #10

Man, I was late to update this playlist so there's PLENTY new; I added the missing trax, Large Up's picks and longnecks playlist picks as well... 5 1/2 hours now and finalized for the year.

ILM's Rolling Soca Thread 2016 Spotify Playlist