Dr. Jay launches monthly initiative to fight hunger in Toronto

>> Monday, May 17, 2010


In a music genre born out of a cultural celebration of excess, it's not everyday a promoter caters to the 'have-nots'.  I've got to hand it to my bredren Dr. Jay for leading the way on a project that will literally help thousands of men, women and children here in Canada. Please support this if you can...

Love in soca,

Nurse Karen

Monday, May 17, 2010
Source: Mustard Seed Media


Dr. Jay launches monthly initiative to fight hunger in Toronto


TORONTO, May 17, 2010. - Popular Caribbean-Canadian DJ, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince is encouraging his young sassy partygoers to help fight poverty year round with the new club event, “BFF” – BEST FETE FOREVER.  Now in its third instalment, the monthly event in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank offers patrons live performances from international soca music artistes, for a reduced admission price when a minimum of five cans of food are donated upon entry.

The title “BFF” is a re-adaptation of the pop-culture abbreviation of 'Best Friends Forever'. The Dr. Jay version is Best Fete Forever’, where fete is a pan-Caribbean term for party, as borrowed from the French Creole that informs the dialects of many islands of the Caribbean archipelago. “BFF” is about giving the best and getting the best.  Patrons party with a purpose, enjoying a night of high quality entertainment regularly giving back to their community.

 “My goal is to do this monthly for a year and raise over 4000 pounds of food for the Daily Bread Food Bank,” says Jay, who is best known to Torontonians as the high energy radio host, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince of Flow 93.5 FM’s Soca Therapy radio programme.  Since commencing “BFF” in March, a total of 938 lbs has been collected. Past events have featured LIL RICK, (2009 Barbados Music Award – Entertainer of the Decade), ALPHA (2009 St. Lucia Groovy Soca Monarch) and FARMER NAPPY and KERWIN DU BOIS (3rd Place Winners, 2010 Trinidad Groovy Soca Monarch).

“I think it’s very commendable”, says PROBLEM CHILD (2008, 2009 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Road March King and June “BFF” featured performer. “As an artiste who gave my first road march earnings to charity myself, I totally concur with this. Props to Jay for this venture. It’s generally morally proper to assist others less fortunate with every opportunity that arises.  It’s plain and simple – the right thing to do. The others need to follow.”

According to the Daily Bread Food Bank’s 2009 Hunger Statistics, 49 per cent of its users were not born in Canada, much like the audience who patronizes Dr. Jay’s events.  Many food bank patrons are working poor, whose wages simply can not provide the necessities of life for their families.  After being touched by the images of devastation in the Caribbean nation of Haiti following the tragic earthquake in January 2010, Dr. Jay who is a first generation Canadian of mixed Trinidadian and Guyanese ancestry, decided to commit himself to doing something about hunger and poverty in Greater Toronto, where he calls home.

The public is invited to join in the spirit of giving at “BFF” May and June. 

Friday, May 21st
Featuring: PATRICE ROBERTS
plus special guest RICARDO DRUE
Venue: TROPICAL SUNSET - 1957 Kennedy Road, Scarborough
Music and hosting by: DR. JAY, LOUD MOUT CHINEY, EMAN, 2TOUCH, DIRTY DEZ, INFINITY SOUND CREW, DJ FLIP
Admission: $10 before 11 pm with 5 or more canned goods.


Friday, June 18th
Featuring: PROBLEM CHILD
Venue: Tropical Sunset Lounge - 1957 Kennedy Road, Scarborough
Music and hosting by: Dr. JAY, LOUD MOUT CHINEY, EMAN, 2TOUCH, DIRTY DEZ, INFINITY SOUND CREW, DJ FLIP
Admission: $10 before 11 pm with 5 or more canned goods.




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Eye Unit: Problem Child - Doh Run

>> Monday, May 10, 2010

Well well well, Problem Child has released his signature hybrid down-tempo early tune for Vincy Mas 2010.  This time around there's a little promo video too - for the fellas!!!  The song has a nice warm-up-the-party vibe to help you loosen up your waist for the rest of the night.  Check it out...




If you're in Toronto like me, and you want to catch the Vincy Bad Boy live, you should check out Dr. Jay de Soca Prince's charity event, "BFF" on May 21st. Problem Child is the guest performer!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen
twitter.com/nursekaren

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Booster Shot: Ranking Smo and Boone Chatta drop German/English Soca collab.

>> Saturday, May 8, 2010

Wow...have you heard what we think may be the first every German/English Soca collaboration? Here it is, direct from Berlin Germany here's Ranking Smo and Boone Chatta with "10,000 Rags ".  This time of year you have to be blind no to see the influence that soca music is making throughout the Caribbean region and around the world.

Personally, I only understand the English parts, including the random "F" word thrown in at the beginning.  I think that could be a first in soca too! (I suppose it doesn't sound so harsh in a language that can sound like a barrage of cuss words.  Don't shoot me eh!)

Apart from that, its a very road friendly tune with a dance-able and a catchy melody.

Tell me what you think!

Ranking Smo & Boone Chatta - Hermannplatz (10.000 Rags) by Ranking Smo

Keep waving the soca flag!

Nurse Karen

P.S. Never miss a Booster Shot, follow "NurseKaren" on Twitter.

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Eye Unit: Erphaan Alves - Rain

Here's a little tempo out of Trinidad three months after Carnival.  Here Alves attempts to clean up the crime and corruption in Trinidad with a little soca rain.  I really appreciate the message in this one.   Soca doesn't have to be just about "jump and wine and misbehave." The video is humble, but effective.   Maybe it's the political science student in me, but I love something for the mind in the music. Congrats Erphaan!

Nurse Karen



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Crop Over 2010 Round Up & Info Line

>> Friday, May 7, 2010

Oye Nurse Karen you cain fuh Crop Over this year or wha?

Alrite I figure I will give you a quick update of the things happening so far for Crop Over 2010. I will expand on each of these at the appropriate times.

The Soca Music 
So far everyone is still digesting the list of tracks released but the one that is on the tip of many tongues so far is the combo with Blood and Mikey - Whole Place Mash Up
http://www.bajantube.com/audio.php?load=recent

Brewster's Road Crew Announces Their Calendar Of Events

Brewster's Road Crew now have the hottest party series in Barbados. Every Friday night groves of people flock to their parties that are famous for going long past sunrise. LAst year they created history in creating thei first every 24 hour Soca fete which they plan to make into their signature event. You can view their full Crop Over 2010 calendar.
BRC 2010 Calendar

Follow them throughout the season
@BrewstersRDCrew
Facebook Page
Facebook Group


Island Fusion - ForeDay Mornin /J'Ouvert Band
Island Fusion one of the newest bands on the scene for the ForeDay morning/J'Ouvert. The brainchild of 5 young ladies this is one of the first bands to undertake an aggressive marketing campaign for the Foreday Morning Jam in many years. It seems like there is a real shift to ForeDay Morning this year, more information as it comes. 

Berger Boyz Launches Mas Band - Togetherness
Taking the lead this year in the Mas is Berger Boyz pushing out of the gates first with their band Togetherness
Facebook Group
Website - http://bergerboyz.com/



RebelVibes To Launch Paradiso - City Of Angels

One of the newest bands on the scene with a young hip following, has announced their Launch Party - May 15 2010.
http://rebelvibes.com/
FB Group


Bash Brothoz (Bim)


After a successful "Crop Over Thursday" event last year with Frazzled the Bash Brothaz are launching early and in fine style at the most popular spot for pig on Saturdays. Now for those of you who are not bajan Saturdays in Barbados is the official day for souse - pickled pork."


Wuk Smart @CoreyKGraham

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Eye Unit: Gyptian - Hold You (Soca Refix)


VP records is on their "A" game with this big tune from Gyptian.  Here is a re-release of the video with the official soca riddim in the background.  I love a good reggae ballad just as much as the next gal, but honestly, there's something un-romantic about a man singing about "the tightest hold". Ah well, I don't make the music, I just write about it.

Enjoy!




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Booster Shot: 2010 International Reggae and World Music Award winners announced

>> Thursday, May 6, 2010

The event went down last Sunday in Jamaica Queens, New York. You wanna know who won, and I wanna tell you! For those of you care ONLY about matters relating to Soca, I've taken the liberty to highlight the categories where soca reigns victorious. Yeah, you're welcome.

Congrats to all winners and nominees.

WINNER LIST, CHECK OUT THE WINNER LIST
1. Entertainer of the Year – Machel Montano
2. Recording Artist of the Year – Queen Ifrika
3. Best Male Vocalist – Tarrus Riley
4. Best Female Vocalist - Alison Hinds
5. Best Song –Wash Away the Tears”- Gramps Morgan
6. Best CD – “Awake”- Julian Marley
7. Best Crossover Song – “Theraphy” – Gramps Morgan
8. Best Gospel Song – “Help” Omari
9. Best Female D.J./Rapper – Queen Ifrica
10. Best Male D.J./Rapper – Elephant Man
11. Best New Entertainer – Gramps Morgan
12. Best Calyso/Soca Entertainer- Machel Montano
13. Best Reggaeton Ent. – Pit Bull
14. Best Latin Entertainer- Enrique Iglesias
15. Best Compas Ent. – Kryol La
16. Best African Ent. – Samini
17. Best Soukous Ent.- Awilo Longomba
18. Best Hip Hop/R&B Ent.- Jamie Foxx
19. Outstanding Contribution to World Music – Mamadou Diabte
20. Most Outstanding Stage Personality – Beenie Man
21. Best Music Video– “So Fine”- Sean Paul
22. Best Poet- Mutabaruka
23. Most Educational Entertainer – Queen Ifrika
24. Most Outstanding Show Band– Machel Montano  HD
25. Most Consistent Ent. – Freddie McGregor
26. Most Promising Entertainer – Barbee
27. Most Improved Entertainer – Winsome Benjamin
28. Best Instrumentalist –Dean Fraser
29. Best Backing Band – New Kingston
30. Most Popular Selector/Sound – One Love Hi Powa
31. Concert of the Year –- Rebel Salute
32. Promoter of the Year – Sumfest
33. Producer of the Year – Donovan Bennett
34. Songwriter of the Year – Queen Ifrika
35. Award for Spiritual Service Through Music – Capleton
36. Community Service Award – Shaggy & Friends
37. Most Outstanding Dance Group- Dancerz Blvd
38. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award: Wyclef Jean, Rev Al Sharpton
39. Int’l Reggae & World Music Hall of Fame/Lifetime Inductee: Tony Ryan, Jack Scorpio, Noel Williams (King Sporty), Tony Green
40. Martin’s International/Inter-Culture Award of Honor: India.Arie, Matisyahu
41. Special Producer’s “Respect” Award: Rennie Cogle
42. Awards of Appreciation for Contributions to the Music Industry: Trevor Forde, Ron Muschette, Donovan Longmore, Ricot Dupuy


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Booster Shot: Problem Child heading to Berlin Carnival

>> Monday, May 3, 2010

As a person of that good West Indian bouillon stock, I always find myself marveling about those who fall in love with our culture on their own time and champion it as if their lives depended on it.  Don't get me wrong.  I was raised an educated in Canada, so often people find it odd that I care so deeply about spreading the good news of soca.  but then you meet dudes like the Frankie and Boone - The Soca Twins, a couple of turntabling Germans who rep our music to the fullest.  They DJ Caribbean grooves, the promote Carribbean-style parties, Boone Chatta is beginning to make strides as an artiste....AND...they have their own mas band at Berlin's Carnival of Cultures.


This year, the twins are celebrating 8 years in the soca world, and Problem Child is among the artists they have invited over for the party.


Check out the official word from Problem Child's camp...








Thursday, 1st of April, 2010


Problem Child’s First Trip to Germany: Berlin Carnival 2010


NEW YORK – Soca artiste Problem Child will be traveling to Germany for the first time at the end of May to represent St. Vincent and the Grenadines for Berlin Carnival 2010.
 The Berlin Carnival weekend will start with ‘Carnival Jump-Up 2010’ on Friday, 21st of May at the Icon Club. This Carnival warm-up party celebrates the 8th birthday of the Soca Twins, well known German soca DJs and self-proclaimed soca ambassadors.  Problem Child will be headlining the fete, which will also feature renowned international reggae DJ David ‘RamJam’ Rodigan, Germany’s own Count Shortleg and hosts, the Soca Twins.
 Problem Child will also perform on the Soca Twins’ truck for Berlin’s 2010 Mas on Sunday, 23rd of May. Berlin Carnival attracts visitors from all over Europe. The turnout is expected to be between 500,000 to 1,000,000 masqueraders and spectators. 


For more information on The Soca Twins and the Carnival of Cultures, visit the links.

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Booster Shot: Machel Montano for US Immigration reform?

The fans know Machel Montano for the oil in his waist.  The media is well aware of the complex and active brain in his head.  However, not too many would think of the Soca superstar as a political activist.

No worries, Machel is not changing his night job, but it seems he created a bit of a stir on a New York radio program on Saturday when he indicated he would be "open to speaking to politicians or joining in at picket lines on behalf of the West Indian community in need of immigration reform in the U.S."


In a radio interview that discussed US immigration policies, and racial profiling, Montano spoke to "Caribbean Corner" host Felicia Persaud the same day protesters marched to speak out on the issues


So all of you reading this at home with visions of green cards dancing in your heads, don't you fear, Winer Boy is here!


MORE ON THIS




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Booster Shot: Carnival stabbing mars Point Fortin Borough Day

It's been 38 years since the South Trinidad town of Point Fortin first brought Carnival in the Month of May to Trinidad and Tobago.  In 2010, it is a much bigger event, embraced by the whole country  with the participation of many of T&T's top entertainers.

Sadly, this year the spirit of revelry went head to head with the spirit of alcohol and lost when a 25 year old construction worker was stabbed to death Saturday morning over a bottle of beer.

For more on this story from the Trinidad Guardian,

CLICK HERE


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