Booster Shot: New Ludacris album features production from a soca artist!

Kamau and Ludacris

Yeah, you read that right!

In these circles, many people are unaware that Tortolan soca artiste and producer Kamau has a considerable amount of clout in Hip-Hop circles. Now he can add a new credit to his resume with the release of Ludacris' new album, Theatre of the Mind. (in stores now)



Kamau co-produced a track called "Calling up the Homies" alongside Clinton Sparks. After Luda laid down the vocals, Kamau took care of the mix. If you listen carefully, you can catch Kamau singing in the background. Kamau is a musical genious! He used his own voice to help recreate the vibe of an original track without the use of samples.

Clinton Sparks and Kamau

That's not all! Keep your EARS OPEN for a second track , also co-produced by Kamau. It features someone you wouldn't expect on a hip-hop track. One guess. The song is called "Mind Freak." That's all I can say, but you won't find it on the current version of Theatre of the Mind. (You'll know it when you hear it.)

Wanna buy Theatre of the Mind? Support your man Kamau!

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Booster Shot: Introducing the new band, Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U.

I know some of you were worried when you heard that Mr. Winchester would be moving on from Caribbean Traffik Jam. Some are resistant to change, but Shurwayne is amped about a major shift in how he approaches his career.

It's finally safe for me to spill the beans. There's a new band in Trinidad called Y.O.U. I am told that the sound will be completely new. Y.O.U. features a DJ, so I'm excited to see what possibilities arise from that. Look out for the new single featuring Jamaican dancehall sensation Serani. No reason to play coy...I like it!

So, the big question. Who are Y.O.U? The band consists of a line-up of "fresh faced" musicians, each quite talented in their own right. One such musician/producer is Tortola's Alton Bertie. You've seen me write about him in the past in respect to producing Trinidad's title-winning 2008 Groovy Soca Monarch tune, Carnival Please Stay. If you don't know his name, learn it good. Bertie is no stranger to some important people in music circles. In the hip hop arena, he has worked with well-know DJ Clinton Sparks. At home in Tortola, Alton played with the B.V.I. road march-winning band, Showtime. Here's something most people don't know -- Alton built the original track for Jamesy P's 2007 Vincy ragga "Bashment Freaks" before Parry Jack laid down the finishing touches.

Check out this clip of Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U at their inaugural public performance on October 31st in Trinidad. Check out Alton Bertie on sax during Mercy, Mercy Me.

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