Digest: Amazing April

(Nurse) Karen (Digest): Amazing April!

Happy Easter! Wishing you and yours all the blessings of this exciting time of year, pluse all the great food that goes along with it!

Random Newness: This month Florida’s DJ Crown Prince makes his debut as a Soca Artist. His first song “The Anthem” featuring Skinny Fabulous was recorded on “The Nurse Karen Riddim”, produced by Afterdark. Get it Free & all your fave hits from Trini Carnival on Supa Soca Vol 12: http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2009/04/free-download-crown-prince-supa-soca.html


Journalism: Nurse Karen is psyched about finally meeting a few industry peeps she’s been watching for a while now. This month, she’ll be interviewing Montreal electro DJ Ghislain Poirier whose revolutionary mixes are bringing soca music to the mainstream dance scene. She’s also looking forward to sitting down with Grenada’s Brother B about his plans for Spice Mas 2009. If you follow her on twitter, you’ll be notified as soon as the articles are posted! http://twitter.com/nursekaren

Travel: As we mentioned last month, Karen’s taking care of business at home for a little while. However, she’s coordinating arrangements to cover Atlanta Carnival in May. If you’re looking for an affordable cultural getaway, why not come along? http://www.atlantacarnival.net

Poetry: Good news and bad news. Good news first! Karen will be performing a spoken word set at the album launch of “Pleasure in Pain by Devon “The Split” Jones, on April 27th in Toronto. Wanna reach?

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?sid=d3badc5a64b1972cb50446f6d0e91597&eid=68915791729&ref=search

Bad news... After performing poetry locally and internationally for half of her life, Karen finally applied for a government grant to record her own spoken word album, featuring original music by some of the Caribbean’s top soca producers. Sad to say, she didn’t get the money! There will be an album though. Stay tuned! Learn more about Karen’s work as a writer in this clip from her interview on Island Style TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrZW0nsB2UQ

Community: Thanks to Corey Graham 2.0 in Barbados, there’s an easier way to tell MySpace why you think they need a soca category. All you have to do is visit the link below, fill out the form and click send. Do it now! http://www.coreykgraham.com/socanow

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Free Download: Crown Prince Supa Soca Vol 12 "Rock Your Body"

Soca Lovers!!! Here's a speshy from Florida's DJ Crown Prince! This compilation features his personal favourites from Trinidad Carnival 2k9...and beyond!

It's yours to download: HERE

Listen out for a few tracks you probably won't find on other mixes.  Prince included Farmer Nappy's "Go Brave", an underrated tune that didn't even make the cut for his own band's nightly stage show. Check out the Zouk track from California-based Christopher Neil.  You'll also hear 3 tracks from Florida's own Crossovah Band among the list of favourites.  I think you'll enjoy this one!  Make sure you visit his podcast page, so you never miss one of his mixes again!

01-Patrice Roberts-Intro 
02-Sizwe C-Fyah 
03-Zan-Slip Away 
04-Farmer Nappy-Go Brave 
05-Machel Montano_Busy Signal-Push Bumpers 
06-Patrice Roberts-Looking Hot 
07-Skinny Fabulous-SS drop 
08-Skinny Fabulous-Head Bad 
09-Alison Hinds-Drop It 
10-Peter Ram-Tight 
11-Crown Prince Mix Break 
12-Crossovah-Test Di Foundation 
13-Iwer George_Ziggy Rankin-Whine 
14-Barrie Hype SS Drop 
15-MastaMind_Patch-Rum n Roti 
16-Kmc-Drunk 
17-Crossovah-Outta Control 
18-Jamsey P-Soca Daggering 
19-Barrie Hype-SS Drop 
20-Zoelah-Wine up on me 
21-Tizzy_Richard Trumpet-Wuk Meh 
22-Destra_Denise Belfon_Alison Hinds-Obessive Winers 
23-Fay Ann-Heavy T 
24-Fay Ann_Beenie Man-Wine 
25-Benjai_Scar-Tanti Sey 
26-Bunji Garlin-We Done Deh 
27-Sergio Mendez-Magalena 
28-Busy Signal-Up In Her Belly 
29-Teddyson John-SS Drop 
30-Crown Prince Mix Break 
31-Kes the Band-Thunder 
32-Zan-Hold You Down 
33-Crossovah-SS Drop 
34-Crossovah-Party 
35-Shurwayne Winchester_Serani-All I Need 
36-Patrice Roberts-Bubbling Gal 
37-Nadia Batson-Bumpers Rule 
38-Bunji Garlin_Beenie Man-Plenty Gyal 
39-Barrie Hype-SS Drop 
40-Skinny Fabulous_Blakey-Tek Off D'Panty 
41-Crossovah-SS Drop 
42-Crossovah-Rock Your Body 
43-Skinny Fabulous-SS Drop 
44-Skinny Fabulous_Crown Prince-The Anthem 
45-Barrie Hype-SS Drop 
46-Destra-Sassiness 
47-Ricky T-Too Much Rum 
48-Benjai-Whole Day 
49-Christopher Neil-Unkown Zouk 
50-Crown Prince Mix Break 
51-Blaxx-Tusty 
52-Stabby-Go Stabby 
53-Skinny Fabulous-Head Bad 
54-Crown Prince Mix Break 
55-Mr Slaughter-Staggering 
56-Isla Man-SS Drop 
57-Faye Ann-Meet Super Blue 
58-Destra-Bachannal 
59-Machel Montano-We Won't Stop 
60-Iwer George-Ready 
61-Machel Montano_Lil John_Pitbull-Floor on Fire 
62-Ricky T-'Ole 
63-Skinny Fabulous-Get On Bad 
64-Patrice Roberts-Sway In Di Mas 
65-Machel Montano-Ravin 
66-Skinny Fabulous_Patrice Roberts_Barrie Hype-Outro

Prince, thanks again!    

Love and Soca, 

(Nurse) Karen

www.twitter.com/nursekaren

P.S.  Follow (Nurse) Karen (Etc) for some VERY exciting news about DJ Crown Prince coming soon!  In the meantime, here's me and Crown Prince partying it up in Miami, October 2008.

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Nurse's Lounge: Return to Eden

After all that carnival madness, it's a good idea to cool down before skipping town. Lucky for me, I ran into Walshy Fire from the legendary Black Chiney sound last month in Toronto. We both happened to be a Nathan Phillips Square taking in the Manifesto Hip Hop festival.I biked over to take a peek after I finished up at Soca Therapy on Flow 93.5 FM. Walshy was in town for the night to DJ the official after party.

Nurse Karen and Walshy at Manifesto

So, my boy tells me that he was throwing a party during Miami Carnival weekend and that I should reach if at all possible. Well friends, that was a no-brainer after the time I had in Manhattan. I was going to make time, and make time I did.

Ricky T dancing circles around us...

In retrospect....it was a pretty tricky feat. The Party was called Eden or A.U.R.A (After "U" Rave All Day). I just told you what kind of day I had. Two-carnivals, a lot of jump and wave..and some uber heavy West Indian food to boot. When I got back to the hotel after Broward it was already midnight.

X-caliber International's Slaughter, serious about keeping the party jumping

The event was free for the women-folk before 1 a.m. Yeah, right! So last week, I asked Walshy if there was a guest list. Y'all know I have a problem getting places early. He assured me that 1 wasn't going to be an issue...maybe he doesn't know me well enough yet.

Vincy Soca Artiste Fimba and Nurse Karen

Boyyyy, I just have to count my blessings. I was really looking forward to this event like no other. Simply to relax. This was the spot that where quite a few friends were planning to go...and I wanted to let loose and just dance. (Large up Lady Ga-Ga...Miami is loving your chune!)

Crown Prince taking a break from moving the crowd

To make a long story somewhat longer: we got in. The crew was 10 deep: Barrie Hype, Skinny Fabulous, Teddyson John, Fimba, The Houston Sisters, one lone but bery sweet Trini sistrin, Ricky T, the Split and Me. It must have been more like 2:30 a.m. Walshy we love you. I still remember the look on the ticket girl's face when you waved us in. She was like "All of them?" LOL. Dude...thanks.

Top Gunners Barrie Hype and Skinny Fabulous having a time at Eden

Highlights of the Night: So many.

• Ricky T is a serious winer boy. He can throw down solo, couples style, reggae, soca, old school, house. He never sat down for the night. And because of THAT, neither did i. It was such thrill seeing him school all of us on the dancefloor. Rhythm for hours. Waist for days.
• Meeting Orlando's DJ Crown Prince in the Flesh. Wikked set rudebwoy. Word on the street is that you're moving your operation to Miami. The city will be lucky to have you around
• The after lime at IHOP. That restaurant is so COLD dread, especially when you're wearing a backless dress. I have to say THANK YOU to the gentleman who literally gave me the shirt off his back. He was only getting takeout, but thanks to him, I ate my brekky in total comfort.
• PETER. I'm going to post a video in two-two's. It has nothing to do with soca. But, Peter was our server at IHOP. He's a singer-songwriter with a CRAZY vocal range. Dunno if we'll meet again. But I seriously wish you luck!



Eden was like a return to innocence. No notebooks, no interviews, no deadlines. Just good times with friends.

...belated shout out to Tim and D'Bandit. As I was blogging about IHOP. I thought it would be fitting to post THIS. Good seeing you EVERYWHERE this weekend...on your best behaviour, of course! Hope you enjoyed your red skin potatoes!

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