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

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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Booster Shot: Problem Child heading to Berlin Carnival

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, 1^st 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, 21^st of May at the Icon Club. This Carnival warm-up party celebrates the 8^th 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, 23^rd 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.

Never miss your Booster Shot.
Follow @nursekaren on Twitter

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Free Download: Meet the Soca Twins 2009

Ready for some music!?!?!

Just got a hot new mix live and direct from Boone Chatta of Berlin's Soca Twins!

It's so new, I haven't even had a chance to check it out! BUT...I know these guys don't skimp on quality. So get ready for a mix you'll want to pump for a good while!

I'll post the tracklist as soon as I get a chance (Rushing out the door to Insomnia 5 in SVG)

Enjoy

Download HERE

So... while you're downloading, let's talk about it. After the huge success of our 2008 Mix, the expectations are very high. And we have pulled out all the stops and spared no expenses to make the most out of it. And it was worth while!

"Tataaaah...!" We proudly present: Meet Soca Twins 2K9

No less than 124 minutes of the "who is who" in Soca peppered with old-timers and hot newcomers. Including exclusive specials by:

Superblue, Benjai, Demarco, Ricky T, Skinny Fabulous, Theddyson John, Nnika Francis, Slammer Cutter, Sizwe C and many more.... wait and see! We are definitely thrilled by the mix. But as always, you have the final say, so write us. We want your feedback!!!

Meet Soca Twins!

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Eye Unit: Boone Chatta - Berlin Yard (Video)

Wow. Allyuh know Boone Chatta from Berlin Germany's Soca Twins sound system? Recently he's been flexing a different musical muscle....his vocal chords. All year long I've been looking forward to receiving his soca and dancehall tracks. Well, we're onto a next level, cuz boyfriend has a music video!

If you're a fan of Vybez Kartel ft. Spice on their extra rude little ditty, Rampin Shop...you will catch a vibe for this one. Though this is the least original of his musical releases, I completely understand the decision to spend a little cheddar on pushing the image with this one. A guy who's career thus far has been catapulted forward on the power of a culture that is not his own, takes this modern Jamaican classic and reps where he's from....big bad Berlin.

The well-crafted lyrics describe an urban life not too different from the ghettoes of our beloved Caribbean. Click and learn.

Here's what Boone Chatta had to say about the video:

"It's a love song... 'cause I definitely love my home town Berlin. It's
good, bad and ugly. The video is kept as real as can be. You wont see
any posing, bling bling, gangsters, no pitbulls, nude girls and big cars.
Just me and friends.

Also, I didn't want to show all the known tourist spots in Berlin like the
TV Tower or Brandenburger Tor, which you'll normally see in the videos.
Instead, you'll see the real thing! Places you can actually find me at.
And of course we had to show some left over pieces of the famous
Berlin Wall, which I relate to in the song.

We had lots of fun shooting the video and I hope this feeling translates
when you watch it. And if you come to visit Berlin... Welcome inna de
Berlin Yard!"

Boone...guidance for this next part of the journey.

More love in soca (or dancehall in this case),

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: International Calypso Monarch is coming!

(Originally aired on Soca Therapy on Flow 93.5 FM, Sunday, May 31, 2009)

In this edition:

• Berlin Carnival
• Vincy Soca Dans Launch
• St. Lucia Carnival press launch
• TUCO planning an International Calypso Monarch Competition
• RIP Lady Guymine
• Sheldon Benjamin out of hospital
• Alison Hinds holding web design contest

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds!

This was a busy week in the soca world as the Summer carnival season begins to unfold in fine style. Berlin Germany lit up with some hot soca action this weekend, for its Carnival of Cultures. Thanks to Germany’s number #1 soca sound, the Soca Twins, people like Kevin Lyttle, Maximus Dan, Marlon Asher and Jah Melody made the trip to Europe to take part in the festivities. I thought I should note that all dem man dey was on truck number NINETY SEVEN in the parade of the bands. Is it just me, or does that mean, Carnival in Germany is much bigger than we would have expected?

Nurse Karen with Germany's Soca Twins

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Friday evening a group known as the LIME Vincy Soca Dans gave a huge free show in Heritage Square for all their fans. Record numbers turned up to see Luta, Jamesy P, Fireman Hooper and Tabia perform one of their first full length sets together for the season. Katalyst flew in from Barbados for a special appearance to perform her new duet with Luta. Great reviews so far!

Meanwhile in St. Lucia, the CDF held a press launch for St. Lucia Carnival 2009 on Friday. They announced an increase in police presence this year to ramp up security at all official events....dot dot dot....beginning Monday. Monday is the official start of Lucian carnival . The fun starts at 3pm in Castries. Mas bands will be out registering revellers. Sponsor will be bombarding the people with promotions and the like, then some time around 5 pm, the performances will start. Local Calypso and Soca acts will feed the hungry crowd right into the night!

Speaking of Calypso, the Trinidad Unified Calypsonians Organization has begun wheeling and dealing to put together an International Calypso Monarch Competition! The idea is a to create a larger platform for Calypsonians throughout the region to showcase their art. A memorandum of understanding was signed last week to launch the inaugural event this October in Sint Maarten! They decided that a date in the Fall would be a better choice than waiting for the 2010 Trinidad Carnival season, since October falls after almost all of the Caribbean based carnivals have concluded. Sounds like somebody’s thinking down there.

The Guyanese calypso community around the world is in a more sombre mood this weekend as it mourns the passing of one of its true cultural ambassadors. Female Calypsonian, Monica Chopperfield aka Lady Guymine died on Thursday of natural causes. I first told you about her health issues last September when a group of West Indians in New York, including Winston Soso and Sugar Aloes came together to raise cash for her medical costs. Lady Guymine made her debut as a Mashramani Calypsonian back in 1965. Her talents were noticed by The Mighty Sparrow, who invited her to Trinidad to perform in his Calypso tent. She did so for two years. Then continued her nearly 4 decade career touring the Caribbean, and the US. I want to offer my condolences to the entire Chopperfield family for their loss at this time. May the legacy live on!

Before we get stuck on the bad news, here’s something to make you smile. Music producer, Sheldon “Shel Shok” Benjamin came home from hospital on Thursday. If you remember he’s recovering from Cancer affecting the lymph nodes. He’s doing much better, and will hopefully be well enough to attend the LIFELINE benefit concert in his honour and aid at Club Zen this coming weekend.

Before I bounce, I know the times are tough. And a few of you out there might be looking for a job! I got some good news. Soca queen Alison Hinds is in the market for a new design for Alison Hinds dot com. SO, if you think you can handle de wuk. There’s a contest going on right now. Email black coral contest at gmail dot com to enter. You’ve got till June 8th. Good Luck!

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more information on all the items you heard today. Find me online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or nursekaren on Twitter and I’ll be happy to fill you in. Now, back to de docta!

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Booster Shot: Mavado releases his first soca collaboration

So this past weekend in St.Lucia, Courtney aka "Curty" Louis and co-producer Francis "Leebo" released their much anticipated "Boom Boom" riddim for Carnival 2kwine! 

Nurse Karen in St. Lucia with co-producer, Leebo

Perhaps much of the aniticpation was the result of this: one of dancehall's brightest young stars made his soca debut on it! Jamaica's self-described "Gangsta for Life", lends his voice to the caribbean's happiest genre, soca! I'll be the first to tell you, on the track "My Life", Mavado sounds just like his signature style...bringing a dancehall flavour to a riddim that is otherwise authentic groovy soca.

"After creating the riddim, I wrote lyrics for the song, "My Life,"...with Mavado in mind offcourse. I then sent the riddim and lyrics to Mavado and his team by email, who then sent me the vocals for his part of the song. Right after I contacted Baby Blue and he and I worked on his parts, and the rest is history..",

Three songs premeried on MC Scady's program on Radio Caribbean on Saturday afternoon.


- Whole Day (Wuk) - Qpid (St. Lucia)
- Boom Boom Boom - Tabia (St. Vincent)
- My Life - Baby Blue (St. Lucia) and Mavado (Jamaica)

My Life - Baby Blue & Mavado

Nurse Karen with artiste, Qpid

A few more titles entered St. Lucian circulation on Tuesday of this week:

- Hot Gal List - Boone Chatta (Germany), one half of the internationally acclaimed Soca Twins sound crew.
- Who are You - Zionomi (St. Lucia) ft. Bobby Bling (Jamaica)

In Toronto with Soca Twins (Boone is the cutie on the left)

I always try to give a little shine to the producers. So it's time to big up the puppetmaster behind this peculiar assembly of talent - the one Courtney Louis. He's a St. Lucian who is well known and respected in Trinidad's music community, especially since he helped to slap together the track that would earn Machel Montano a roadmarch win for Jumbie. In 2007, he shared the accolaides for Soca of the Year and Song of the Year. However, it was the Song Writer of the Year Award that really turned heads.

In fact, the Boom Boom riddim was so named after the title track, which was written by Louis and performed by Tabia. Songwriting is definitely his strong suit, having either written or co-written all of the tunes on the riddim.

In St. Vincent with artiste, Tabia

Curty says he's got a lot more surprises this carnival: " The season hasn’t even started yet. We have at least two other riddims working on that will include power and groovy vibes. I have plans to work with a number of Saint Lucian and regional artistes. A few to mention are, Mr Killa ( Grenada ), KMC ( Trinidad ), Beenie Man ( Jamaica ), and Marie Anne ( St. Lucia )."

That's all folks!

Love and soca,

(Nurse) Karen

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Booster Shot: (Free Download) Soca Twins win Best Soca DJ Mix

You see what happens when you jump the gun?

I published the results of the International Soca Awards before the official media release was issued. Then, I got the release and I tried my best to fill in the blanks. Thanks to Boone Chatta of the Soca Twins, I discovered that I missed one VERY important category: "Best Soca DJ Mix of the Year".

...and the SAO International Soca Award goes to: Soca Twins for "Addicted 2Soca"

Here I am with the WINNERS, here in Toronto earlier this year. Boys, that night was too FUN!!

I'll be honest, it was an oversight, but maybe I was somewhat conscious about what I was doing. Here are two reasons why:

1. The Soca Twins are my bestest German homeboys, but they were up against
my hometown dawg JESTER. Caught between a rock and some twin rocks, feel me?

2. I'm "uber" happy that their kick @$$ mix took the prize, and yet I
was a tad bit disappointed that I didn't already have a copy for myself.

Well, SOCA PEOPLE....great things come to those who wait. Guess what I just scored? Music. Music. and MORE MUSIC.

So, join me in saying THANK YOU!!! Frankie Fire and Boone Chatta, nuff respect on the awards...and even more kudos for waving the soca flag high and proud in Germany.

Did I mention that these guys are COOL with a capital K (just like ME!!!)? Here's a special gift for YOU, direct from Germany!

Click below to download the award winning mix.

Soca Twins

"Addicted 2 Soca"

Part 1

Part 2

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The Rounds: Germany's Soca Twins make their Toronto debut

Good Evening Soca Lovers,







I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. It's big carnival weekend right now in the States. With Philly, Tampa and West Palm Beach revelling in the sun, it's no wonder there's so much weet soca music in the air.







The Luminat'eau festival is heating up the Harbourfront Centre this weekend. Last night, hundreds of fans got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see live FREE performances from Calypso great David Rudder and Reggae Rude Bwoy Jr. Reid. That was the lime for me yesterday before I rode east for "The Buzz." Big up Soca Sweetness...for a fete that can only be described as HAWT!!! Soca Twins ripped it. X-caliber mashed it up...and KOS dunned de place for good measure.

The Soca Twins: Boone Shatta and Frankie Fyah

It was good to see Boone and Frankie Germany's Soca Twins sound on their first appearance in Toronto. And to Mr. Slaughter, nice to see your bamsie back in Toronto after too long! But dahlin' Germany is not NOW and has NEVER been an island. Please take note:

Mr. Slaughter

Big weekend in St. Vincent and the Grenadines! Last night was the annual H20 Soca Wet Fete. This year Machel Montano HD was the headline entertainment alongside a stellar cast of energetic local performers.

At 8 o'clock tonight SVG will make history as theCarnival Development Corporation will stage the ever Ragga Soca Monarch competition during the carnival calendar. Ragga Soca in St.Vincent and Barbados is what the Trini's and Grenadians refer to as groovy. In years gone by this competition was held in the month of October as part of the nation's independence celebrations. Tonight 15 finalists will vie for the crown. The competitors were selected from44 entrants. The last winner was Skarpyon, he's back with a sweetlove joint called Forever. Hoping to stick it to him is Zoelah, Dani-O, Karen Veira, KC, Tabia, Skinny Fabulous and Blakey, Bomani, Dennis Bowman, Squitty, Bam, Shady, Fullclip, Shaunelle and Galanaire. Dah show go be nice!

St. Lucia's Carnival officially opened about ten days ago with the largest launch in its history. Organizers are hyped that this is going to be the biggest year yet, with a record 12 competitive mas bands including a brand new entry called Toxik. That was the inspiration for Ricky T's song of the same name…so you know where to find him onde road carnival Tuesday. Wham to Dem!

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please share yourcomments online at the Nurse Karen Etc Blog at triple w dot mustardseeds dot net…and make sure you download the podcast. Now back to de doctor!

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The Rounds - June 17, 2007

June 17, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds for Father’s Day 2007.
It’s another hot weekend in the city. And when it’s hot, you have to find creative ways to keep that temperature in check. For some, that meant strolling down to Barbados on the water to see Rupee. While others preferred to chill out in they short pants on the Palazzo Patio for another soapy foam fete. No matter how allyuh stay cool…is good once you doing it with soca.
The coolest thing out of St. LUCIA right now is the Lehgo Me Riddim. This infectious production is the work of a guy named ACE who managed to get Bunji, Faye Ann, Qpid, Skinny Fabulous and Zoelah each to give it their own special touch. My personal favourite is a track called “Presha Boom” by St. Lucia’s own Ricky T. And is not just me who feel de chune wikkked, yah kna. EVEN though Lucian carnival is just barely underway, VP records is already in talks with Ace and Ricky T about putting that bad boy on the next soca gold compilation. If it dey dey…guess who go be first in line to buy it?
In case you ARE looking for new music to buy, you might want to consider the new Scrappy Album. In 2005/2006 Scrappy earned himself the Montserrat Soca Monarch Crown, but I’m sure some of my Montserratian crew would remember him as a two-time JUNIOR CALYPSO monarch. Well he’s all grown up now, and he’s celebrating his 25th birthday with the release of his third album “Soca Is Life”, out on Faluma Digital in Europe…and through iTunes everywhere else.
Speaking of Europe…Trinidadian Fireman Bunji Garlin is packing his bags for a seven city European tour alongside Germany’s biggest soca sound system…The Soca Twins. From June 28th -- July 10th Bunji will be racking up the air miles from Germany to France, Sweden to Italy. And iWayne ( you know - the reggae artist who said soca is devil music)…he go be home ..wid he Mummah.
On a more serious note, a budding soca artist died tragically on Thursday night in Trinidad. Eric Cyril Stephenson otherwise known as Sphinx was gunned down at home in Petit Bourg. You may remember Sphinx from songs like “Wine on You” from 2004 and his 2005 duet with Kes called “Doh Buss No Gun”. The talk is…that Sphinx was known to local police for drug trafficking, and witnesses of the shooting death say that he seemed to know his killer.
On thing I know – dat kinda schupitness has got to stop! Just turn up de sweet soca music and stay cool. Don’t let a little sunshine give you a hot head!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5, now back to de Docta!

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