Booster Shot: Jester wins Stylus Soca DJ of the Year!

DJ Jester with Zoelah, Toronto 2008

Hey Allyuh!

Got a dose of some Canadian "On De Scene" news for you!! Jester is the 2009 Stylus Soca DJ of the Year! On Monday night, an elite group of Canadian DJs and Urban Music Artists assembled inside the Queen Elizabeth Centre on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds here in Toronto for the 4th Annual Stylus DJ Awards. It's a celebration of the true batteries powering Canada's Urban Music Scene, THE DJs.

There are categories for everything! You know that I concern myself with soca music!
Since the awards began in 2006, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince has won the soca category every year. The organizers retired him from the category in 2008. This year, the floor was opened for a new winner, and Jester took it! He scooped up College Radio DJ of the Year too, for the second year in a row.

The complete list of nominees and winners is available right here

He was up against pretty stiff competition. Toronto is a city where soca gets year-round love, so crowds have several favourites to choose from. Some play soca either exclusively or primarily! (I know that's like revolutionary for some of you reading)

Well Jes ain't THAT guy. With deep Kittitian roots, Jester has an even deeper respect for Caribbean music, but he prides himself for his versatility when behind the controls.

He'll mash up Hip Hop, R&B, Dancehall or whatever! Whether its out in the clubs repping X-Caliber International and the Smash Squad DJs, or acting as Toronto's morning Coffee with DJ Chief on the World Wide Wake Up Show - boyfriend knows his way around some turntables.

I asked him how he felt about the big win. Here's what he had to say...

"It was honor to be a 5x nominee for the 2009 Stylus DJ Awards, but actually winning really surprised me. The competition was very serious in all the categories I was nominated in (College Radio, Club DJ, Toronto DJ, Myspace DJ Page, Soca DJ Of The Year). I was shocked to win 'College Radio Show Of The Year' 2 years in a row (for the 'Worldwide Wake Up Show' CIUT 89.5fm Thursdays 5:30-8am http://ciut.fm). I have to thank all those who have supported 'Worldwide' over the years.

My goal with 'Worldwide' is to never make it sound cheap or unprofessional. I believe quality is important with whatever you do. Now to win 'Soca DJ Of The Year' was the real shocker. Definitely a competitive category (with Bandit, Soca Sweetness, MArXman, among others nominated in this category with me). I love calypso and soca a lot.

I do so many things outside of soca music, but I always make sure I do at least two soca mixtapes a year and try my best to connect with the artists. I truly believe it is important to expose soca to the masses and break music. I believe that in any genre of music, but more so for soca. When I was a member of the KOS Family I was able to build with all of the artists that I met over the years and now as a member of the X-Caliber Entourage I see how hard it is for a soca artist to get his/her music heard since working with Dawg (Mr. Slaughter).

My 2009 Stylus experience will defnitely be something to remember. Even if I don't win an award I truly believe having your name in a category with some of the country's best means alot. From DJ Wristpect, P-Plus, Ill Kids to Bandit, Soca Sweetness, & JUK, I am in good company and it shows my versatility even more."

--
Jester

X-Caliber International
Smash Squad DJs

Jester congrats on your successes this year. You definitely deserve it. You work so hard! I've learned much from witnessing your work ethic. I have also enjoyed the pleasure of working with you now and then at Flow. Keep setting a great example for kids getting into the biz! Must feel GREAT to get that boost from the fans.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

P.S. For the rest of ya...never heard Jester spin? Why don't you download Jester X-Perience 2009 Groovy Soca Mix? Promise you won't regret it!

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The Rounds - June 10. 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Let me start by saying today is THE perfect day on soooo many levels. The sun is glowing like a ripe slice pineapple. The weather nice and about half the West Indians in the city just got a chance to see Machel Montano HD perform live at de Harbourfront. Did I mention that the show was F-R-E-E-?
Ah feelin’ higher dan high, and it’s really no surprise. That carnival feeling has been going real strong all week-end. Tampa, Florida is taking they mas to the road right now, but whether you love soca, meringue or samba, Toronto is DE place!
Last night the Buzzzzz was over at Captain John’s when the K.O.S. family rocked the boat for Soca Sweetness very own annual yellow and black fete. Now that don’t mean is only Asians and Africans get to go, that’s just the colours you had to wear. So, if you found that CONFUSING, I’ll give you two more chances to get your wardrobe right. Say it with me now: Blackout AND….Whiteout. I think you get the point. Tickets are on sale now, so look sharp and fix up.
Dr. Jay de Soca Prince was looking sharp Monday night when he won the Stylus DJ award, for best Soca DJ. That’s twice in two years. Just like when he take home de hardware at the Soca Awards for best INTERNATIONAL DJ two years straight. And guess who’s nominated again! Let the voting begin. Remember we doh call he de Prince fuh nuttin’.
One of St. Vincent’s reigning roadmarch KING’s is getting set to enter the carnival season in royal style. Nookie Man Jamesy P has a new album hitting the streets on June 16th. Look out for “Work of Art” in stores everywhere. The album features the new groove BASHMENT that already has fans at home wondering if another chip-and-wine tune might take the road. I guess we hadda wait and see.
Guyana’s former Soca Monarch KING Adrian Dutchin is looking to extend his kingdom to the blue waters of Bimshire. What I mean to say is Barbados. The cutest crooner ever to call Guyana home will be performing with mega-band Krosfyah for the 2007 Crop Over season. You can hear him do his thing on a track called “Impossible”, that’s currently one of Dr. Jay’s Prescription picks. Take a listen and tell me wey yuh think!
As the vibes keep building steady for Toronto Carnival, is pure excitement! Borokeete International launched their 2007 presentation on Friday, with a little help from the KOS family.
And over at Tribal Knights, I’ve just confirmed that Trinidad’s Power Soca Monarch Iwer George WILL BE ON THE ROAD with the brand new mas band. Iwer, Blazer Dan and a hell-of-lot of DJs! For the latest in Caribana competitive action check the mas camp listings on Toronto-Lime.com
Now back to our lead story. At the top of the rounds I expressed unparalleled jubilation for having seen Machel and he band flatten harbourfront this afternoon. The successful show was a happy ending to a very trying week. After weeks of investigations and press conferences and speculation and rumours, charges were finally laid in regards to the incident at Zen night club in Trinidad. De one involving aggressive partygoers, a spilt drink and a fist fight. Righto! I’ll be the first to tell you Machel eh go want to talk about this so I will. Trinidadian rat pack Machel Montano, Kernal Roberts, Benjai, and Zan were slapped with 5 charges in relation to the events. Bail was granted for the sum of $50 thousand TT for Machel and Zan, $30 Thousand for Benjai, and $25 Thousand for Kernal. The case will hopefully go to trial next month. But guess really eh care? You got it. I just happy I get to do de Jumbie dance this afternoon!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please send your comments to soca a Flow 935 dot com. Now back to de docta!

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The Rounds - April 4, 2007

Sunday, April 22, 2007
Karen L. Richardson

Good Evening Soca Lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. This evening, I’ve decided to exercise my civic duty to educate you all about democracy. As your nurse, is not just de health of your body I worry about. I does tink about all kind a ting...like when the sun is shining round and yellow like the middle of a juicy pineapple, you are FREE to go for a little drive and pump up soca therapy loud loud, so everybody would know how happy you are. And last week, it was your RIGHT to curse winter for overstaying it’s welcome. And yuh see what happen when you speak up? Talk done.
It seems like the seasons are changing for West Indies Cricketer Brian Lara too. After seventeen year’s as the team’s premier batsman, the record-breaking 37-year old has called it quits. I know it must be some of you who doh watch cricket. As fuh me, I stopping now. After seventeen years of drooling after that man, I think it’s time I pick up my bot-tom lip and get on with life.
Our very own Dr. Jay is also moving onward and UPWARD, just like we’ve come to expect. The nominations for the 2007 DJ Stylus Awards have just come out - and Dr. Jay has made the list in three categories: Toronto DJ of the Year, Radio Mix Show DJ of the Year, and of course, Soca DJ of de YEAR! Surf on in to S-T-Y-L-U-S GROUP dot C-A to vote.
Our West Indian friends south of the border have now officially begun their campaign to increase their own political participation. The grass roots initiative is called “Soca D Vote” and I first told you about it last year. On April 14th, Trini-born Artist and Producer Nigel Lewis put out a new Soca D’Vote riddim to give a lil spice to de group’s message. With a US presidential election on the horizon for 2008, I gotta big them up for making their sweet voices heard.
Down in Trinidad and Tobago, it’s speculated that the national elections will take place THIS year….and a stellar cast of Calypsonians are armed and ready to mobilize the voters. Randy Glasgow Productions is staging the National POLITICAL Calypso Monarch competition, and some of the republic’s best have signed on to compete. So look out Cro Cro, Cardinal, Pink Panther and Aloes….the Calypso King of the World just confirmed that he will be throwing his hat into the row. But forget the competition, I feel sorry for the political candidates. Nothing stings worse than a tongue lashing from a calypsonian. It’s not forgotten like yesterday’s news, eh. Dat is a cuss that could grow into a public flogging with thousands of voices beating you steady as they sing along to de chune, over and over. Now, DAT is democracy!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. This week, text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5. Your input is your impact. Now back to de docta!

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