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Words by Jesse Serwer—
Nicki Minaj’s Trini fans have been waiting a long time for the Port-of-Spain born MC to properly tribute her culture. Roman Reloaded‘s “Pound the Alarm” isn’t really there musically but there was enough of a connection that Nicki decided to head down to Trinidad in June to recreate Carnival for the video:
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Words by Jesse Serwer—
A couple weeks ago we brought you word of Appleton Estate’s Jamaica Independence Reserve, a 50-year, $5,000 bottle of rum produced to commemorate next month’s 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, which parent company J. Wray and Nephew claims to be the most mature rum on the market. Not to be outdone by their Jamaican rivals, Angostura is producing what it says will be the world’s most expensive rum to commemorate Trinidad’s own 50th anniversary, happening three weeks after Jamaica’s big day on Aug. 31. T&T’s top rum brand will produce only 20 500-mL bottles of Legacy by Angostura, which will retail for TT$160,000, or $25,000 US—about $1,200 a nip. Awoah.
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Words by Jesse Serwer—
You might recall a couple months ago we told you about Sofrito: International Soundclash, Hugo Mendez and Frankie Francis of London-based “tropical” DJ collective Sofrito’s compilation connecting the dots between African, Caribbean and South America rhythms with rediscovered rarities from Trinidad’s Lord Shorty, Haiti’s Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville, Guadeloupe’s Mas Ka Klé and more. To celebrate the release of the comp today, Strut Records has given us an exclusive download of one of the most brilliant tracks on the set, “O Ti Yo,” from the kings of cadence-lypso, the Midnight Groovers.
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Words by Jesse Serwer—
If all the be-spandexed Jamaican behinds brukking it down in Mr. Vegas’ original “Bruk it Down” video weren’t enough for you, Vegas has got you covered in his second video for 2012′s biggest dancehall smash, which blends the original audio with his “Bruk It Down (Soca Remix)” with Alison Hinds. Video director Jay Will traveled to Barbados, Trinidad and Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, NYC to capture the visuals this time and there’s plenty of spandex to go around—not to mention a Jamaican “policewoman” and New York “nurses” brukking it down. The video, which hits just in time for the start of Cropover next week, also features a snippet video for Vegas’ followup single, “Party Tun Up.” Watch it here:
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Words by Jillionaire, Photos by Daryll Willoughby—
When we heard that 2011′s T&T Groovy Soca Monarch(s) Kes the Band would be visiting California for a month of recording, shows, networking and all-around wotlessness, we knew we had to get the story, and we knew there was only one person to get it. Yes, our very own globetrotting DJ friend/Trini correspondent Jillionaire is among the small handful of Trinibagonians with a Los Angeles address, and it just so happened that he was home on a brief break from his hectic touring schedule with Major Lazer. We sent Jilli over to the Bel Air mansion where Kees Dieffenthaller and the band are crashing (yup, they’re really long-term Bel Air house guests) to get the scoop on bringing carnival to California, their new obsession with moombahton, partying with Kirsten Dunst—and also a scoop of ice cream. Yo hoss, to Bel Air!
