Article by DJ Solo

As a DJ one of the things I respect about other DJ’s is the pride they take in music selection and mixing. The first time I heard Rusty G play on a mix tape it immediately became my favorite, and years later is still on my play list. From the beautiful Caribbean island of Bermuda we present DJ Rusty G.

DJ Rusty G

1. When did you first get the “music bug?”

Ah man, for as long as I can remember.  My parents always had music playing around the house, Michael Jackson, Calypso, you name it.

2. What caught your attention about music?

I felt connected to the power of music and genuinely enjoyed sharing music with others.  Even before I started as a DJ I would study people, watching how certain songs would get different reactions.  It always fascinated me

3. What’s your favorite Genre of music to listen to?

I love so many different types of music; it really depends on my mood.  Soca & Dancehall always puts me in a good mood.

4. Describe the first time you played for an audience.

I was really nervous!  Thinking back on it, I was so scared that I was going to mess up and make a fool of myself.  I think I spent hours prepping for that set.

5. What is your greatest accomplishment so far?

If I had to choose one thing I would say winning the ‘Best of Bermuda’ award in the category of best Club / Party DJ two years in a row (2015 & 2016).

6. What’s your long term goal in the industry?

I love to travel and see different places, it’s always been a dream of mine to take my show on the road.

7. What are some of the changes you would like to see in the industry?

I would love to see Caribbean musicians and artists see more mainstream success.  We have come far but still have such a long way to go!

8. Who are your top 3 DJ’s & Why?

Right now, I would say Skratch Bastid, DJ Puffy & DJ Private Ryan (in no particular order).  I’ve always looked up to Skratch Bastid as being one of the most technical DJ’s I’ve ever seen, one of the baddest on the turntables period! Private Ryan for his versatility and consistency (nobody pumps out more mixes than that dude!) & Puffy is an all-round talented DJ that has really exploded on the scene recently.

9. In your own words describe your job as a DJ.

I am your tour guide through the world of music.  My job in the club is to make you move, my old school mixes should take you on a journey / trip through memory lane, my new mixes should expose you to something you haven’t heard before.  A DJ to me is a tastemaker, futuristic, constantly adapting and changing the world around them.

10. What advice would you give to aspiring DJ’s?

Practice every day, know your music, stay humble & have fun!

Barbadian production house Studio B scores with its infectious new hit “Royalty (Queens And Princesses)” by Alison Hinds & Nikita, now available worldwide from all major digital retailers (released July 29, 2016), from Fox Fuse.

Producer Kevin “DJ Daddy Bubbles” Marshall is at the helm of Studio B and is thrilled to bring this new hit from the 2016 Crop Overseason to the international audience. The up-tempo, groovy soca tune features soca royalty with the Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds, alongside fellow Barbadian and soca princess Nikita, making for the ultimate ladies anthem.

Listen “Royalty” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWvsNMp8sck

Peter Coppin, producer & founder of Monstapiece Ent.

Monstapiece Entertainment embraces local Barbadian talents to deliver some massive crowd favorites from this year’s Crop Over season – Barbados’ annual carnival celebrations that culminated in early August. These soca gems include Lil Rick with “I’z A Bajan,” Leadpipe & Saddis with “246 Till I Die,” Inches with “Xross De Stage,” Jagwa De Champ with “Work,” Marzville with “Hold On Me,” Mr. Veejay with “Temptation,” Mr. Veejay and King Julian featuring Peter Coppin and Lil Rick with “Summer Again,” Peter Coppin and Tabok with “Tic Tac Toe,” Supaa with “Structure,” Trey Breezy and Supaa with “Pastry Man,” and Snyper with“#DWM (Don’t Watch Meh)” and “Up Like.”

Barbadian soca star Lil Rick catapulted to the top of charts and playlists with his Bajan blockbuster “I’z A Bajan,” which was co-produced by Dwain “Dwaingerous” Antrobus of BASSink Productions. The patriotic jam was the top song of Crop Over 2016, winning the 2016 Party Monarch competition, the 2016 STAG Jam Tune title and the 2016 Road March crown or Tune of The Crop. Bajan sensations Leadpipe and Saddis also co-produced“246 Till I Die,” alongside Coppin.

The massive success of Monstapiece Entertainment’s releases proves its immense popularity with music lovers globally and adds to its growing musical legacy.

It will be a Labor Day weekend with a difference on Friday, September 2nd, as Riddim Don Magazine in association with Mingles Night Club present Alison Hinds in concert.

The fiery diva of soca will get the blood pumping when she takes center-stage at Mingles (4012 Boston Road, Bronx New York); and the word coming out of her camp is that fans had better start doing some workout as it’s going to be an intense session! Alison Hinds is known for hits such as Roll It Gal, Fuluma, Maddest Thing, Soca Nation, Brace and Wine and The More You Get.

CLICK TO BUY YOUR TICKET OR CALL 1-914-522-1529

YTM Recordz drops its new soca compilation Sweet Guitar Riddim, now available worldwide from all major digital retailers. Based in Brooklyn, New York, YTM Recordz is captained by Hector “Mr. Legz” Thomas, who has been churning out hits both as a producer and performer, for years now.

The Sweet Guitar Riddim was released for the 2016 Spicemas season, Grenada’s annual carnival celebration and features local Grenadian stars on the eight-track album, including Tallpree, Randy Isaac and Mr. Legz, who pulls double-duty as artist and producer. The album also scored a coveted feature on the iTunes U.S. Reggae New Music section, during its first week of release.

TRACK LIST

1. Tallpree – Every Day
2. Randy Isaac – Application
3. Mr Legz – Rent Ah Space
4. Sheldon Douglas – What You Did Last Night
5. Lady Cinty – Action Featuring Luni Spark & Electrify
6. Peter Humphrey – Drinkers Prayer
7. 4 Brass – Lying
8. YTM Recordz – Sweet Guitar Riddim (Instrumental)

click on image to stream/purchase via iTunes

Barbadian production house BASSink Productions injects carnival fervor with its new hit compilation Zika Riddim: 2K16 Soca, now available worldwide from all major digital retailers (released June 24, 2016), from Fox Fuse. Composed by producer Dwain “Dwaingerous” Antrobus, the electrifying riddim was released for the 2016 Crop Over season, Barbados’ annual carnival celebrations, where it continues to receive heavy fanfare. It also received a coveted feature on the iTunes U.S. Reggae New Music chart and debuted in the top 100 on the iTunes U.S. Reggae Top Albums chart, during its first week of release.

The up-tempo, high-energy Zika Riddim: 2K16 Soca boasts seven new Crop Over anthems from soca stars, including Lil Rick with “Brek Down De Fence,” King Bubba FM with “What A Rush,” Flipo with “Doctor” and Verseewild with“Roll It.” The riddim continues to be the soundtrack for Crop Over and fans are now enjoying its pulsating sounds across the world.

BASSink Productions, lead by Dwaingerous, has been on the forefront of the Barbadian soca movement and has been integral in making the island nation a serious contender in releasing quality soca music, for years now. Dwaingerous earned his stripes as the lead keyboardist in soca star Machel Montano’s HD Band, and now brings sweet soca sounds to the global masses in a bigger way, with productions like the Zika Riddim.

TRACK LIST

1. Lil Rick – Brek Down De Fence
2. King Bubba FM – What A Rush
3. Verseewild – Roll It
4. Flipo – Doctor
5. Stiffy – Whip It Real Good
6. Hypa Kids – Bubble-Ish
7. Supa Hype (Barbados) – Outside Man

Soca star Olatunji Yearwood makes a global splash on Billboard with his electrifying debut album Awakening. Awakening debuts at #9 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, for week of July 23, 2016.

Awakening also peaked at #8 on the iTunes U.S. Reggae Top Albums chart, at #4 on the iTunes Trinidad and Tobago Reggae Top Albums chart, and garnered coveted features on the iTunes U.S. homepage, iTunes Trinidad and Tobago Reggae Section, as well as the the iTunes U.S. Reggae section, where it also scored a top banner, placing Olatunji and soca music in the mainstream spotlight.