Soca stars Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons, two of the headline acts billed to perform on the Main Stage at the 6th annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival slated to take place at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York on Sunday, July 17th will not perform, instead, Rupee will join Reggae Ambassadors Third World Band who will rock Roy Wilkins Park with their string of popular hits and reggae classics. Dancehall sensation Dexta Daps will excite the ladies in his first major New York area appearance. More thrills are in store for the females when Gyptian takes the stage performing his latest hits All On Me and Jiggle Jggle. Powerhouse vocals from reggae singer Ikaya and UK singer/songwriter Mark-Anthony Abel will bring lots of heat to the main stage as well as humour from comedian Pretty Boy Floyd.

This year’s festival will also showcase an exciting assortment of jerk delights served by some of New York’s top Caribbean restaurants and chefs, popular cooking competitions and demonstrations as well as informative and entertaining cultural presentations on the Western Union Cultural Stage. Advanced tickets to the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival NY are available online at http://www.jerkfestivalNY.com or at selected retail outlets in the tri-state area.

The 6th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival New York is presented by Jamaican Jerk Festival NY, LLC, in association with VP Records. Sponsors are Grace Foods, Western Union, Continental Bakery, Vitamalt, Power 106, Fly Jamaica, Reggae King Radio, Street Hype and Tower Isle Patties.

Vincentian soca star Skinny Fabulous teams with Grenadian sensation Laura Lisa for the new Spicemas hit “The Movement,” now available worldwide from all major digital retailers. The high-energy, power soca tune was penned by Laura “Laura Lisa” Richardson and Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle, and the song was released for the 2016 Spicemas season, Grenada’s annual carnival.

“The Movement” is executive-produced by Grenada-based Spice Concoction, headed by Angus Steele. Produced by Grenadian production house Rubato Studios, “The Movement” was organically created after Skinny Fabulous journeyed to Grenada to work with Laura Lisa, and this successful collaboration signifies a major step in her musical career. Listen song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfhQ7JcDvRE

Trinidad and Tobago’s shining star Olatunji Yearwood sees the international release of his highly-anticipated debut album Awakening, available worldwide from all major digital retailers on July 1, 2016, with pre-order available now, from Fox Fuse. Olatunji is famous for delivering pulsating performances and versatile vocals, and his slew of hits from the recent Trinidad Carnival seasons have catapulted him to fame locally and internationally, crossing him beyond Caribbean borders. He exploded globally in 2015 with his AfroSoca hybrid smash “Ola,” after winning the 2015 International Groovy Soca Monarch Competition -Trinidad and Tobago’s premier annual musical competition, with the blockbuster fusion tune. In fact, Olatunji is the very last International Groovy Soca Monarch champion, as the competition has since changed its format. He launched his prolific career in music back in 2002, and won Trinidad’s Junior Calypso Monarch title in 2003, at the age of 17.

Since gaining widespread popularity from Africa to America, Olatunji has become the face of the emerging and popular genre-bending sound known as AfroSoca, which as its name suggests, marries traditional African beats with contemporary soca rhythms. He delivered another AfroSoca earworm for the 2016 Trinidad Carnival season with “Oh Yay,” which is the most popular soca track of 2016 – on radio, at fetes and festivals. It is also the most-viewed soca video on YouTube for the 2016 season, racking up over three million views and counting (even as an audio-only video), since its release on the global platform.

Boasting 17 sizzlers that include long-time favorites and new hits, this collection of classics epitomizes the rebirth and awakening of Olatunji’s musical journey.

Spanning the soca prism, this definitive collection pulsates with rich fusions of groovy soca rhythms and African drum beats, spiced with melodic R&B, dancehall, dance and EDM influences – making for the ultimate Caribbean crossover album. Blending native African flair with Caribbean mastery is second nature for the acclaimed singer and prolific songwriter, who recently won big at the Copyright Music Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) Music Awards, garnering the Song of the Year and Groovy Soca of the Yearawards, in November 2015. His musical talent is in his genes, as he was born into an artistic family – with renowned Trinidadian composerEdward Yearwood as his father and famed Trinidian actressMairoon Ali as his mother. His name Olatunji is a Yoruba word of Nigerian heritage that means “awake again,” which birthed the title of his first major album, Awakening. Olatunji aptly teams with the world’s largest soca label FOX FUSE, for his premier global studio effort.

 Awakening cements Olatunji as an international Caribbean music ambassador, and this arsenal of hits is bound to ignite playlists worldwide, guaranteeing Olatunji his rightful place in the global spotlight.

For 22 years strong, the VP Records Soca Gold compilation series has become the staple release to the genre, rounding up the most in-demand songs from this Caribbean carnival season. Highlights for Soca Gold 2016 include Teddyson John’s “Allez” (1M YouTube views),Hypasounds’ “How She Like It” (1M YT views) and Ricardo Drue’s “Professional” (500k YT views). The 16-track release-like its annual predecessors-maintains soca’s signature uptempo sound that is a continued influence on contemporary pop and electronic dance music.

Barbadian powerhouse BASSink Productions drops its new soca jam “Wine Teef” from Bajan thriller Lil Rick, available worldwide from all major retailers on June 3, 2016, with pre-order available now, from Fox Fuse. Created for Barbados’ 2016 Crop Over season, its annual carnival celebration that is currently underway.

Having collaborated in the past with BASSink Productions on other smash songs such as “Gym Instructor” and “Boom Boom Jump,” Lil Rick brings a smooth track that is sure to be played everywhere this summer and enjoyed at carnivals around the world. Groovy and upbeat, “Wine Teef” stays true to Lil Rick’s signature up-tempo vocals and energetic delivery, and provides the perfect party anthem for Crop Over and beyond.

Producer Dwain “Dwaingerous” Antrobus, who heads BASSink Productions, has been composing top-quality soca gems for many years now, making BASSink Productions one of the main studios for soca music, worldwide.

Federation Family scores a win with its groovy soca smash “Ruction” by Bless Eye, now available worldwide from all major digital retailers(released on May 20, 2016), from Fox Fuse.“Ruction” was penned by Cordel “Bless Eye” Dunnah and produced by Montserrat-based producer, Dmitri “DJ Tula” Tuitt.

Founded by Antiguan entertainer Karl “Fucha Kid” Edwards, Federation Family is home to a number of local dancehall and soca acts from Antigua. The label seeks to cultivate new talent in its homeland, and thereby deliver diverse and exciting music to the international audience.

“Ruction” was crafted for the 2016 Antigua Carnival season, which is currently underway in Antigua. It is already a massive fan favorite and is currently enjoying heavy rotation on radio and playlists in Antigua. “We’re thrilled for the response the track is receiving from fans and happy to work with Bless Eye to bring this now to people across the world, so they can also get a taste of our Antigua Carnival and music,” adds Edwards.

When Trinidad and Tobago radio DJs and personalities make the utterance; “local artistes aren’t releasing music as frequently as they should,” it’s not completely true. While the urban airwaves are awash with dancehall choruses and hip hop verses, numerous Trinidad and Tobago entertainers are throwing their contributions into the foray, hopeful that their music will be given the time of day. One of those artistes is K Kay. Still on the grind, never for a second thinking a negative thought about his music career, the Tobago artiste has again delivered, and his latest single is a collaborative effort with T&T hip hop artiste, Tim Star.

The new track, “Questions,” was produced by Digital Reign of Hive Studio, and K Kay says he dedicates the song to his fiancée- something rarely done. He’s excited about his future with the young woman he calls his soul mate and wants the world to know. In a music world where being a single male entertainer makes more sense, K Kay may certainly be placing himself at a disadvantage, but he says he won’t allow his career to outshine or displace his relationship. His music has been at the forefront of his life journey for quite some time and throughout the ups and downs, the woman he calls his ride or die has been at his side. For that, he’s grateful and yearns to express his appreciation in any way that he can.

In Trinidad and Tobago K Kay points out that strong relationships seem few and far apart. “Our society lacks love nowadays and it seems like we fear that expression at times. I sometimes wonder if we even understand the meaning of love anymore,” he said, adding that his hope for the youths is that they see more love being expressed by their parents and other elders in society, so that in turn, they will grasp the true meaning of showing love to others.

The new single, out in May, hears background vocals by T&T’s Jason ‘Fridge’ Seecharan, and KKay especially salutes Phillip Carter for his work on keys. The single, like most of the Tobago artiste’s work, is attached to VPAL Music, an affiliate of VP Records. This time around KKay substituted local mastering for an international touch, calling on Texas based, Big Label Mastering to do the job. He’s also been working closely with former manager to soca heavyweight Bunji Garlin, Ian Pantin, on marketing methods for his music, something he says he’s confident will work favorably.

In 2009, VPAL Soca was launched. VPAL’S general manager, Donovan Williams, recently mentioned to the Jamaica Observer that K Kay along with other T&T acts like Machel Montano, Pternsky, Tony Prescott, Shurwayne Winchester and others from across the region, would see their music distributed through VP’s network of 600 online and mobile destinations in 100 territories. It’s certainly a good look for Soca music, and for K Kay, a less popular artiste on the circuit, it’s a breakthrough to the global music scene many would never have seen coming. “I know my time will come. For that reason, I’ve never given up. I never will,” he said.