BEAUTIFUL NEW VIDEO FROM BENJAI “PHENOMENAL” (@benjaitntchamp)

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

Benjai has released his brand new music video for “Phenomenal”, the smash hit on the Kan Kan Riddim (produced by Advokit Productions). The music video comprises of a vibrant, colourful theme shot along the picturesque coastline in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The song, written by Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai) has quickly become a fan favorite, and is touted as one of the top contenders at the International Soca Monarch finals. The video also launches a sneak preview of the new, soon to be released dance remix by Monsta Riot.

“Phenomenal” was directed and produced by MILCvision with additional videography by Derek Brin and drone aerial shots by SkyToEye. Watch and enjoy

FOX FUSE release 2015 Soca compilation jam packed with hits (@FOXFUSE)

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

Get ready to jump and wave to the sounds of the Caribbean with Get Soca 2015, the first compilation from FOX FUSE. This flagship, definitive soca collection features the top hits from the 2015 Trinidad Carnival season, from soca’s biggest hit-makers, all on one album. Get Soca 2015 is available worldwide from all major digital music retailers on February 17, 2015, with pre-order available now, from FOX FUSE.

Packing tropical heat with 21 blockbuster songs, Get Soca 2015 presents the soundtrack of Trinidad Carnival, for both festivalgoers and international soca aficionados. This sizzling collective of soca gems will have everyone jamming as it perfectly captures the essence of Carnival and brings this rich Caribbean cultural celebration to the international masses, year round.

Get Soca 2015 features the kings and queens of Carnival, including reigning International Soca Monarch Machel Montano, reigning International Groovy Soca Monarch Kerwin Du Bois, world-renowned soca stars Alison Hinds, Farmer Nappy, KES, Destra Garcia and Patrice Roberts, alongside soca sensations Olatunji, Benjai, Skinny Fabulous, Lyrikal, Porgie & Murda, Shal Marshall, Lead Pipe and Fadda Fox, in addition to rising sensations Preedy, Flipo and Islandboy Rick J. Legendary calypsonian Crazy rounds out this full spectrum of sounds from across the Caribbean, which is bound to electrify soca fans globally.

Get Soca 2015 spotlights a diverse array of top producers and performers spanning the Caribbean islands, including Trinidadian thriller Olatunji with “Ola,” which has garnered over two million views for its audio-only video on YouTube, and is featured on the biggest riddim release of the season, Kan Kan Riddim, produced by Trinidad-based AdvoKit Productions. Barbadian duo Porgie & Murda deliver “Ben Up,” which has amassed over one million views for its audio-only video on YouTube, and was produced by Barbados-based Monstapiece Entertainment. Trinidadian groovy king Farmer Nappy returns with new smash “My House,” after he was recently awarded Calypso of the Year for his massive 2014 hit “Big People Party,” with both tracks produced by Barbados-based De Red Boyz. Antiguan sensation Ricardo Drue breaks out with “Vagabond,” which is currently burning up playlists and sales charts, and was produced by Grenada-led WIZ Records. Trinidadian virtuoso Benjai crafts new soca anthem “Phenomenal,” which is also featured on the Kan Kan Riddim; both “Ola” and “Phenomenal” have been mainstays on iTunes charts around the world since released back in November. Barbadian ace Fadda Fox shines with “Ducking,” which debuted at Barbados’ recent Crop Over celebrations and continues to be a crowd favorite, and was produced by Barbados’ own Studio B. Trinidadian stars shine with “Pop Ah Bottle” from soca king Machel Montano and “Lucky” from Queen of Bacchanal Destra, both from Trinidad-based Martian Music, while KES delights fans with “Fallin’” and “Jus Wanna Jam,” produced by Trinidad’s MadMen Productions and Barbados’ Studio B, respectively.

Curated by Rhona Fox and Zack Cohen, owners of FOX FUSE, this collection is their mission of propelling Caribbean music globally, in motion. “We enjoy a strong partnership with the top producers in soca music today and we are thrilled to bring their biggest hits to the international masses, so that soca can be enjoyed beyond Carnival and in all corners of the globe,” state Fox and Cohen.

TRACK LIST

1. Preedy – My People
2. Olatunji – Ola
3. Farmer Nappy – My House
4. KES – Fallin
5. Kerwin Du Bois – Use It
6. Flipo – Sweat
7. Shal Marshall – Motivation
8. Fadda Fox – Ducking
9. Islandboy Rick J – Give She Wine
10. Benjai Featuring H2O Phlo – Phenomenal
11. Ricardo Drue – Vagabond
12. Machel Montano – Pop Ah Bottle
13. Skinny Fabulous Featuring Lyrikal – Sober is Over-Rated
14. Crazy – Respect De’ Elder
15. Porgie & Murda – BenUp
16. Destra Garcia – Lucky
17. KES – Just Wanna Jam
18. Lyrikal – Dey In It
19. Patrice Roberts – Ah Feeling Mehself
20. Farmer Nappy Featuring Alison Hinds – In Trouble
21. Lead Pipe – Carnival Addiction

Link to pre-order: http://getsoca.com/

Bunji Garlin – Our Time (@BUNJIGARLIN)

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

We are a people of culture and strong spiritual beliefs. We move with music as though it is our birthright and as though we are music itself. We are the people of the third world sun that moves to our own beat while the wide world fast forwards through time. All that we know,existed for a century yet still we were left in shadow. Now we live in a time where odds are defied. Constantly hearing from our own kind that our music and our creatives will never reach anywhere just because of their own lack of resolve and fortitude.

We now enjoy a moment where soca music is on mainstream platforms around the world, our creatives are signed to major labels, where we have internationally recognized awards to our music, where internationally recognized print and online media now do reviews and report on ‘A soca album’ and this is just the beginning. Written by Bunji Garlin and produced by a class producer, Sheriff of Black Ice Studio. Sheriff also produced Differentology, Carnival Tabanca and Cosmopolitan. We present a song that sums it all up. This is ‘OUR TIME’.

With a locally structured version we call the Tapia House Mix and an international structured version called The Sheriff Mix, selectors and overall music listeners can enjoy both vibes of the same song since we are no longer confined to just one form of thinking. Happy new year and go brave into the future because the moment is here. This is OUR TIME.

Written and performed by Bunji Garlin
Produced and mixed by Sheriff of Black Ice Studios
Mastered by Madmen Producers

KAN KAN RIDDIM (@AdvoKitProd)

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

AdvoKit Productions ignites globally with its new blockbuster compilation album Kan Kan Riddim, now available worldwide from all major digital retailers (released on November 25, 2014), from FOX FUSE. The hit-filled, groovy soca collection garners mass international and national attention, debuting at #4 on the iTunes U.S. Reggae Top Albums chart, #3 on the iTunes Canada Reggae Top Albums chart, #1 on the iTunes Trinidad Reggae Top Albums chart and #2 on the iTunes Trinidad and Tobago’s (National) Top Albums chart, only behind Eminem.

The release also scores major spotlight as it receives coveted features on the iTunes Canada New Reggae Albums chart and iTunes U.S. Reggae New and Noteworthy chart, in addition to receiving a banner on the homepage during its week of release.

Based in Diamond Vale, Diego Martin in Trinidad and Tobago, AdvoKit Productions was conceived in 2012 by an innovative and creative team fronted by founder and chief producer Kitwana Israel, who had been producing music for over 12 years as a hobby before officially establishing his professional production house. The talented collective also consists of assistant producer Mikhail Corneal, songwriter and recording artist Nesta “Sekon Sta” Boxill, operations manager Shane Stanford, and communications and marketing officer Amiel Mohammed. “We produce music solely to motivate others to think bigger and feel better,” reveals Israel. “Music is meant to inspire and connect, and we simply try to always stay true to that. Our aim is to empower talent and creativity, and to inspire a network of fairness and helping others before oneself.”

Recently inking an exclusive worldwide digital distribution deal with New York-based music label FOX FUSE, the Kan Kan Riddim is the very first international release from AdvoKit Productions under its new distribution, and the tremendous success of the stunning album is cementing AdvoKit Productions as a household name with soca lovers worldwide. “We always challenge ourselves to grow and evolve and we think that worldwide releases and the global marketing of AdvoKit Productions’ music and services are the next logical steps,” Israel states.

Boasting six (6) monster jams along with the instrumental version, the Kan Kan Riddim features soca stars Olatunji with his breakout hit “Ola” and Benjai featuring H2O Phlo with new soca anthem “Phenomenal,” romantic tunes from rising sensations Flipo with “Her Love” and Sekon Sta with “The Best,” Darnella of Roy Cape All Stars fame with carnival ode “Out On De Road,” and King Bubba FM featuring Lead Pipe representing for Barbados with the new fete favorite “Don’t Bother We.”

All tracks are currently receiving heavy rotation on Trinidadian radio and across soca platforms worldwide, while Trini thriller Olatunji Yearwood is enjoying massive success with his African-infused “Ola.” The song has been burning up airwaves and sales charts since its release (first released as a single on November 17, 2014 from FOX FUSE), peaking at #1 on the iTunes Trinidad and Tobago Top Songs chart during its pre-order period, even before it became fully available for sale. It has also been steadily present in the top 100 on the iTunes U.S. Reggae Top Songs chart since it was available for pre-order on November 3, 2014. The audio-only videos of the track have amassed over one million views to date on YouTube, after being uploaded just over a month ago.

Benjai featuring H2O Phlo’s “Phenomenal,” Flipo’s “Her Love” and Sekon Sta’s “The Best” are all gaining traction on various iTunes charts, landing a slew of hits in hand for soca’s newest hit-maker. “AdvoKit Productions was designed to give voice to the voiceless and help create a platform for music to freely evolve and flourish,” Israel discloses. “Let our music speak for you.” And their music is indeed speaking for the soca massive globally as AdvoKit Productions surges ahead to the forefront of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2015 Carnival season, with fingers on the pulse of soca and eyes on the worldwide fan base.

For more information on AdvoKit Productions, visit Facebook.com/AdvoKitProductions, Twitter.com/AdvoKitProd, Instagram.com/AdvoKitProd and SoundCloud.com/AdvoKitProductions. Please direct all media inquiries regarding the Kan Kan Riddim to the FOX FUSE Publicity Department at 212-300-3813 or contact@foxfuse.com.

TRACK LIST

1. Olatunji – Ola
2. Darnella – Out On De Road
3. Sekon Sta – The Best
4. Flipo – Her Love
5. Benjai Featuring H2O Phlo – Phenomenal
6. King Bubba FM Featuring Lead Pipe – Don’t Bother We
7. AdvoKit Productions – Kan Kan Riddim (Instrumental)