On December 3rd, Venezuela will hold a referendum to decide whether to formally claim Essequibo, a region long disputed with Guyana, as a Venezuelan state. Should they decide to move forward with the claim, Guyana would lose over 70% of its territory, much of which has been the source of the nation’s newfound wealth.
Hello and Happy 2023!
I can’t believe how much happened in 2022. We came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mia Mottley secured a second 5-year term as Prime Minister of Barbados, Russia started a war with Ukraine, and Herschel Walker lost the Georgia election - but so did Stacey Abrams. You know, yin… yan. The same was true for DysChick. Despite personal tragedies, I was able to be outside like garb – nope. I refuse to make that a phrase.
So what’s my plan for 2023? Rest.
If you’ve been following DysChick, you know that I have a fear of flying; however, I have a greater fear of missing out on an epic event. Tipsy in Miami announced that it would feature the King of Soca and the King of Afrobeats and the FOMO was just too real.
Machel Montano has been making the rounds this year promoting his brand, encouraging nations to “Save the Soil,” and making sure that you know he is still the King of Soca after 40 years in the business. Burna Boy is the most popular Afrobeats artiste right now with his hit single “Last Last” reaching over 6 million streams on Spotify.
With these two heavyweights on the bill, you know DysChick had to fly to fete! Yet despite having the top artistes, the event was not E-P-I-C.
So let's recap America’s first six months of 2022:
Over 250 mass shootings including the Buffalo massacre, the elementary school shooting in Texas, a gunman opening fire on a crowded NYC subway, and the attack on a church in California
The number of deaths from COVID-19 surpassed 1 million
Eric Adams becomes Mayor of New York City (smh)
Are we great yet? No? Okay, how about this, we just decided to revoke a woman’s right to chose when and if she wants to become a mother.
We released our second episode of Season 6 of the Rant and Rave podcast. In this episode we talk about Machel Montano and Indian super yogi Sadhguru’s campaign to “Save the Soil.” The campaign has already resulted in six Caribbean nations (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, and Barbados) signing the Memorandum of Understanding and pledging to adopt long-term policy to safeguard soil and promote ecologically-friendly initiatives. We RANT about what this means for Caribbean tourism, the economy, and what we can do to reverse the climate crisis. But who is Sadhguru?
LUSH Drinks-Inclusive Party
It is true that you can't judge a book by its cover. If I had, I probably would not have gone inside the brownstone on East New York Avenue. My initial thought was "who sells tickets to a basement party?" Surprisingly, this basement party was one of the best events I have been to this year! Good music and an abundance of good drinks make for an amazing night. Big up Fusion Karnival and everyone involved in making LUSH an epic event!
Dr. Jay's Return Fete in Toronto
I tried my best to resist the allure of yet another Dr. Jay fete in Toronto. I told myself that I was not going to force myself to brave my fear of flying just to go to a party. But then, the artists were announced. The "Partier" 5 Star Akil, Miss "Bad Influence" herself Nadia Batson along with her baby sis JoJo of SASS, Chutney soca artist Ravi B., New York's own Lyrikal was going to lock it down with Groovy Soca Monarch Kerwin DuBois. Arrgh! Yep. Looks like I had to take a shot of liquor and fly out to Toronto for "Return Fete."
DJ Young Chow's MADD SICK pt.11
On Saturday, January 25th, the cold and snow made daily activities so undesirable that I figured DJ Young Chow's MADD Sick would have a less than impressive turnout. I admittedly underestimated Young Chow's allure. Brooklyn's Pulse 48 was completely packed! The online buzz about this party was so ridiculous that the VIP beds were completely sold out early (glean from that what you will). Massive B, Steelie Bashment, Pantrin Vybez, DJ Magic, Road International, and Big Show Squad entertained the sold out crowd until the wee hours of the morning.
MLK Weekend Review
As a feter, the decrease in anti-stush parties is interesting to me. If you follow me on Twitter or FaceBook, you know that I frequent Dr. Jay's epic events in Toronto. These parties often have flag-waving, powder-flinging crews donning flat shoes and short pants. So if Dr. Jay is producing these kinds of parties in Toronto, why are they dying out in New York?
Miami Carnival 2013
If you have never been to Miami for Carnival, you don’t know what you’ve been missing! I will try to keep this review short, but there is so much to say. The fetes are amazing, the atmosphere is electric, and all of the true West Indian feters come out for one last break away before winter. This time Miami-Broward finally got their act together and informed city employees what was happening, more artists came from all over the Caribbean, and the deejays and promoters worked over time to put together so many events that you would think we were all moving to Miami. Yes, this year all of Miami knew it was time to play a mas!
Long Island Carnival
“This should probably only take about three hours. There are only two mas bands on the road, so I’m sure I will be back home by 5pm.” I had to eat those words when I returned home close to midnight on September 7th after attending Long Island Carnival. Why did I even bother to go? Well, as Brooklyn Carnival was just one week prior, I still had the carnival jumbie in me and Long Island Carnival offered a quick fix.
Carnival Mania at the Barclays Center
Just one week after hosting the MTV Video Music Awards, the Barclays Center welcomed Grenada's Tallpree, St. Vincent's Skinny Fabulous, Barbados' Edwin Yearwood and Alison Hinds, and of course, Trinidad and Tobago's soca power couple Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons! For the first time ever on this site, DyChick not only got to enjoy the stage show but I had an opportunity to talk to the artists behind the scenes!
The last time I attempted to experience the Carnival, Hurricane Irene blew through the east coast and forced me to return to New York prior to the parade. I took that as a sign. Two years later, I made a second attempt. Luckily, the air was cool and sunny skies blanketed the massive festival that began at 5am with j’ouvert and ended some twelve hours later. Fine. I am converted. Boston Carnival, ah comin’ again!
