Tota’s Bakery at 244 Utica Avenue in Brooklyn is the longest running Guyanese family bakery and restaurant in Crown Heights. Locals come here in the winter for the warm stews and fresh sweet pastries and stop in during the summer for the jerk chicken and drinks that are perfect for post-fete dining. Check out my video interview with owner Indra Jainarine to to learn more about Tota’s history, the family’s run in with the law in Guyana, and how Tota’s continues to feed and serve the community.

If you are Guyanese, or even if you know one, you are likely already aware of Adrian Dutchin. The GT-born singer currently resides in the United States, but his dedication to promoting his culture has never wavered. Although he initially wanted to use his phenomenal vocal skills for R&B, a studio manager encouraged him to pursue soca. That decision would lead to Adrian Dutchin becoming the iconic face of Guyanese soca music.

Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts is one of Guyana’s top soca artistes. After winning 7 Road March titles, and consistently placing in the top 3 of Guyana’s Soca Monarch competition, Vanilla is a woman poised to take the soca scene by storm.

Meet Bjorn Faundes, better known as DJ Kutz1. This GT-born deejay teamed up with DysChick to bring you the Guyana Mash Mix in time for the 50th Republic Jubilee on February 23rd.

While the conversation in the soca community is focused on going global, Guyanese artiste Blaze Anthonio has other plans. The “Blow” singer overcame his surprising reticence to share his thoughts on the soca scene, Guyanese music, and why he intends to stay “local like black tea.”

Leon Norville is definitely in the right field if it’s a challenge he is seeking. The soca industry is not for the faint of heart. Artistes spend money, time, and energy just to get one hit song that can propel their careers. The young recording artiste is currently experiencing this as he tries to decide what his next steps will be to ensure a lasting career. While Norville has made a name for himself in Antigua, he has now set his sights on Guyana.

In 2017, I returned to Guyana after a 20+-year-hiatus. My return was not only motivated by the need to reconnect with my Guyanese heritage, but I was also excited to attend the Timehri Film Festival. The annual film festival lasted five nights and showcased short films made by Guyanese as well as other Caribbean artists. TFF is the latest initiative from Romola Lucas and Alysia Christiani who are on a mission to take Caribbean films to the world!

Missed DysChick & SocaSaySo on Soca Court (sponsored by FollowSoca)? Check out the full interview with TeamSoca’s First Lady (DiBossLady) and DJ Josh. We spill the tea on the party scene and things going on in the Caribbean community.

Last year, Guyana kicked off its first Carnival! The fetes, the food, and the festival were amazing and showcased Guyana’s burgeoning soca scene. Among the talents that came to the forefront was Guyanese soca youth, Jonathan “Lil Red” King, the 25-year-old soca artiste looking to change the game.

When Brooklynites link up, you know the result is going to be fire.  Luckily, I had the opportunity to witness the ignition.  On a summer Saturday, I headed to the Grand Staff Studios for what was advertised as a listening party, but turned in to an intimate turn up. How could it not when LFS Music and Lyrikal are in the building?

Music is changing.  Genres are blending together and musicians are looking to create unique sounds.  I'm sure the Caribbean community cheered when Ne-Yo released the video for his song "Push Back," featuring dancehall lyrics, dances, and aesthetics.  However, this song is still considered R&B.  Even songs that feature Caribbean artistes are still only adding to already established genres.   UK-based soca artiste Scrappy believes soca can be part of this movement and reach new heights if we treat it like a business.

You should get familiar with the name Lashley "Motto" Winter, the young soca artiste that has already made headlines around the Caribbean by bringing Lucian Kuduro or Dennery segment to the world.  At only 23 years old, Motto has the respect of top soca talent like Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, and Skinny Fabulous.  But if you think the soca prodigy has hit his peak, you don't know Motto.

This one is definitely fi di culture. Listen to Rewind and Come Again's Alyssia Simone and Deanna aka DysChick discuss what it's like being a Caribbean American in the office. The show and tell when we heat up our lunches, stereotypes and office politics. ⠀
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Tek ah listen.

Tired of streaming music apps mixing in dancehall and Kompa when all you want is a 100% soca playlist? Abay Israel and Andre Thomas have a solution.

Radial is a free mobile app that offers a database of Caribbean music that you can stream on your phone. Create a customized playlist and get the songs that you want to hear in the order you want to hear them.

On July 21st, the soca community turned out to support Brooklyn's own legend-in-the-making, Lyrikal at his debut album release party.  Carribbean heavyweights Majah Hype and Machel Montano, as well as Brooklyn's own One Voice, Rayzor of the Request Band, Dawg E. Slaughter, DJ Norie, and DJ Young Chow joined loyal Lyrikal fans at Suite 36 in midtown Manhattan to celebrate the life and journey of Brooklyn's biggest soca artist.

"I just love soca.  I'm a producer, I can produce other music, but for myself, I will produce soca."

Twenty-five year old producer/singer/songwriter Hector "Mr. Legz" Thomas is passionate about soca music, despite the fact that he actually started out as a dancehall artiste.  Although he was confident about his talent, he soon realized that being a dancehall artiste in Grenada would not take him far.  He then decided to create music that would appeal to Grenadians and thus began his soca career.

Wildfire has experienced a great deal of support from his St. Lucia fans.  In fact, his latest release "Earthquake" was actually produced and mixed for him by Yannick Plante of Minor Productionz.  However, he is set on exposing the talent right here in New York.  “We have so many talented musicians, artistes, producers, and writers out here but we get overlooked.”  People tend to look to Trinidad for the next hit soca song, leaving local artists eclipsed and struggling for gigs and airtime.

“When she cock back, she cock back to the bass!”

Any real socaholic will read that and immediately start rocking that waistline.  It is the first line of the hit single “Bass."  Although the tune was released in 2014, soca fetes worldwide still turn up once this one drops.  While you can find this song on YouTube when you search for Young Voice, note that you will miss out on his upcoming music if you enter those words in the search bar.  Young Voice has officially rebranded as One Voice. 

I posed this question when I spoke to Trinidadian artiste Mark Hardy.  The singer, songwriter, law school graduate and budding Entertainment Consultant Marcus Braveboy aka Mark Hardy alerted me to his music through my blog and I was surprised that I had not heard about this project.  The idea that a new genre of music was brewing without my knowledge made me investigate further and I got to learn more about the young man taking on the challenge of bringing Trapso to the world.

Kes the Band showcased their new music that will be released under the Weirdo Workshop label on August 20, 2015 at Mercury Lounge in New York City.  

Claude Kelly and Charles Harmon (bka "Chuck Harmony") have each been successful in creating music for top artists including Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars, and Ne-Yo. Today, the two are "embarking on a multi-genre expedition through style and sound" with a collective of artists and musicians.  Recently added to this collective, Kes the Band from Trinidad.