Caribbean virtual inauguration party for VP-elect
Guyana’s Christmas spirit ‘Hold a Medz’ features rising stars
Continued from Page 25
the year, when we pass your
house Christmas morning, we
will give a shout, calling out to
your family as we rub we belly
and mouth.”
“We ‘gonna’ have a good
time, sporting till we drop,
women in the kitchen cooking
creole food non-stop, we eating
bake and pepperpot, they have
to drag we from the pot…we
will laugh and dance around,
putting up curtain, eating rice
and duck curry, dancing to
slingshot music, and drinking
rum on a Christmas morning.”
But despite the popularity of
the song that has topped the
charts because of its catchy
rhymes, Slingshot said he has
yet to receive any royalty from
his music that continues to
burn up the airways. The voice
of the singer could be heard
from pushcarts on the streets
of Georgetown, that sells pirated
CDs, he said and blames
record stores in Guyana for
selling bootlegged copies.
In an exclusive interview
with Caribbean Life from his
Florida home, the lyricists who
wrote other musical compositions
promoting his homeland,
boasts of his gifted rhyming
style that has made him a
household name.
He said he expected financial
support for his music, more so,
at this time when he is recuperating
from a slight stroke that
incapacitated him and put him
in the hospital, five days before
his April birthday.
Slingshot released the
Christmas hit more than 10
years ago, followed by “A Wonderful
Christmas Day.”
When Christ was born,
Christmas in Guyana, New
Year’s Eve, Christmas is Family
and others, totaling 10 CD’s,
thanked Guyanese for their
outpouring of support.
He sends his love to fans, but
argues that piracy is of grave
financial distress to artistes in
Guyana, and is calling on the
government to clamp down on
the practice, a war he has been
waging for many years.
The lively vocalist, whose
Caribbean Life, D 26 ECEMBER 25-31, 2020
day that EastSyde Records
recording artist Rytikal is
already popular in his home
country, Jamaica.
“He’s regarded as up-next
from the label that also helped
the career of the sensational
Skillibeng,” she said, adding
that “Dancehall Mag even heralded
Rytikal as a new trendsetter
in dancehall.”
Driven said Rytikal’s influences
include Bounty Killer,
Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel,
“with mega energy inspiring
bravado.”
Rytikal has also teamed
up with “a current Jamaican
superstar for his next track,
which he recently teased
on his Instagram @rytikalmusic,”
Driven said.
She said Rytikal’s fellow
Jamaican, Runkus, “has
always been destined to live
the life of a music star.
“His music is influenced by
fusing the conscious Rastafarian
lifestyle, the enigmatic
essence of music, and the
authentic dancehall message
of strength in self-expression.
“Runkus @runkusinno has
a unique style that is complemented
by his obsession with
creative lyrics and engaging
delivery,” Driven said. “Notable
performances and collabs with
some of the biggest names
in the business like Chronixx,
Jah9, Kymani Marley, Sizzla,
the Skints, and Determine,
have helped solidify his staying
power.”
Driven said Audiomack
delivers a “user-friendly experience
for fans, musicians and
industry professionals.”
She said the platform has
an extensive reach and showcases
a plethora of musical
genres and cultures.
Moreover, Driven said the
company provides free education
and music branding
resources to artists “whose
countries may not offer similar
services, such as in the
Caribbean islands.”
Continued from Page 25
By Nelson A. King
Several leading Caribbean
artists will perform virtually in
a major inauguration party for
Caribbean American Vice President
elect Kamala Harris.
According to Invest Caribbean
– which claims to be
“the number one global private
sector, investment agency of
the Caribbean” – it has initiated
the Caribbean American
Action Network (CAAN), a
collective of Caribbean American
and Caribbean organizations,
to present “a live, virtual,
Caribbean inauguration party
under the theme, ‘Celebrating
#CaribbeanAmericanKamala.’”
Invest Caribbean said on Friday
that, on Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Weekend, Jan. 17,
2021, there will be “an impressive
gathering in cyberspace
with some of the Caribbean’s
most notable artistes, dignitaries,
and organizations globally
to mark another dynamic
moment in history – the
pending swearing in of Harris
as the first Black and female,
Caribbean-American US vicepresident
at the 59th Presidential
inauguration.
“This dynamic, virtual celebration
is set to feature signature
performances from
some of the Caribbean’s top
entertainers, including Jamaican
born dancehall star, Flourgon,
who in January settled a
US$300 million lawsuit with
Miley Cyrus for his 1988 Jamaican
chart-topping hit single,
‘We Run Things,’” said Invest
Caribbean in a statement.
It said the event will be cohosted
by the first Black woman
in a James Bond movie, Trina
Parks, whose roots extend to
Barbados, through her mother,
and to Antigua through her
grandparents.
Invest Caribbean said also
set to perform will be Barbados’
own Soca King, Edwin
Yearwood of “All Aboard” fame
and Krosfyah of “Pump Me Up”
fame; as well as rising stars,
Toni Norville and Kirk Brown;
Jamaican gospel singer Joan
Meyers, of “Can’t Even Walk”
fame; independent Jamaican
artiste Janine Jkuhl of “Sway”
fam; and Owen Dalhouse, who
recently released “Heal the
Soul of America.”
Other performers include
the famous Fab Five Band from
Jamaica; Guyanese Menes De
Griot and Shanto; Vincentian
Frankie McIntosh; and Maxie
Gouevia and Rashid Thorpe.
Invest Caribbean said De
Griot, an African spiritual leader,
herbalist and master drummer
who has performed at the
Million Women March and
Tribute to The Ancestors, will
open the event with “a powerful
pouring of libation to the
ancestors,” followed by a group
performance on drums.
Top speakers bringing messages
of congratulations and
greetings include Congressman
Adriano Espaillat of NY;
the Vice Chancellor of the University
of the West Indies, Sir
Hilary Beckles; Chair of the
CARICOM Consular Corps of
New York, Counsel General
of Barbados to New York, O.
St. E. Mackie Holder; and Dr.
Michelle Chester, the corporate
director Employee Health
Services at Northwell Health,
who delivered the first COVID-
19 vaccine in the US.
Other Caribbean Diaspora
leaders will include Invest Caribbean
chief executive officer
and CAAN’s founder, Guyanese
born Felicia J. Persaud;
president of ICN and CAAN
co-founder, Dr. Sheila Newton
Moses; Caribbean Immigrant
Services founder, Jamaican
Irwine Clare; Global Village
Book Publishing LLC’s Aubry
Padmore; Coalition for the
Preservation of Reggae Music’s
Carlyle McKetty; and Esther
Austin of Esther Austin Global.
Invest Caribbean said Harris
is expected to deliver a message
to the Caribbean Diaspora and
Caribbean people globally.
“This is a historic moment
for us as Caribbean people in
these United States, who have
been here since slavery, and
we are convinced that VPelect
Harris represents the
best interest of all Americans,
Lead singer Edwin Yearwood of the group Krosfyah, from
Barbados, performs before a large crowd at Waterloo Records
in Austin, Texas.
Associated Press/Austin American-Statesman, Sung Park, fi le
Reggae singer, Rytikal. Rila
Jamaican Reggae singer,
Runkus. Paula Francis and Omar
“Smartkid” Currie