Dive deeper into Caribbean music and culture at Sokah2Soca—your go-to source for Soca, Calypso, and Carnival coverage. First published on Sokah2Soca, now streaming live via Island Vybe Radio.
Life is funny, yes—but people can be cruel in ways that still surprise you. I came across Benjai’s new track, “Drivah,” and while it’s a simple song on the surface, the lyrics capture a very real moment: a Jouvay morning in Trinidad, one of those fleeting, unforgettable slices of Carnival life.
So what’s the issue?
Someone decided to jump onto the YouTube page for the song and leave some truly unkind comments—about the track, about the artist, and about the whole vibe. And it made me pause.
What purpose does music, particularly Carnival music, serve?
Isn’t it about the feeling? The freedom? Isn't it about the memory it unlocks? Damn, think about the way a melody can take you back into the cool darkness before sunrise, paint and powder in the air, chipping behind a truck with strangers who feel like family?
If a song doesn’t move you, that’s fine. Say it’s not for you and keep it moving. But disrespect? That’s unnecessary. Every song—whether you love it or not—takes work, time, creativity, and money. And in this case, it also carries cultural memory.
“Drivah” was produced by GusBus and written and performed by Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai). Personally, I appreciate the relaxed, unhurried vibe of the track. It’s not trying to be anything other than what it is: a small story, a snapshot, a reminder of a moment that anyone who has ever experienced Jouvay in the islands can instantly recognize.
Not every Carnival song needs to be a power soca anthem or a road‑march contender. Sometimes the beauty lies in the simplicity—the way a tune can vividly depict a scene and evoke a smile because you've experienced it before.
And that, to me, is the real value of “Drivah.”
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Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Drivah
Artist/Performed by: Benjai
Written by: Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai)
Produced by: GusBus
Engineered (Mixed & Mastered) by: Johann Seaton & Simon Lettsome Jr.
Label: GusBus Records, under exclusive license to Diaspora Sound.
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Soca ?
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