Madzart Triumphs Again: Crowned 2025 Calypso Monarch at SVG Finals
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 10, 2025
The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
The Dimanche Gras Competition in Saint Vincent saw a repeat champion emerge victorious at Victoria Park. The Calypso Monarch competition last night was filled with lyrical fire. After all the singing, stage props, and missteps, a champion monarch emerged—a repeat champion. Madzart emerged as the repeat monarch for Carnival 2025, earning the top score of 418 points. His commanding performance reinforced his reign as a leading Calypsonian.
Once again, Fya Empress showed she can compete with the best and fell short of winning it all by a mere nine points. She placed second with 409 points for “Children of the Drum,” a powerful homage to heritage. Third went to Shaunelle McKenzie’s “Ghetto Mentality,” scoring 401, offering an unflinching look at social struggle.
Maxwell 'Tajoe' Francis' "Change for What!" and Zamfir 'Zangie' Adams' "My Nation" tied for fifth place and resonated with their timely messages.
01. Raeon ‘Madzart’ Primus—Gravy Train
02. Lornette "Fya Empress" Nedd—Children of the Drum
03. Shaunelle McKenz—Ghetto Mentality
05. Maxwell "Tajoe" Francis—Change for What! (Tie)
05. Zamfir "Zangie" Adams—My Nation (Tie)
This year’s competition proved Calypso is still a voice for the people—bold, unrelenting, and deeply rooted in Vincy pride.
- The eleven contestants selected to compete against last year's monarch, Raeon "Madzart" Primus, include one reserve contestant:
- Lornette "Fya Empress" Nedd—Children of the Drum
- Alvin "Zion-I" Dennie—We Know Who You Mean
- Dereck "Man Sick" Alexander—Nothing Good to Say
- Shaunelle McKenz—Ghetto Mentality
- Maxwell "Tajoe" Francis—Change for What!
- Zamfir "Zangie" Adams—My Nation
- Bernard "Reality I" White—Jeart Beat
- Sheena Collis—Our Nation's Cry
- Marvo "Marvelous Marvo" Morgan—Calypso Ah Singing
- Dennis Bowman—Plenty More to Come
- Johnny "Johnny Rebel" Hall—The Judiciary
- Reserve: Robert "Patches" Knights - Fake News
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Dimanche Gras - Calypso Monarch
Artist/Performed by: Various listed above
Origin: Victoria Park, Saint Vincent
Winning Song:
Artist/Performed by: MaddZart
Lyrics & Melody: R. Primus
Composer: Andrez Bascombe & R. Primus
Arranger: R. Primus.
Live Drums: Deion Allen
Back Vocals: Aretha Shallow & Valene Nedd
Recording Engineer: Andrez Bascombe, R. Primus & Kamall Archibald (Sound Domain)
Mixing and Mastering at: The Church
Producer: R. Primus for Fete King Music
Executive Producer: Fete King Music.
©️Fete King Music (PRS)
Genre: Calypso ?
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
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Ragga Soca Reigns at Victoria Park SVG: BongoPrime Takes the Crown!
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 10, 2025
The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
The 2025 Ragga Soca Monarch competition took place in Victoria Park on July 5, 2025, providing an opportunity for the island's talented Soca singers to shine. As they say, "you had to be there" to see greatness. BongoPrime commanded the stage with a masterclass Ragga Soca performance and storytelling. He roared and the crowd reciprocated with cheers of approval. He was in charge and won the competition from a talented field of artists. BongPrime is your Ragga Soca Monarch for Carnival 2025 in SVG!
This year’s competition turned into a showdown of Vincy talent with brilliant music production and songwriting skills. They dubbed it the "Big Bad Ragga Soca Monarch," and it excelled in every aspect. The finalists showcased their skills in lyrical storytelling and infectious hooks, yet one voice stood out from the rest. It was unfortunate, for those of us watching from afar, that the video footage did not capture the audio with clarity. Those who followed Vincy Carnival events and especially Vincy Soca would know what we are talking about since they would know the music and listened to the studio production of the songs.
Patrons packed Victoria Park, their energy palpable as they supported their favorite artist in a friendly rivalry. From the first beat to the final cheer, the Ragga Soca Monarch was a celebration of Vincentian creativity, resilience, and rhythm.
In second place were Dymez and Dapixel; they delivered a notable performance but could not catch BongoPrime. In third place was Dfusion, whose performance was bold and purposeful. He received a favorable reception from the crowd. They all performed well but were not outstanding enough, as determined by the judges, to overcome BongoPrime's stage showmanship and delivery of his song, Mardi Gras (Trouble in Town).
These artists didn’t just perform—they told stories, sparked emotion, and reminded us why Ragga Soca remains a cornerstone of Caribbean musical identity. Sokah2Soca congratulates the winner and every artist who participated in the competition.
Ragga Soca Monarch Winner/Results ??
- Utamu "BongoPrime" Rose—Mardi Gras (Trouble in Town)
- Claydon "Dymez" Roach & Elrico "Dapixel" Hunte—Doh Hold Back/Overdose
- Tyrique "Dfusion" Thomas—Mission
- Angelique "Angie Maya" Garraway—No Owner
Below is a list of the remaining artists who performed and the songs they sang:
- Nimroy “Zeron” LaBorde with “Vacation”
- Rajiv “Suh Raw” Sutherland with “Fete We Getting”
- Giovanni “GEO” Collins with “Gimme That Wine Day”
- Marallis “Moralis” Wilkins with “Sideman”
- Reon “Maddzart” Primus with “RAIN”
- Delroy Fireman Hooper with “Mash Me Up”
- Hance John with “Never See Come See/King of Carnival” (Updated at 10:08 p.m. on July 5)
- Gregory “Pekos Jr” Cato with “Looking for Sober”
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Mardi Gras (Trouble in Town)
Artist/Performed by: BongoPrime
Written by: Utamu Rose
Produced by: Dxcape
Mixed and Mastered by: Dxcape
Additional Vocals by: Angelina Questelles
Recording: Island Shak Entertainment
Origin: Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Genre: Ragga Soca ???
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music, and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Video courtesy VC3TV/YouTube Channel
Skinny Fabulous x Fireman Hooper Set SVG Soca Monarch Ablaze!
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 10, 2025
The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
The hype of Soca Monarch is always a feature of carnivals in the Caribbean. However, the demographics of people attending these shows vary across the Caribbean. Crowds in Grenada and Saint Vincent are truly impressive; their energy shook the Victoria Park. This used to be the case in Trinidad when Superblue reigned supreme but not again. Now fast forward to Vincy Mas 2025 and the Soca Monarch competition that took place last night, July 5, 2025. It was another sell-out show and the performers delivered. Ultimately, Skinny Fabulous and Fireman Hooper collaborated to create a performance that was so powerful and electric that it transformed the Victoria Park crowd into a flurry of flags, voices, and pure soca euphoria. They emerged victorious... Soca Monarchs for Vincy Mas 2025!
These artists spread their energy throughout Victoria Park, molding the audience with their energetic performances. With Skinny Fabulous and Fireman Hooper leading the charge, the atmosphere was palpable. This wasn’t just a win. It was a cultural reaffirmation. The energy was relentless. The crowd didn’t just cheer—they became part of the performance. Every call-and-response, every rhythm drop, and every lyrical declaration was met with thunderous approval. It was the kind of crowd engagement we rarely see these days in larger markets… a throwback to the glory days of Trinidad’s Superblue era, when audiences were just as legendary as the artists.
Saint Vincent, Grenada, and St. Lucia—these so-called “small island” territories have proven that their soca scenes are mighty. Their artists take risks. Their fans bring passion. Their Carnival culture thrives with authenticity and unfiltered joy. Last night, the joy experienced at the event was represented by two names: Skinny Fabulous and Fireman Hooper.
The chemistry, Flawless. The delivery? Ruthless. The result? Unforgettable. The pyrotechnics display lit up Victoria Park like the 4th of July celebrations in the US (a little exaggeration won't hurt).
Sokah2Soca extends congratulations to two monarchs who didn’t just perform—they ignited a movement. Long live Vincy soca. Long live the power of the people. Finally, thank you to Trini Jungle Juice for the video of the performance. We have included the studio recording with this post because the crowd participation during the live performance made it difficult to hear the vocals clearly. The lack of recorded audio clarity extended to all performers, not just the winners. We invite you to share your experience using our comment feature if you were there.
The Soca Monarch Results:
- Skinny Fabulous x Fireman Hooper—Erupt
- Utuma Bongo Prime (Ragga Soca Monarch)—Maddest Place
- Jamarie Romel “L Pank” Stepleton—Love Yuh Bad
- Lornette "Fyah Empress" Nedd—Acrobat
Below is a list of the remaining artists who performed and the songs they sang:
- Angelique “Angie Maya” Garraway—Curry
- Claydon “Dymez” Roache & Elrico “Dapixel” Hunte—Mas Forever
- Hance “John”—“Party Like We”
- Derron Jamal “Magikal” Rouse—Count Yo Days
- Lee “Jace” Gerald Bullock—Till Morning
- Rajiv William Amron "Suh Raw" Sutherland & Giovanni “Geo” Anthony Collins—Shellings
- Shannan “Kelly J” John—“Start Again”
- Justin “Spyout” Cambridge, Collin “Boxamoney” Marshall & Jahiem “Voltage” Pitt—No Sleep
- Kendel “Chow Minister” Burke—Cya Bowl Me
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Erupt
Artists/Performed by Skinny Fabulous & Fireman Hooper ?
Written by Gamal Doyle, Kemuel “Karbon JAMZ” Stapleton and Delroy “Fireman” Hooper
Produced by: Karbon Jamz
Mixing engineer: Parry Jack
Mastering engineer: Rodney “Caruth”—“Chemical X”
Graphic Art: Creations Revel Studio
Marketed & Distributed by: Monk Music Group
Origin: Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Genre: Soca ?
Live Recorded Soca Performance: Trini Jungle Juice
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
Trini Jungle Juice YouTube Notes:
Watch the explosive performance of "Erupt" by Skinny Fabulous and Fireman Hooper at the Vincymas 2025 Soca Monarch Finals, held on Saturday, 5th July, at Victoria Park, St. Vincent ??
Wheel and Come Again #1: Launching Our Radio Rebroadcast Series
By Ananda/Sokah2Soca
in
Blog
July 10, 2025
The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!
At Sokah2Soca, we’ve always shared gems from Caribbean radio shows—but today marks something new. Our "Wheel and Come Again—Radio Rebroadcast Series" is the result of a seed that has blossomed into a series that was conceived and is now acted on for your listening pleasure. This curated journey will bring you clips that deserve a rewind—or as the DJs say, “Wheel and come again!”
We’re kicking things off with a one-hour slice from Mr. Desmond’s Saturday show, Old School Saturdays—a soulful selection of classic hits, rich vibes, and timeless grooves. Mr. Desmond is an experienced international DJ who knows how to build a vibe and drop the right track at just the right moment.
Expect music that takes you back and makes you feel warm and fuzzy while keeping your feet moving. If you’ve ever missed a show that left you saying, “I wish I caught that,” now you can—on demand. That’s our mission. That’s our goal.
We want to hear from you! What do you think of this new series? How did Mr. Desmond’s selections hit your spirit today? Please share your thoughts with us; now kick back, turn up the speakers, and relive the energy—because on Sokah2Soca, it’s always our culture, our music.
Let us spread awareness of the Caribbean diaspora's culture.
Our goal is to promote Caribbean culture, musicians, and music producers. We are able to honor and promote the rich sounds and tales of the Caribbean thanks to your support. Together, we can ensure that this rich cultural legacy continues to reach a wider audience and foster creativity and connections. While you should always buy music for sale, you should avoid sharing promotional music because it denies songwriters, producers, and artists important revenue. Please be aware that all of our posts are available online via social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, and SoundCloud. We recommend exploring your favorite content on FeedSpot/RSS Feed, Threads, Bluesky, and Twitter/X, including email subscriptions. Thank you in advance.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Show Title: Wheel and Come Again: Launching Our Radio Rebroadcast Series #1
Segment: Old School Saturdays with Mr. Desmond
Curated and Presented by: Mr. Desmond
Record from Radio Feed: Saturday, June 5, 2025
Broadcast Platform: Mr.Desmond.net
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Genre: Caribbean Vibes ?
Sokah2Soca—Where Rhythm Lives and Calypso, Steelband Music and Soca Thrive!
? Listen. Share. Amplify. Our artists embody culture not only during Carnival but on a daily basis.
We present the music here for your listening pleasure and promotional purposes only, adhering to the "Fair Use" Musical Content Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. Sokah2Soca/Soca Music Blog © 1990 by Santiwah is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-SA/4.0/.
♫Please click the small triangle button in the music player below to listen now.
