People keep asking me “Where can I download your Soca singles?”, sooo… HERE YOU GO!!! Play and Download your favourite Mista Vybe Soca releases at will via SoundCloud!

Latest tracks by Mista Vybe

You’re welcome lol!

Vybe OUTTT!!!

Grenada was 100% behind Killa this year, which was wonderful for me to see and feel on the two ocassions I was blessed to visit the Spice Isle before Carnival.

Following his performance just after dawn (literally) at the 10 To 10 Fete, I can vividly remember the feeling of pride in my chest and the joy that overwhelmed me when I walked over to Killa backstage, pulled him aside, indicated to the crowd that had just given him MAJOR “forwards” and said quietly to him: “Yo – Soca Monarch is YOURS. The only thing that could stop you now… is YOU.” He nodded knowingly – solidifying a poignant moment between two fellow musicians and performers who had built a longstanding friendship based on mutual respect.

In his usual way, Killa nodded, gave me a quick “bounce” (I think Yankees call it a “pound”? lol) and went on his way.

The last time we exchanged words of that nature was in 2006 right before he WON his first Soca Monarch title with a tune that we worked on together.

Needless to say, I wasn’t that surprised to hear that he gave one of the greatest performances in Grenadian history and walked away with the Soca Monarch title. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Killa light up a stage, check the clip below to witness a true Master Of The Stage in action. From swinging high above the crowd suspended by wires, to chanting freestyles that made the Stadium spontaneously erupt, to paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson by expertly demonstrating the Moonwalk… Killa totally owned this performance and there can be no denial that he throughly deserved the title of Grenada Soca Monarch 2009. See for yourself, if you dare doubt me lol.

Following that amazing performance, I was doubly thrilled to learn that Killa also won the Road March title by popular demand as well – and this after Grenada Carnival got postponed to a week later! Undoubtedly this is Killa’s year. Congrats Bro! I’m proud of you :-)

I can’t help but remember how far we’ve both come in the “Game” (as Soca artists call it). It’s funny cause to me, Hollice Mapp (AKA Mr. Killa) will always be the talented youngster I first met and worked with many years back, whose real aspiration was to be a DANCEHALL star, and who – like me – stumbled into Soca celebrity almost by accident, but embraced it and used it to keep reaching for his dreams and changing the “Game”, one bold move at a time.

Speaking of changing the Game – did I mention that Killa and I have a NEW TUNE together?

Without further ado, I’m happy to announce that – fresh off his recent double triumph at Grenada’s recently concluded Spice Mas celebrations – it gives me great pleasure to introduce… THE BRAND NEW SINGLE, “Show Off” by Mista Vybe Featuring Mr. Killa!

The song – which I’m extremely proud of – is called “Show Off” and is a fitting ode to all you independent ladies out there, whether you’re Caribbean Queens or just downright Divas in whichever part of the world.

Killa’s delivery on this scorching ladies’ tune takes me back to the young Grenadian artist I first met years back, when he was going by the name Baby Killa (as in a “Baby/Young Bounty Killa”) and his delivery was authentically Dancehall in nature.

Add that to some seriously versatile vocals on my part.. one part falsetto (crooning for the sexy ladies out there) and one part spitfire Dancehall “chat” (trademark Mista Vybe Inna Yuh Dancehall Again stuff) and you have what is undoubtedly a smash!

Shouts to Roots and the Homebase team (from Grenada) on the production and to my longtime bredrin and constant collaborator Kasey Phillips for the additional engineering and help with mixing. Also big up the the unstoppable Scratch Master (out of St. Vincent) for mastering the joint.

And there you go – BRAND NEW Mista Vybe featuring Mista Killa! It’s called “Show Off”!

As Clinton Sparks is famous for saying… GET FAMILIAR!!! :-)

One last thing:  because I love all my MistaVybeWorld.com Family soooooo much, here’s a Special Gift from me to you all: You can CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT FREE For A Limited Time Only!!!

Get to clicking QUICKLY folks – the clock is ticking (I swear I didn’t mean to rhyme there lol)… the Free Download won’t last forever! ;-)

Enjoy!!! Vybe OUT.

I hadn’t bumped into Naya George and the guys from Invazion band for a minute, so it was good to hang out with them backstage and even better to see dem completely DEMOLISH “De Village” and leave the 10 To 10 crowd in a frenzy, setting the pace for the night’s many hype performances. Ziggy Rankin went on with them and really ripped up the place too. And of course yours truly followed after and had my lil mash up moment as well… *modest grin*

On top of that, it’s rare that I get to see my some of my  Greenz (aka Grenada) bredrins “done di place”, let alone getting a chance to see ALL of them on one stage in one night, so even though yours truly was seriously under the weather on the night of August 1st, I stuck around and braved it out to take in some of the finest performers in the Spice Isle.

10 To 10 Fete! (Grenada Spice Mas 2009) from Mista Vybe on Vimeo.

From Shotta Ricky to the enigmatic Lava Man to the veteran Inspector and of course my close buddy Mr. Killa (congrats on the Soca Monarch title boss!), the night was filled with fun performances and hype stage antics and the Greenz posse totally got into the action and got themselves ready for Spice Mas!

Me? I just rocked back with my under the weather self and let the hype performances warm my soul till the sun came up and it was time to board the bus back to the hotel.

After that there was barely enough time to pack up and head to the airport for 12 Noon to catch our flight back to Sweet TnT! Tired, still not 100% but happy I got a taste of Spice Mas vibes 2009!

Before I sign off, I gotta say thanks to Wayne Green & Homebase Entertainment for handling business on my behalf while I was there, big up to the promoter Waggy T and a very special thanks to WeeFMGrenada.com & photographer Mikey Hutchinson for some of the pics (the final shot of Ziggy is Copyrighted to ME though lol).

All my love to all the Greenz fans!! Bye Greenz! Love yuh bad… yuh know Mista Vybe will be back soon. Hmm might be sooner than you think!!! Stay tuned… ;-)

Well, when life hands you lemons… you LIME, HAVE A FEW DRINKS AND HIT THE STUDIO!!! Right? LMAO! Well that’s what I did anyway… turned out to be a great 24 hours of fun and fast paced work… just the way I like things ;-)

After Homebase Entertainment CEO Wayne Green picked me up from the studio and explained the cancellation, we set off to hunt for some food for my now-hungry belly. In the course of the search we bumped into none other than my bredrin Mr. Killa!

As much as I love a good lime with my boy Killa, hunger called, so we ended up at Creole Shack chowing down on some fabulous macaroni pie and barbecued chicken.

Hunger averted, we bounced down to the island’s hottest club/lounge, Karma, where we hung out with the owner and sipped on an ice-cold Stag… aaaahhhhhhh – the Good Life! lol

Post-Karma, there was a quick pit-stop at local radio station City Sound 97.5FM, where the lovely Simone was spinning the latest Greenz Soca for 2009, including Jab Jab Reloaded, my new joint with Tallpree! Thanks for the love hun!=

Following that, we wound up at Homebase Studios where we wrapped up the night listening to new tunes for Greenz Carnival as Wayne gave me a sneak peek of the hot tracks that were as-yet-unreleased for the coming Spice Mas season.

After that, bedtime… then back to the studio the next morning to do backgrounds for several Homebase tunes. Big up to Keisha, G.P. (AKA Ignition) and all the other talented artists whose tunes I put vocals on, and of course respect to Roots for some wicked productions.

By the time I blinked again it was already after 5pm and we ended up literally RACING to catch my 6:30 flight back to TnT.

Before you know it I was back behind the wheel of the Vybe-mobile in Sweet La Trinity (Trinidad for those who don’t know lol). Ahhh – there’s no place like home…

Don’t worry Greenz peeps – I’ll be back in Grenada for 10 To 10 fete on July 31st 2009 to show allyuh how to “Jab Jab”! Till then.. enjoy the tune! ;-)

In the meantime though, I just wanna say on behalf of myself and my showbiz “family”, The Big Artist Crew, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who supported us so lovingly during our amazing performance at the Super Concert on Saturday night at Carifesta IX, in the National Stadium (Trinidad)!

You know, sometimes when you spend as much time away from home representin’ your country as I do, you find yourself wondering if the people at home appreciate what you do as much as the fans abroad do when Carnival is over… and at Carifesta the warm reception myself and the crew got certainly proved that there’s NO PLACE LIKE HOME! Gotta send a special shout ot to the Crew…

Saturday night was the first time in a while the entire Crew got to represent together on one big stage – and it was a night to remember trust me!

My homegirl Michelle Sylvester started things off with a bang, mashing up the place with her string of hit tunes, including “Go Ahead”, “Sleep In Your Bed”, “Face Me”…

Then it was MY turn! Singing “Always On My Mind” with Michelle is always wonderful but this time it was made even more special by the thousands of you out there who sang and danced along… thank you guys and thanks Meesh! Love ya! (Aye Michelle! I hear we make the Express front page? Wayyyyyy!)

After “Always”, I got to perform “Ting” in my first major show at home since I won the Caribbean Soca Monarch. Judging by the amount of jumpin’ and wavin’ and winin’ going on I’d say “Ting 4 D Road” certainly still has that special something… Never ceases to amaze me how people react to that song.

“Somebody say Ting..4 D Road” for real!!!

My lil sista was waiting in the wings by this time, but before I brought her onstage I had to big up the rest of the Big Artist Crew. Even though they weren’t booked for the show, my friends Nadia Batson and Terry Seales not only came along to the event, but even sang backgrounds and gave the crowd a lil impromptu piece of their solo performing skills too! Thanks you guys!

Big Artist Crew forever!

(FROM LEFT: Vybe, Michelle, Terry, Nadia, Alysha and Julio! BIG ARTIST CREW CHILLIN BACKSTAGE AFTER PERFORMING)

Oh – can’t leave out my lil homey (and one of my favourite producers to work with), Julian “Julio” Nelson (that’s him in the yellow and green)! Saturday was the first time I got to finally introduce the young man who produced all the music for “Ting 4 D Road” live onstage! Julio boy – time to release yuh solo tune – dem ladies out dey feelin yuh LOL!

Last but by no means least, my lil sista Ms. Alysha BLAZED the place with her hit tune “Party”! (Hope you havin fun mashin up Miami Carnival sis – I miss you! Come back soon!)

It was truly a night to remember – the Big Artist Crew in full effect, supported heart and soul by the great audience at Carifesta IX.

I couldn’t end this blog entry without mentioning some of the other talented artists who performed that night, including Jadee (“Dooon’t DIS mih God!), Maximus Dan (D.C.D.B.!), Isaac Blackman (big up the love Circle family), Jabae (whaddup Barry – sorry I left before you guys performed!), H20 Phlo (look out for the new H20/Ms. Alysha collaboration – comin soon!), Multi Symptom… the list is endless.

Finally, after all that love at Carifesta, Michelle and I hustled down to Clifton Hill, Point Fortin, (yeah you read it right – from Port-of-Spain to POINT!), where we performed to another appreciative audience. Point is always a great crowd – love you guys!

Bless up Shal Marshall & Clyde The Outlaw (thanks for hypin’ up the crowd for us fellas!) and my boy Brenty (Invazion family!), the best selector we could ever ask for.

Special shout out to www.TriniView.com….where you can find all these cool pics and more! Check them out for pics of all the happenings..during the whole week of Carifesta IX!

Mista Vybe is gone again… studio callin!

Somebody say NEWWWWWWWWWW TUUUNEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!!

Blessed love,

Vybe

Just a quick note to let you guys know that I just posted a new tune on my page…

It’s called “Start D Race” and features my good friend and fellow Big Artist Crew member Nadia Batson. It’s one of many tunes on the Piton Riddim originating from St. Lucia.

Big shout out to Penn and Ace from Studio 758 & SLU Records in St. Lucia who produced the riddim! Also big up to my “lil bro” Kasey Phillips of Precision Productions who did some additional recording and production here in Trinidad for my track on the riddim.

Much love to my partner-in-crime, Nadia  – one of the best vocalists AND writers in Trinidad & Tobago!

Hope you guys enjoy the unique mix of Soca, Zouk and Rock N’ Roll…;-)

Feel free to comment and let me know what you guys think.

“Introducin’ to you – The Race! Nadia Batson and Mista Vybe in de place! Everybody: Warm up! Warm up! Warm up, warm up, warm up… READY! STEADY! HEEEEERE WE COME!!!!!!”

Alright it’s been wayyyy too long since my last post on this blog for which I humbly and sincerely apologise, but SOOO much has been going on…

First and foremost, I’m proud and honoured to say that after being invited to St. Lucia to represent Trinidad & Tobago at the first ever Caribbean Soca Monarch competition two Sundays ago (July 16th, 2006), your boy Mista Vybe emerged the WINNER!

Holding my Caribbean Soca Monarch trophy triumphantly!

Words cannot express how shocked, awed, humbled and thankful I am to receive such an honour! I’m still a little dazed from the whole thing.

In case you’re only now hearing about it, the media has begun to spread the word. There have already been online articles about all this at islandevents.com, trinijunglejuice, toronto-lime and socanews. Up to today (July 24th, 2006) I was live on SynergyTV, hanging out with my dawg Hans on the popular countdown show ‘D Scene’, talking about the Caribbean Soca Monarch experience, and you can look for myself and Nadia Batson on Synergy Nights tomorrow night (Tuesday July 25th) with Jason Willliams, where I’m sure he’ll ask us about our Soca Monarch experience in depth (I might even carry the trophy for all to see)… I’ll also be popping up on CNC3 and NCC Channel 4 later on in the week  so stay tuned…

Oh – in case you’re curious about why I’m bare-chested and soaking wet in most of the pics from the show, that’s because it rained cats and dogs through almost the ENTIRE performance! So picture yuh boy half naked jumping and waving in the torrential rain while the drenched equipment starts to smoke up the stage before it all but blows up! (THAT’S how crazy it got LOL)

My winning Caribbean Soca Monarch performance – IN THE RAIN!

I have to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to my winning the title, even though just saying “thanks” doesn’t seem like enough for all the invaluable help and support that assisted me in being crowned the Monarch…

Above all I must thank God who clearly took that night in his hands and shaped the events that led to my triumph. God is good – never forget that!

I have to say a big thanks to my management team – the ladies of Socalypso Entertainment (Ayaana and Janelle) who worked tirelessly before during and after the competition to help me put together the show I wanted to do… thanks ladies! Muah! Extra special thanks to my road manager Ayaana who was in St. Lucia two days before I even got there organising what turned out to be a hell of a performance for me. ;-)

Also have to send my undying thanks out to to my fellow competitor and fellow Trini, Nadia Batson who was nice enough to stand in the rain and sing backup for me after she finsihed competing herself.

More undying thanks go to out to the REST of the Big Artiste Crew (Nadia and I are both members) – Michelle Sylvester and (my lil sista) Ms. Alysha, who both flew to St. Lucia for the sole purpose of singing backup for yours truly that night… now that’s what friends are for! Thanks a million!

By my side (literally and figuratively) were my two backup dancers who danced for msyelf and for Nadia and did a fabulous job at that. Particularly, considering that for my song they were literally dancing in the rain for the whole song! My eternal thanks to my friends Sherma Burke (who happens to be the reigning Miss LaReine Rive pagent winner here in TnT) and Samantha Flores (an amazing dancer in her own right. Just to be fair, these girls aren’t just ANY OLD dancers… they both just returned from Germany, where they proudly respresented TnT as part of the dance contingent sent to support the Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in  for the 2006 World Cup! (Yeah – when I come, I come with the best! LOL) Thanks Sherm and Sammy – I couldn’t have done it without you!

Even more thanks for all of the kick-ass musicians that backed me in St. Lucia for the competition – big up the Extreme Band!

And of course I respect ALL the people I competed against (each one a star and contender in his or her own right) but I must make special mention of the runner-up: Ninja Dan, who also happens to be the man that inspired “Ting 4 D Road” in the first place… thanks bro! Much love! keep doing your “ting”! LOL

The Top Four contestants in St. Lucia’s Caribbean Soca Monarch posing with their trophies: (From Left To Right) Mista Vybe, Ninja Dan (2nd), Platinum George (4th) and Alpha (4th)

Last but BY NO MEANS LEAST: a heartfelt thanks to all the Fans who came out to the show, supported me, showed so much love, jumped and waved in the rain and generally made me feel welcome. THANK YOU ST. LUCIA! Love yuh!

Oh – the Caribbean Soca Monarch wasn’t all that happened that weekend… on Saturday night before I flew off to St. Lucia for the competition I had the honour of performing (for the second year) at TnT’s own Soca For Summer Show. Ms. Alysha and I joined our longtime bredrin Bunji Garlin (Happy Belated Birthday, B!) onstage with the Asylum band and had a great time in the middle of a set that also included FayAnn Lyons, Lil Bitts, Kevin Lyttle and the long awaited return to the stage of our long-lost bredrin, Blazer – who ripped the stage in fine form.

All in all it was a great night… even though right after Bunji set we had to rush off to the airport… ahh well… it was worth it, ent?

Since I’ve gotten back I took a lil time to rest and be thankful for my accomplishments so far this year, as well as work on new material.

Ms. Alysha and I have a song on the recently-released Red Hummer Riddim, produced by my “brother from another mother” (LOL) Madman Johann (from the Sel Construction sound system). It’s called “Dancing Machine” and features me and my “lil sista” doin some wicked dancing instructions! Listen out for it…

I’m also workin on a couple other new joints… so keep your ears peeled…

And in the meantime… the Mista Vybe Travels The World Tour (LOL – there isn’t really an OFFICIAL tour but it sounds cool, right?) will soon continue… keep it locked to find out when and where…

In the meantime… reach for your dreams – anything is possible! I am living proof of that.

Blessed love!

Since Carnival 2006 “Ting 4 D Road” has been available on two compilations: TriniBashment 91.9′s Compilation Volume 2 and the Red Hot Soca Compilation from Best Buy… now I’m proud to announce that you can find your favourite tune on VP Records’ soon-to-be-released Soca Gold 2006 compilation.

Other hits on the star studded CD include my lil sista Ms. Alysha’s smash, “Party” featuring Fay-Ann Lyons (which I co-wrote), and my fellow Big Artiste Crew member (and good friend) Nadia Batson’s hot joint “One Island” (that I sang background vocals on).

In addition there are tunes from Bunji Garlin, Shurwayne Winchester, Edwin Yearwood and so much more.

And as if all those hits weren’t enough, VP celebrates the 10th Anniversary of it’s Soca Gold series by inclduing a bonus DVD with the CD, so you also get footage of live performances by some of the artists on the compilation and live interviews from the artists involved as well (including yours truly)!

Soca Gold 2006 will officially be released on June 20th, 2006.

Check it out! Support Caribbean Music!

Buy Original!

Blessed love!

In case you missed it, the nominations for the 4th Annual Soca Awards were released yesterday and your boy Mista Vybe picked up TWO nominations!

The first is for Favourite Uptempo Soca (Male) for the song “Ting 4 D Road” and the second is a joint nomination with my homegirl Michelle Sylvester in the Best Soca Collaboration (Groove), for our duet “Always On My Mind”.

Thanks to Colin Jackman and everyone at the SAO (Soca Awards Organisation). I’m honoured and humbled by this appreciation of my work.

What feels even better is that my crew, The Big Artiste Crew has a total of 11 nominations, between myself (two nominations), Michelle Sylvester (joint nomination with me), Nadia Batson (FOUR nominations) and my lil sista Ms. Alysha (FIVE nominations)!

Somebody say SOCA AWARDS!

Congratulations go out out to all my many colleagues in the business that have been nominated, and special kudos to my extended family who got nominated as well: Maximus Dan, Kimmy D, Precious, Knycky Cordner, Rita Jones, Ozy Majic and my whole Socalypso Entertainment posse (3 out of 4 artists nominated!), the whole Ma$tamind Productions family and the whole Catalyst Productions crew… I’m proud of ALL you guys!

To all the fans… VOTING FOR THE SOCA AWARDS STARTS ON JUNE 15TH!

Go to http://www.socaawards.com to vote online for Mista Vybe and all your other favourites and find out more about past Soca Awards nominees and winners.

The 4th Annual Soca Awards will take place at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York on September 8th, 2006.