This second installment takes place the morning after my wicked performance where I mashed up U-Club in Wuppertal, Germany. You get to meet up with myself and my manager Joanne outside of the hotel shortly after we dragged ourselves out of bed (only a couple hours after the actual show – no rest for the wicked lol). Then, we introduce you to some of the people that made our mini-tour in Germany both possible and pleasurable.

You’ll meet the crazy and very cool guys that were my DJs and entourage in Germany – the infamous Threeks Sound crew: Alex, Nico (wickedest Soca selector in Germany – Mista Vybe say dat!) and Weasel (you might remember him singing “I don’t know what you come to do but I come to get on real baaaaad” into my mic in during my performance of my tune “Up” back in Blogisde 1 lol).

You also get to meet the man we refer to as Mr. Business – AKA Steffen (AKA “Jah Marks” lol)… this guy LITERALLY came in at the last minute after some initial negotiation difficulties and magically organized a near-perfect mini-tour for us in like 7 DAYS! He also was the best driver, tour guide, host and ambassador for Germany’s Soca culture anyone could ask for lol. We’re forever in his debt (and in debt to his wifey Melissa too lol) for giving us this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the amazing love that Germany has for Soca music and Caribbean vibes in general.

Following the introductions, we travel 6 hours and many miles to the Bohannon club in the city of Berlin (the Soca mecca of Germany) later on that night, where I performed for Germany’s version of Glow (a popular concept in TnT  – a party where you must wear white to gain entrance). Before the performance begins, Jo and I talk a little about the trip thus far, the amazing German people, the love we received and many other topics.

This episode gives you some idea of how much the German Soca massive really loves Soca music and the culture of the islands, and how far they (and my manager and I) were willing to go to defend that culture.

As a matter of fact, right at the beginning of the clip, Joanne interviews the guys from Threeks Sound, one of whom is wearing a T-Shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Soca Or Die”, and when she asks: “Would you really die for Soca?” The answer is an unhesitate “DEFINITELY”.

That’s how Jo and I feel about Soca too and it shows in this clip, right up to when Weasel starts introducing my performance onstage at Glow…

But more on that next time ;-)

For now it’s about “2 D WORLD! (GERMANY) – BLOGISODE 2: Living (And Dying) For Soca”!

Blessings – Vybe OUT!!!!

STARRING:

Mista Vybe, Joanne Marcano,

Threeks Sound and Bohannon in Berlin, Germany

VIDEO RECORDED BY:

Joanne Marcano of Real Mark Global Group

VIDEO EDITING & ANIMATION:

Keith Matthews Jr. of Sav Creative Media

For a while now we have been hinting on MistaVybeWorld.com and its related outlets (Vimeo, Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, etc) about SOMETHING BIG Coming Soon… and I’m thrilled to announce to you that SOMETHING BIG is finally here. :-D

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to the internet – via MistaVybeWorld.com, of course – the first EVER reality series starring a Trini/Soca artist. Yes I said it. Hey – the truth is the truth – it’s the FIRST of its kind EVER. No one has ever done it quite like this before. What can I say? I like breaking new ground. ;-)

Yes – you read it right. Yours Truly (that would be ME – Mista Vybe) is starring in my own brand new Reality Show series, which we have fittingly titled “2 D World!”

Here’s the backstory: ever since  my manager Joanne and I landed in our respective home countries (she’s based in Toronto while I reside in Trinidad) after our amazing week in Germany, our blackberries and laptops haven’t stopped buzzing with questions and comments regarding our European trip and when people would be able to see and hear more about it – so here it is – a full season of my new show recorded during our fantastic week in Bundesrepublik Deutschland (that’s “Republic Of Germany” for you English-speakers lol).

From the moment we landed in Frankfurt, we really wished we could have carried everyone with us to experience the wonder of that week and soak in the incredible energy we encountered from the German “Soca Massive”, and then eventually we hit on the perfect solution!

Looking at the video footage Jo had shot in Frankfurt, Wedding, Berlin, Wuppertal and everywhere else we went, it was clear that we had captured some really special moments that we needed to share, and so the idea for a Reality Show to allow us to show our German trip “2 D World” (literally) was born.

After Jo wisely placed the footage in the skilled hands of Toronto-based director/editor/producer Keith Matthews Jr. (affectionately known as “Sav” to us) of God Stone Films and Sav Creative Media, what we emerged in the end with was nothing short of ground-breaking.

In this first episode of “2 D World” that we’re releasing today (September 2nd, 2009) YOU get the extreme honour of meeting my feisty manager and partner-in-crime Joanne Marcano (I just call her Jo) as she leaves Toronto and heads to Germany to meet me so we can go do our first show that night.

Come along with us as Joanne and I link up in Frankfurt (after more than 10 hours each of flying) and meet our German hosts (big up Steffen AKA Jah Marks and the whole Threeks International Sound System). After driving 6 hours, yuh boy Mista Vybe (that’s me lol) totally “mashed up” Germany’s hottest Reggae club (U-Club) in Wuppertal with a wicked performance.

Despite having problems with my peformance CDs (which refused to be read by the CD players the DJs had that evening) and a malfunctioning laptop (so I couldn’t burn new CDs either), Jo, Threeks and I managed to get the situation under control just in time for me to deliver a truly incredible performance (even if I do say so myself) in Wuppertal.

A special Big Up to Steffen & Melissa (our gracious and hardworking hosts without whom the trip would not have been possible), the whole Threeks International crew (Nico, Alex & Weasel – we got mad love for you guys – thanks for being my DJs for the trip), Count Shortleg (luv ya Schoki!), the always hype Wuk Up Terrorist girls (Germany’s Number One Soca dance crew and my favourite German fans), and of course everyone at U-Club  and the Hotel Astor in Wuppertal.

Okay – so that’s it for now. Don’t waste anymore time!  Check out “Blogisode 1: Welcome To Deutschland” (get it? Blog-Episode? Blogisode? lol) of my new series “2 D World! (Germany)” and stay tuned to MistaVybeWorld.com for many more blogisodes of “2 D World!” which I assure you will be Coming Soon!

Oh, and please feel free to comment on this post and let us know how you like the show! That’s all until the next Blogisode.

Mista Vybe inna yuh Dancehall again… OUT!

2 D WORLD! (GERMANY) – BLOGISODE 1: Welcome to Deutschland from Mista Vybe on Vimeo.

STARRING:

Mista Vybe, Joanne Marcano,

Threeks Sound, Wukup Terrorists

and U-Club in Wuppertal, Germany

VIDEO RECORDED BY:

Joanne Marcano of Real Mark Global Group

VIDEO EDITING & ANIMATION:

Keith Matthews Jr. of Sav Creative Media

These are the people whose unique contributions, boundless talents and tireless work were reposnsible for making the site  – and more importantly  Mista Vybe – the glorious success you see today (not to mention helping whip up a couple more tricks we still have in  the bag waiting to spring on you guys soon).

Meet my fam – Team Vybe! Here’s a quick debriefing:

Joanne Marcano of the Real Mark Global Group is my Manager, my family, my friend and quite literally my right hand (either to help create beautiful art or to  smack punk bitches down [and not just the female type] in the name of progress/business lol). How does she manage to accomplish all this while she’s in Toronto and I live in Trinidad? Lord alone knows lol but whatever it is, I wouldn’t trade it for the world! Best Management in the world! Love you cuz!

Ten of theyoungfreshnew.com is one of Toronto’s most respected young entertainment bloggers and a force to be reckoned with in website design. Without her HTML expertise (and her patience with Jo and I both being perfectionists), you’d literally be looking at a blank page right now. Thanks a million for the many hours of blood, sweat and tears, Ten. It’s been a pleasure working with you. Okay NOW you can sleep… a lil bit – cause see – I have this idea… LMAO!

Sandhya Khanna currently handles Media Relations (PR for you non-biz folks) for Mista Vybe (the artist) and MistaVybeWorld (the site), as well as several other projects alongside Joanne and Real Mark Global. She’s the author behind the recently launched Mista Vybe Newsletter and generally a true Team member through and through. She also happens to play 5 instruments, sings, does sound engineering/production, and has credentials in broadcasting and marketing… hmmm – over-qualified much? lol Thanks for all the hard work Sandy – it’s a pleasure to have you on my Team!

Michelle “Miche” Williams of Fuzion Movement Marketing has been instrumental in the online marketing of Mista Vybe the artist for years. She’s also a treasured longtime friend and one of my favourite people to collab with in the studio (she produced one of my most popular international joints, “Always On My Mind”). Fuzion Movement (big up Suzette and the rest of the crew), along with Real Mark Global, MistaVybeWorld and yours truly as an artist have many big things planned for the near future, so stay tuned for updates. Love you Miche! Thanks for your continued support and friendship!

And last but by NO MEANS least…the enigmatic Keith Matthews Jr. of God Stone Films and Sav Creative Media is better known to the rest of Team Vybe as “Sav”, because he is quite literally a BEAST (beast… savage… sav? Must I spell it out? lol) when it comes to editing, directing, camera work and all things audio/visual. Can’t tell you too much about him right now because “Sav” is the secret weapon of MistaVybeWorld.com. The very cool animated logos at the end of some of the videos we already launched on the site (check the Intro vid up at the top of the page, for instance) are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his amazing directorial, editing and special FX skills – TRUST me on this. Stay tuned – Sav’s full contribution will become clear when we launch Phase Two of our plan for World Domination. Muhahahahaha!!!! *villainous grin* (“Was that too over the top? I never can tell…” - quote from Jim Carrey as The Riddler in Batman Forever, 1995.)

GOD STONE FILMS Teaser from Mista Vybe on Vimeo.

In short – these are the folks responsible for MistaVybeWorld.com and, by extension, a whole new beginning for Mista Vybe. Oh – did I mention that ALL these folks live in Toronto, Canada (except Miche, who’s NY based) while I’m in Trinidad, so I haven’t actually MET them (again other than Miche) in person yet? Crazy right? But nevertheless – we’re a team – united and unstoppable (thank God for the power of the internet and tele-conferencing!)

Thanks guys for all your dedication and hard work, both for myself the artist and for MistaVybeWorld.com. Got love for you all! Blessings and much respect,

Mista Vybe

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… ;-)