“Be fearless. Taking on the challenge of executing your creative vision can be intimidating, especially when you are passionate about the message you wish to convey. At times, you may get caught up in the numbers. How many people are watching? I encourage you to consider that what really matters is who’s watching.” – Ryan Leslie

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CLICK THE PHOTO TO VIEW THE VIDEO!

Carnival may be over in Trinidad And Tobago but the Carnival spirit will never die. That being said, did you listen to (and DOWNLOAD) the BRAND NEW “Mad Again (Doc Jones HD RoadMix)” yet?

Well? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Hmm.. maybe you need a little inspiration! In THAT case you’re in luck, because that’s what the BRAND SPANKING NEW EXCLUSIVE PROMO VIDEO is for! *evil grin*

As usual with all of our MistaVybeWorld.com videos, this clip is available for viewing on Youtube, Vimeo, Facebook and Myspace – as well as on my personal website, MistaVybeWorld.com, of course. *wink* (Oh and for you Twitterers out there, there’s a TwitVid of it as well lol)

So now that you know the deal, you need to STOP WASTING TIME and GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROMO VIDEO… and then GO DOWNLOAD THE ROADMIX NOWWWWW!!!

Blessings to you all, and remember – Trinidad Carnival 2010 may be over, but Soca is FOREVER!

That’s all for the moment. As always, remember to LEAVE A COMMENT and let us know what you think! Mista Vybe OUTTTTT!!!

“MAD AGAIN” ROADMIX PROMO #1 from Mista Vybe on Vimeo.

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Happy Valentine’s Day! Spread love today and EVERY DAY!

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DJs and Fans alike have been CLAMOURING for a RoadMix ever since “Mad Again” was first released back in December, and I’m happy to say that the time has finally come!

I don’t want to take up too much time blogging because I’m soooooooooo anxious for everyone to enjoy the RoadMix, but I would be remixx if I didn’t big up the AMAZING people that made this CRAZY RoadMix possible in the first place.

The majority of the hard work on this one was done by my lil brother in music – super-talented drummer/producer/arranger/programmer extraodinaire Doc JonesHD. A nativson of St. Kitts and a respected live musician there, Doc Jones is now working out of Toronto, Canada. I was fortunate to be introduced to him and his limitless talent while I was in Toronto back in 2009 handling business. Thanks for the GREAT work on this one Doc! I guarantee you’re gonna have some big trucks BANGING on the road to this for sure!!!

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Jester (at top) and PRODUCER/ARRANGER Doc JonesHD working on the RoadMix at Jugglin Studios (Toronto, CA)

I also have to seriously big up my musical brother from another mother – North America’s Most Versatile DJ himself, AKA Jester, for overseeing this project and making sure the RoadMix came out HARD and READY TO HIT THE ROAD. Thanks bro! (If Jester’s name seems familiar, perhaps you know him as a member of the X-Caliber Entourage Sound System or as one of Clinton Sparks’ Smash Squad DJs – OR maybe it’s because you’re one of the 1700-and-counting people who downloaded “Soca Certified Smash” – our mixtape collaboration. If you DIDN’T already download it, then CLICK HERE IMMEDIATELY to fix that problem *wink*)

Last, but by NO MEANS LEAST, thanks and all my love to my cousin, sidekick, friend, confidante, advisor and (most importantly) Manager, Joanne Marcano of The Marcano Management Group, without whom NONE of this would be possible. Love yah Cuzzie! LET’S GO GET ‘EM!!

Okay folks – I’ve spoken my piece , so there’s not much else to say except DOWNLOAD THE ROADMIX – NOWWWWW!!!

Thanks for all your support throughout Trinidad Carnival 2010 and look forward to much more from Mista Vybe (inna yuh Dancehall again) throughout the coming months. TRUST ME when I say that for 2010 “It’s NOT just Soca”! BIG TIME! *evil grin*

Okay… TAKE A LISTEN TO “Mad Again (Doc JonesHD RoadMix)” now and ENJOY YOURSELF FOR TnT CARNIVAL AND BEYOND!

Blessings to one and all! For Carnival 2010, Mista Vybe is OUTTTTTTTTT!

CREDITS:

Mad Again (Doc JonesHD RoadMix)

PRODUCED & ARRANGED BY: Doc JonesHD

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Jester X-Caliber Entourage & Smash Squad DJs)

RECORDED, MIXED AND MASTERED AT: Jugglin Studios (Toronto)

WRITTEN & COMPOSED: Mista Vybe

ORIGINAL PRODUCTION BY: Madmen Productions

ORIGINAL VERSION CO-PRODUCED BY:Mista Vybe

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With Carnival Wednesday (the Wednesday before Carnival) already upon us here in sunny Trinidad and Tobago and the counting down to Carnival on the road ticking away, I thought it would be fitting for me to give everyone a crash course in Trinidad Carnival 101… AKA The Professional Soca Lover’s Guide To Enjoying Carnival … AKA Carnival Made Simple… OR, as I prefer to call it “Carnival Etiquette For Dummies”. This is only the first installment in what is sure to be a fun, smile-inducing series of blog posts that I’m sure will be thoroughly helpful to any Carnival newbies that have just landed on our shores and equally entertaining to the many Carnival Jumbies to whom this yearly ritual is of the utmost importance.

Without further ado – let’s begin our series with a special list… the TOP TEN THINGS TO DO AS SOON AS YOU LAND IN TnT FOR CARNIVAL:

1). BUY SOMETHING!!! Your family or friends or significant other will appreciate your visit even MORE if you show up bearing GIFTS. Trinis love foreigners who come bearing presents. Nothing makes a Trini smile harder than a foreign loved one’s “grip” (translation = “suitcase”) opening to reveal “something from the cold” (i.e. a present)… or better yet, we LOOOVE picking up someone from the airport and seeing that Duty Free bag in their hand (cause we know there’s liquor in it lol). DO invest in rum, scotch (whisky), and other such “gazool” (alchohol) that will be useful later on to your and your pees in your fete-ing and liming adventures. DON’T bother to buy your Trini loved ones “I Love Trinidad” T-Shirts or other such memorbilia (we live here, so we don’t need to be nostalgic about it much – we’d much rather drink something and take a wine up lol).

2) FREEZE!!! Nooo, silly – I don’t mean the weather is cold here. Quite the opposite actually. Fact is, even if you arrive in the middle of the night, it will still be way warmer than if you were back in, say Washington D.C., or Canada lol. No, what I’m saying is The FIRST thing you should do once you get through those class doors in Piarco Airport is to just PAUSE. STOP for a a minute and take it all in. Fresh air… warm weather… YOU’RE IN TRINIDAD! Take a second to enjoy the fact that you’ve officially arrived in paradise and to thank The Universe for blessing you with such a wonderful gift. (Some people go as far as kissing the ground… personally I don’t recommend it, but if that’s what makes you happy then by all means, go for it! As we Trinis love to say “What doh kill does fatten”, right?)

3) GET CONNECTED! Any true Trini will tell you that surviving in TnT in 2010 is MUCH easier when you’re HOOKED UP. I’m talking about a PHONE of course. The trick is to spend TIME finding out what options are best for you (pick a network, decide if to bring a phone with you or buy one here) – preferably BEFORE you even land. All the phone networks here have extensive sites so feel free to google them and see what the options that best suit you may be. Don’t under-estimate the importance of a phone in TnT. How you gonna call your family or text your crew to link up for the big fete without a cell? Better yet – what happens when you and your mas “pardners” hit the road and are separated in the band of your choice by THOUSANDS of other masqueraders? Thank goodness for texting, right? Also, if you’re a tech-head like me, you’ll want to make sure to enquire about the internet options wherever you’re staying (hotel, family’s house etc.) so you don’t wind up going into internet withdrawal during your Carnival trip.

4) “FULL YUH BELLY!!! (For you non-Trinis that means enjoy some good Trini Food lol). Everyone that has been here at least once has some kind of food ritual that accompanies their arrival in TnT. Some people need to chow down on a hot doubles (maybe right there in the airport, or at one of the many hot spots around like U-Wee Doubles, George’s in St. James, “Sauce” in Curepe Junction, etc)… Some folks look forward to their first box of “chicken and chips” (the KFC vs Royal Castle debate is never-ending in Trini so I’m not even getting into that here lol)…. Maybe you just want a roti from Hott Shoppe (or wherever your favourite roti shoppe happens to be… Or perhaps you’re been craving a more snackable delicacy (phoulourie, snow-cone, tamarind balls, sugar cake, coconut bake,,, the list is endless). The bottom line is stop fantasising about your favourite Trini dish and just GO GET IT! Yuh “reach” (as the song goes), so why not celebrate? Oh, and while you’re at it, why not have something Trini to drink too? (Mauby, leftover Xmas sorrel or ginger beer, peanut punch from a good “punch man”, a red Solo to go with that pepper-filled roti, a Shandy, an ice cold Stag/Carib, or just a nice lime with Uncle Johnny (Walker lol) will guarantee you start off your trip to TnT with a HUGE smile on your face (and a full belly too). BESIDES – you’ll need the ENERGY from all those delicious goodies for all the wining, wukking up, jumping and waving that’s to come.

5) GET FAMILIAR! If you haven’t been here for a while you might have to get used to a few new things, since the landscape here is ever-changing. If you weren’t here before the Summit, then you’ll certainly be seeing a few new sights on the drive home from the airport (“improved” highway, a now-finished overpass, etc). My best advice would be find a Trini who’s been here for at least a year and ask “Like Trini real change up?” They’ll be happy to point out a myriad of changes whether good or bad and add in their personal take on the situation, including financial and political commentary and probably a little bacchanal (gossip) thrown in. You’ve got to learn the landscape so you know how to get to and from all the fetes and mas, so what the heck? Sit back and enjoy the “tour”!

6) SETTLE IN! Get to your “home” for the season – whether that’s a hotel room, a guest house, a rented space or your family’s comfy home – and quickly put down your luggage, change clothes, PACK AWAY those thick sweaters and winter clothes (you WON’T be needing them for a while), and GET READY TO HAVE FUN! Nooooooo – don’t lie down on that bed. Don’t relax in that chair. Real Trini’s DON’T SLEEP at Carnival time! Sleep for after Ash Wednesday!!! A real TRUE TRINI’s first duty upon reaching home during the Carnival Season is to change into warm weather gear IMMEDIATELY and then PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEP!

7) LINK UP!!! Find out who you know that’s in TnT and ready to fete. Ask around and see what is de hottest lime/fete in town. Get tickets organised. Double check transportation arrangements. Who’s dropping you off, or who are you travelling with in the maxi/taxi to bacchanal central and how are you getting back home afterward? Whose plane landed already and when is the rest of the gang getting here? Make sure everything is all set up so you can proceed to the next step which is…

8) “BUSS A LIME”!!! Find a bar, rumshop, restaurant, sports bar, street corner, friend or relative’s house or any other place and enjoy a good old fashioned Trini lime. Drink a Stag/Carib “in the road” (well on the pavement actually, but you know what I mean lol). Take a wine on the corner. “Crack” (translation = “tell”) some jokes. Just enjoy being in TnT. “YUH REACH”!!!

9) HEAD TO THE NEAREST FETE! Even after a quick lime, it’s STILL not time to rest. Remember what I said in #6 – “Sleep is for after Ash Wednesday!!! Make sure and PAY YOUR MONEY. Don’t play Zuki & TimTim and try to “storm” (illegally enter) the fete because you WILL get thrown out or worse lol). Get EEEEEEEEEEEN a party and get ready to…

10) MASH UP THE PLACE! (Not LITERALLY!!!) Jump! Wave! Wine! Eat! Drink! Make Sure you have a designated driver! Be Merry! Carnival is yours – ENJOY! Have a safe and happy Carnival and enjoy the fete-ing.

Oh and if there was a #11 it would be “STAY TUNED TO MistaVybeWorld.com for the next Blog-isode of MISTA VYBE’S GUIDE TO TRINI CARNIVAL”!

For now this is your Carnival reporter Mista Vybe signing OFF! Vybe outttttttttttttt!

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As any true Mista Vybe supporter knows, Social Networking comes second-hand to Mista Vybe. A natural conversationalist and tech savvy individual, Mista Vybe combined these traits and created his own Web 2.0 World; MistaVybeWorld.com. Since the blogsite’s inception, countless positive reviews (nothing short of praise – read previous posts in the MistaVybeWorld.com Media Section) have been awarded to Mista Vybe for being an innovative Soca artist with the launch of the site and his use of Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc. to enhance and inform his ever-growing legion of followers

Thanks to our many fans and friends who picked up a copy of the Trinidad Guardian earlier today – we love you all. If you missed the print version in the Guardian, or you would just like more “bang for your buck”, then make sure to read the ENHANCED version of Mark’s column, which FEATURES 25% MORE INFO on Mista Vybe and his wealth of “Web 2.0″ knowledge. CLICK HERE to see Mark’s TOTALLY UN-EDITED, FULL LENGTH ARTICLE!!!

Mista Vybe and the MistaVybeWorld.com Team would like to send a special “Thank You” to Mark Lyndersay and the Trinidad Guardian for acknowledging how vital Social Networking is to any artist’s marketing approach and for spotlighting Mista Vybe as one of the top proponents of teach-savvy marketing in Trinidad and Tobago.

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“I will put the Law of Pure Potentiality into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

(1) I will get in touch with the field of Pure Potentiality by taking time each day to be silent, to just Be. I will also sit alone in silent meditation at least twice a day for approximately thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening.

(2) I will take time each day to commune with nature and to silently witness the intelligence within every living thing. I will sit silently and watch a sunset, or listen to the sound of the ocean or a stream, or simply smell the scent of a flower. In the ecstasy of my own silence, and by communing with nature, I will enjoy the lire throb of ages, the field of Pure Potentiality and unbounded creativity.

(3) I will practice non-judgment. I will begin my day with the statement, ‘Today, I shall judge nothing that occurs,’ and throughout the day I will remind myself not to judge.” – Deepak Chopra (from his best-selling book “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success”)

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For those of you who either missed it, or just don’t recall offhand, Mista Vybe was recognized and rated amongst the Top Caribbean Celebrities on Twitter, and ranked an impressive Number 22 in a blog post that was also written by the very same Karel McIntosh back in October 2009.

In that countdown, Mista Vybe was not only running against Soca artists and Trinidadian celebrities, but he was also up against leading Reggae and Dancehall artists, as well as globally acclaimed Caribbean athletes and international Icons, including Rihanna, Beenie Man and Usain Bolt. All of this stiff world-class competion made his 22nd-place ranking even MORE impressive.

Extremely tech savvy, Mista Vybe has all the social-networking elements aligned (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Vimeo), updating them consistently and using them expertly to interact with all of his fans, followers and supporters.

Read Karel’s new blog post “Mista Vybe On Using Social Media To Take Soca To The World” for Mista Vybe’s unique take on why social media networking is of the utmost importance and how it can help any artist/entrepreneur.

Mista Vybe and the MistaVybeWorld.com Team send our heartfelt thanks to Karel for taking the time to link up with Mista Vybe and for doing such a wonderful job on the interview. Thanks a million Karel – we look forward to working with you again soon!

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Teddy Pendergrass, one of the world’s greatest soul singers, passed away yesterday (January 13th, 2010) after a long battle with colon cancer. He was without a doubt one of the legends that defined soul music and R&B as we know it today.

Few words can really pay homage to such ana amazing talent and moreso, such an amazing person. Even following a car crash in 1982 that left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair, Pendergrass continued to show courage and tenacity for life, going on to record albums in his chair and go on tour thereafter.

The music he made changed my life and I’m sure has touched yours in some way at some time.

Rest In Peace Teddy – you will live on in our hearts and minds through your amazing music.

Wow – is it just me or are we just losing one legend after another recently? *sigh*

Oh well – thankfully we have their legacies to keep us going.

In Teddy’s case, one of my favourite memories of him is his live performance of “When Somebody Loves You Back” from back in the 70’s when he was at the peak of his career.

Feel free to take in the video and reflect – I sure will.

Blessings. Vybe out!

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Residents sleep in the street after an earthquake in Port-au-Prince (January 13, 2010).

PHOTO VIA www.reuters.com

In the last 24 hours we have ALL listened and watched in horror as word spread via social media and news outlets about the already severely impoverished Republic Of Haiti (République d’Haïti) being completely devastated by a major earthquake just off the island’s coast. So far estimates are that AT LEAST 100,000 may be dead, many more injured and countless more of the nation’s 10-million-plus citizens are now homeless and in dire need of basic neccessities and medical aid. BOTTOM LINE: HAITI NEEDS OUR HELP! I’ve seen lots of random individual mentions regarding ways to help, but most of them are localised or just vague, so this is my attempt to use my forum on MistaVybeWorld.com to send out all the information I can possibly gather to my network of fans and friends worldwide.

We need to do all we can to help Haiti NOW, so READ THIS ENTIRE BLOG POST and do whatever is relative to your geographic location and/or financial abilities. Just DO SOMETHING. NOW!!!

Internationally, one of the best ways to help is through www.yele.org, which is highly endorsed by Haiti’s best known celebrity ambassador, Wylcef Jean (yes – Clef from the Fugees).

CLICK HERE to see Wyclef himself explain the details about his involvement and what you can do to help (starting with donating money via your cell phone by texting “YELE” to 501501). Feel free to just watch the video on MistaVybeWorld.com if you prefer.

Another great way to help is to make a secure, tax-deductible donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, supporting UNICEF’s emergency response in Haiti. $50, $100, $250, $500 (US dollars of course) or any amount you can give will help save lives. CLICK HERE to go directly the the UNICEF donation page NOW.

There’s a TON of other ways to DONATE ONLINE worldwide… CLICK THIS LINK to find out more about the many online donation options available to you, no matter where you are.

To get a little more localised, Salvation Army and Red Cross chapters all over the globe are accepting donations of non-perishable food items, clothes, etc., so just look up your local Red Cross or Salvation Army and go down and donate in person as well.

Regionally, all my Caribbean peeps will be happy to know that Digicel has a group dedicated to aiding Haiti. You can even donate to the Digicel Haiti Relief Fund via your cellular phone. Whether you’re in Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Antigua, Jamaica, St. Vincent, The BVI, St. Lucia or my beloved homeland of Trinidad and Tobago (or any other island for that matter), just CLICK HERE to find out exactly how to donate via your cell phone from your current location.

The BEST advice I can give however, on the local front, is to BE PRO-ACTIVE! Tune in to your local news outlets, make phone calls, organise with friends and pool resources and information. Just GET OUT THERE and DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF HAITI!

Remember: this devastation could have happened to ANY of us. It just so happened that the tragedy befell Haiti. Let’s all do our part to HELP. I know I am. Are YOU?

That’s all for now. Keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers and remember to DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP.

Feel free to add COMMENTS with ADDITONAL INFORMATION about ways to help.

Blessings and love. Mista Vybe OUTTTTT!!!

UPDATE: A Digicel text number was previously listed for Trini supporters to donate money to the Haiti Relief Fund (see above) and it has now been brought to my attention that BMobile also has a text option as well. Trini BMobile users can now Text “HAITI” to 4483 and make a $10.00 contribution to the people of Haiti.

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