From early in the decade, Trinidad and Tobago has held a strong presence in the reggae industry with artists such as Jamelody, Isasha, Million Voice, Prophet Benjamin and Marlon Asher stepping heavy onto the scene.

Whether in be in the uptown club vibe, the downtown mellow party scene, or the quarterly reggae sound system gathering, Trinidad and Tobago has a heavy vibe for roots reggae.

With musical influences such as Steel Pulse, Toots and Bob Marley, Sizzla and Buju Banton these young men have emerged from various locations throughout the island, singing songs of love, liberation and without much neglect, the smoking of marijuana. Finding solice as well as spirituality through their song.

Jamelody has gotten a positive response from the Trinidadian audience and is seeking to establish himself on the international front. Well respected in Trinidad, his crowd response differs from the likes of Jamaican reggae lovers.

Isasha, the Trinidadian reggae song-writer and performer has always viewed conscious reggae music as nothing new, but always a means for the youth to express positivity.

Million Voice, writer and performer of the roots reggae song One Family shares similar opinions on the subject of young Trinidadians expressing their frustration and outlooks. As brothers, Isasha and Million Voice share the stage in unifying Trinidadian youths and covering topics such as poverty, crime, love and solution to retribution.

Prophet Benjamin seeks out more of a dubbed reggae style of music, and has shared the stage with all of the above mentioned. Like many other emerging artists, Prophet Benjamin has indeed begun to put Trinidad on the map for reggae music.

However, Marlon Asher has begun the trend of Trinidadian reggae musicians with his hit, “Ganja Planter”. This tune is guaranteed to flow heavy vibes into any crowd, as most youths in the audience just smile and dance to the music. Trinidad is known for marijuana cultivation, and this song not only appeals to marijuana smokers, but also to the struggling youths who seek cultivating as well as selling the herb.

Regardless of age and ethnicity, Trinidad and Tobago seeks to develop is reggae talent. However, most of the emerging musicians have agreed that the reggae and conscience style was always a way of life in Trinidad- it is one of the many things that unify different cultures on this island of multifarious ethnicity.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth.

20,000 surges of pure energy; 20,000 vibrations throughout your body; 20,000 people in one stadium. Why?

All brought together to witness the ultimate soca performer executing a high energy, high impact and indeed, a high definition performance. Without a doubt, this show was an alternative concept to Trinidad and an alternative concept to carnival.

I have been a concert/party go-er for almost ten years now, and I must admit that AC 3+3 really displayed value for money. I got to the Stadium a bit early. But this was a good thing, as I got there early enough to get some drinks and mark my territory very close to the stage.

Showing the symptoms of a successful concert from the start, Machel Montano HD pumped the crowd with anticipation by turning on the heat with Patrice Roberts and Macka Diamond, David Rudder and Sparrow. The eagerness of the crowd was felt in heart, as the entire crowd seemed drunk with joy. Not to mention that HD was introduced in such an avant-garde manner by a helicopter and a free-fall jump from the city’s atmosphere to a landing ground in the stadium.

These prelude performances were incomparable to the adrenaline overload in Port of Spain when the Miami superstar, Pitbull came onto the stage. “Defense” seemed to have injected every soul with the uncontrollably urge to dance. Personally, this alternative concept experience was very eye-opening to the fact that a baseline, rhythm and reggaeton artist can literally make you feel as though you were going mad. At this point, I was in the thick of the crowd, but moved further back into the stands to get a view of the crowd.

What I saw was phenomenal. Each person’s head seemed like a dot, multicolor waving (flags, rags, bandanas, cups…what have you…) in the air. By now, the performance was coming to an end, but winding down is far from the choice of words that I should use. “The heat….aaaaahhh….the heat”…the whole crowd chanted, before Montano recited his mission to “Blaze d Trail”. From back in the stands, the rapture of the massive audience is indescribable. All I can say is that the pulsation and chanting seemed almost demonic.

When HD’s presentation came to an end, this chunk of followers seemed almost stunned that the show was, in reality, over.

With no reservations, Montano has clearly illustrated the true definition of an artist.

Written by Jamie Jaggernauth