Rebirth Riddim [Dutch Productions]

Cross Over – Q-Pid and Scady

The song is called “Cross Over”. It is featured on the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Muzic Rebirth Riddim. Written by Courtney Louis and Melissa Moses, it is produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis. Q-Pid and Scady Dot P sing “Cross Over”. Now brace yourself, because here ends the calm normal as we are about to take you to another dimension populated by the sights and sounds of Carnival. Ladies and gentlemen, soca lovers and bacchanalists all
“Put your hands to the side/Get ready to Cross Over/take a hummmm.” There are a few things and actions you will need for this trip, “Where your rag/Jump Up, Jump Up/Where your flag/Jump Up, Jump Up/Where your towel.” You will also have to demonstrate the ability to lose all control, surrendering yourself to the mastery of this music, “Throw down the railing/Cross Over/Move the Stage/Bump Somebody, we in a rage/Cross Over/ Now run till you dead.” Be warned that “Cross Over” will also make you talk in soca tongues because, “We pressure up already/So we don’t give a d-d-d-d-damn.”

Bury Dem – Ambi

Powered by the “wealth of our soul” Ambi has been sent to fight with “Bury Dem”. Ambroise Joseph and Courtney “Curty” Louis wrote the song on the Rebirth Riddim, which Louis also produced for his Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Muzic studio. The intent behind “Bury Dem” is stated clearly and emphatically by Ambi who came in second in the 2012 Power Soca Monarch competition, “We coming to bury dem/ Tell them we go bury dem/We going to bury dem/One by one we go bury dem.” A man on a mission, he makes it clear victory is the only option, “Nothing cannot stop me/Somebody ah go get dead tonight/Call the undertaker/ Don’t make no sense you put up a fight.” And because this is musical warfare, “We run the party/ that’s why they fraid of we” he also takes it there, calling out competitors, detractors and naysayers, “Dem boys must be mad/them call out me name/I coming to bowl dem down, bowl them down.” Ambi has consistently improved in the execution of his soca craft and with “Bury Dem” he makes it clear failure is not an option, “Tell them we nah back down/The fete lock down/ Anything ah anything/So tell them boy come/We nah afraid of nothing/Terrible from time we born/One by one, two by two them ah go drop down.”

Plenty Mash Up – Ricky T

“One ting about Saint Lucia/Is the land of party hard” sings 12 time Soca Monarch Ricky T. The artiste who holds the record for the most Road March and Power Soca titles lives up to his billing on “Plenty Mash Up” delivering hooks and lines designed to move from fete, yard and the all important road. Featured on the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Muzic Rebirth Riddim, “Plenty Mash Up” is written by Ricky Joseph and produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis. Like a true Carnival ambassador, Ricky T pays ode here to the start of the road he has dominated five times in the recent past, “Say we coming down by Mega J and is mash up, mash up/More mash up/Plenty mash up.” He also calls his reveler soldiers “We in the Carnival band/ we making a commess/Nobody cah hold us down cuz they know we bless.” The heat is in the Carnival Spirit as is “Plenty Mash Up.” In a season plagued with new financial concerns, when Saint Lucians keep asking for a musical champion, their former King has returned to answer the call. “So show me your rag and flag we doing a madness” as we get ready to “Plenty Mash Up”.

Increase My Salary – Kakal

King Kakal is a two time Power Soca Monarch. To reach the top of that soca mountain, not once, but twice, requires the love of the people who serve at the feet of soca. It is these very people Kakal has come to plead for on “Increase My Salary.” Featured on the Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Muzic Rebirth Riddim, “Increase My Salary” is written by Calixte Xavier and produced by Courtney “Curty” Louis. Combining the social realities of high unemployment and rising prices with the bacchanal we all love, Kakal laments he can no longer afford to pay to live. “I caan even buy a phone card/no food to put in me yard/Every month is the same ting” and because “I want to buy a costume/Increase my salary.” This is serious business, this soca mixed with economics, especially when a pilot can literally see prices rising as he flies through the sky since “Everyting gone up up/But the salary never raise.” So put up your hand and flag, rising as high as the prices as we all join in the soca plea to “Increase My Salary”.

Born To Do This - D'Sean

Every once in a while, a talent comes along that leaves you speechless with wonder and this is he. Appearing on the appropriately titled Rebirth Riddim, D’Sean is laying claim to his soca destiny on “Born to Do This” which he wrote and Courtney “Curty” Louis produced for his Dutch Productions/Stratosphere Muzic label. These are bold statements from a young man who is still relatively unknown in musical circles. However, with two Power Soca Monarch finals under his belt, D’Sean declares himself “the soca baby coming for the Soca King.” Formerly Di Militant Soldya, D’Sean went through his own Rebirth during Carnival 2012 and it, like his musical journey says to you, “Tell them I was born to do this/Born to sing soca/I coming with a ball of fire/To shake up the whole arena.” Rampant with imagery including reference to a “Bacchanal Relay”; D’Sean warns we “Blowing them away like we is a storm/ we hitting them up like we are the sun…/And if they try to stop me/ We stomping in a de yard.” So take notice now and remember where you were when you heard this song and this artiste, D’Sean is indeed “Born To Do This”.

Listen