SOUTH FLORIDA COOLER FETE

TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT 9:00pm - 4:00am Venue : Native Village | 3551 N State Road 7, Hollywood 33021 SKHI straight out of Trinidad along with Jamaican artiste SPIC DJ's: Eternal Vibes, House Arrest, DJ Reds, Dr. Esan, Survivor, Calico 7 days before MIA carnival | 7 entertainers 7 hours of fete | 7 woman to 1 man $25 Advance Tickets are SOLD OUT! Click Here to Purchase Online Local Outlets:  Loveys  Joys Alis  Tropical Fest  and all independent ticket holders. get yuh tix and have ah chance to  win  American Airlines vouchers  all  night  long. Information Contact: 9545367772

NEW MACHEL MONTANO

MACHEL MONTANO

BUSTA RHYMES

OLIVIA &

FAT MAN SCOOP?!?!?

I heard this collaboration and was like WTF?!?! These people? Together? Naahh!!!!  Most of you already know me and know that I don't usually post anything concerning music on here because my initial feeling toward new releases is to dislike them. I don't know why but there's something about what the speakers do to me in a club/fete setting that either make or break a song for me. The computer, no matter how loud the volume is and with the bass up just doesn't do it for me and I can count how many tunes I've heard in the last few years that I fell in absolute LOVE with upon my first hearing. Now I did not fall in LOVE with this one but it definitely has my attention. 

WE LEAD, YOU FOLLOW

WE LEAD, YOU FOLLOW

WE LEAD, YOU FOLLOW

FOLLOW, FOLLOW, FOLLOW

MAKE THE FLOOR SHAKE!!!

MIAMI CARNIVAL CAMOUFLAGE BOATRIDE

FEATURING 

SWAPPI

&

K. RICH

MIAMI CARNIVAL UPDATE A MUST READ!!!

I had the pleasure of speaking with someone who FINALLY shed some light on the Miami Carnival 'situation'.  I shared some DEEP concerns with the whole process of it all and now I think some of those answers have sunken in and made sense. To me anyway.

From what was explained to me, the carnival WILL NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT be taking place on the road. Music/drink trucks are expected to be INSIDE the Sun Life Stadium by 9am. Any truck expecting entry any time after will be turned away. Masqueraders are also encouraged to be at the stadium for that time. Masqueraders who show up after the allotted time WILL NOT be turned away but may have to deal with delayed entry which may cause some confusion and aggravation on their own parts. The reason for this process makes sense (once broken down).  Let me educate you a little bit.  The committee, not the public, understands that bringing this carnival to Miami/Broward costs money. It is NOT free. Lets face it, this is AMERICA!!! Once the parade is held in the streets, who benefits?  This is ultimately a competition and it's the committee who has to pay the winners.  It's just THAT simple. I understand that we as masqueraders don't too much care about who wins and money received but this entire parade is really a competition and those who enter, enter to be compensated. Now if all those who do NOT play mas are reveling (for free) on the road, enter the park with their band of choice and continue to have a time (for free), how will the elected Band Of The Year, King and Queen of the band, panorama bands, etc get paid? Contrary to popular belief the committee isn't comprised of a group of rich people but of a group of people just like you and me.  Where do you think all that money is coming from?  If the Federal Government is all tapped out what would make the committee any different?  So, with that being said, NONE of the festivities will be outside of the stadium.  If any music truck plays music outside of the stadium and cause a diversion they will most likely be FINED and/or SHUT DOWN.  I hate to say it but most people want things free and free for you raises the bill for those responsible for the event. Support the carnival!!!! Pay to play!

There is great, good and bad news to report.  The bad news is the committee (as of now) will be charging $25 at the 'door' (maybe more when that time comes) for EACH person to enter the stadium on 'Carnival Day'.  There were $10 and $15 early bird tickets available online. More bad news. Those tickets are long gone. Presently, only $20 early bird tickets are available. If by now you have decided to NOT play mas, you should purchase your tickets HERE and click on the 'BUY TICKETS' tab ASAP. Good news is, if you are a masquerader that gets to the park by 9am, you will be allowed to park on the grounds for FREE! *You all know how much of a headache that parking fee is.

The parade route is below. Looks like we won't be circling the park like lab rats after all and we will get a nice jump!  Hope to see you there!

I think once people purchase their tickets in advance, come to the carnival expecting to have a good time everyone will be happy. When coming to think about it, 9am isn't bad at all. When people play mas in little Trinidad don't you wake up earlier than that for not only 1 day but 2? Especially carnival Monday, who actually sleeps the night before? Aren't you busy in somebody Jouvert band? Consider it the same thing. After all, who's really coming to South Florida that week to sleep?!?! To those still angry about the time:

YUH CYA PLAY MAS IF YUH FRAID POWDER!!!!! 

SLEEP WHEN YUH GO BACK HOME!

TRINI MAFIA'S DONE IT AGAIN!!!

TRACKED CD LINK 

UNTRACKED CD LINK

BARNABUS' PODCAST LINK

AND FINALLY

THE YOUTUBE LINK

BIGGEST TRUCK BIGGEST COLLABORATION

JAMDONG MANAGEMENT

ISLAND GEMS

AND WASSI

HAVE BROUGHT TOGETHER

'SOMETHING JOUVERT'

& 

'GIMME MORE'

"Gimme More" is said to be the duttiest mud band for jouvert. 

Registration is $40 all incl. 

There will be a lime tomorrow from 3pm by 'Kyle' 4937 NW 96th Terr Sunrise Fl 333351.

For registration information on 

'Gimme More' click the flyer above. 

'Something Jouvert' click HERE

IS EUPHORIA MAS DISPLACED?

Just wondering........

Now that Hibiscus night club had their shooting last Friday night, will Euphoria Mas continue to set up camp there?  Hibiscus is not only the place to get some great wontons but has unfortunately branded themselves as the  place not to go when coming to fetes. Way back when I moved to Florida, Hibiscus was a nice place to lounge in the afternoon/early evening, go home, take a fresh and enjoy the parties at night. The lineup used to be sick!!!  Now, its just a place to order your food, have a drink while waiting and clear it before the fights start and like last Friday, the gunshots 'pop off'.

Euphoria Mas took a chance on the nightclub and setup their mas camp in the area used for parties and more positive people were being seen not only ordering and leaving but sitting down and enjoying themselves over food and drinks.  Parties started to pickup and I saw the turnaround. I won't speak on the whos or the whys because that's not important because no one was hurt.  What matters most to me is, how the mas will be affected.  What will Euphoria Mas now do? Will they stand firm and stay at Hibiscus or will they too leave Hibiscus?

GENERATION X MIAMI

"Are you 18 or older? Do you like to party? How about for free? Yes, free! Gen X is looking for some fun, outgoing and friendly women to help support the team. If interested in becoming a Gen X girl email SaraiB04@gmail.com".  

Generation X is looking for new Gen X girls!!!! This is a big thing for some very lucky young ladies. Gen X girls are usually a group of attractive girls that are all dressed the same and wear the Gen X tee to ALL Generation X events. They take photos, work the crowd, hand out fliers, take tickets, you name it, they're capable of doing it once need be and ONLY for Gen X. 

As time passes, people grow old, get tired of parties, move away and lets face it, have children. So every couple of years we see postings like these. If you are young, have reliable transport and live in South Florida, I think you should give this email a whirl. What do you have to lose? I'd suggest sending a face and body shot as well. Good luck! *when you become a GenX girl come pick me up for Bacchanal Wednesday!!! LOL 

SONIA MACK'S WEBSITE IS UP!!!!

Sonia Mack's website was the last addition needed to complete ISLANDpeople Mas' Website.  If you have/had any desire to register with the sections RESPECT or HONOUR by Sonia and Natania Mack you can now access the fully functioning website by clicking HERE!!! I'm excited FOR you!!!! *note what's sold out.

WASSI'S WEBSITE IS UP!!!

CLICK HERE

to enter

7 THE COOLER FETE

7 DAYS BEFORE MIA CARNIVAL

7 HOURS OF FETE

7 ENTERTAINES

7 WOMAN TO 1 MAN

SEPT 29TH @NATIVE VILLAGE COMES 

THE BIGGEST COOLER FETE TO JUMP START THE 

MIAMI CARNIVAL SEASON!!!

LIMITED $25 TIX 

GET YOURS NOW BEFORE THE DEAD LINE SUNDAY 16TH AT: 

JOYS ROTI SHOP

LOVEYS 

ALI'S PLANTATION 

TROPICAL FEST 

AND ALL INDEPENDENT TIX HOLDERS 

CALL 954 536 7772 

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 

AMERICAN AIRLINE VOUCHERS 

ALL NIGHT

PERFORMANCES BY 

SPICE FROM JA AND 

SKHI FROM T&T

DJ- ETERNAL VIBES 

HOUSE ARREST 

DJ REDS 

DR ESAN 

SURVIVOR

CALICO

NO GLASS BOTTLES. NO GLASS BOTTLES. NO GLASS BOTTLES. NO GLASS BOTTLES.

D' LIMERS, WALKING FOR A CURE!!!

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!!!!

Join D' Limers Team

Komen Race for the Cure

Saturday, October 20th, 2012

Bayfront Park (Miami)

Register HERE  with *$27 donation

After registration Email your RSVP to

rsvp@delancyhill.com

*with your t-shirt size*

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Independence of 
Jamaica and the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
17th Annual Komen Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Race for the Cure
October 20, 2012

Bayfront Park

D' Limers Race/Walk Team is the largest Caribbean themed breast cancer awareness team in the Annual Race for the Cure. D' Limers is collaboration of Caribbean owned and inspired small business organizations, including, delancyhill, P.A., Bilmor Advertising, Caribbean Riddims, Events Unlimited, Invizio, Glow Salon, Tammy Lynn's Pure Essence, Foxx Creations Entertainment, JEWEL Miami, Oasis Cooler Fete, SixAxis Entertainment, Social Esquire, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Visionz Marketing, Miss Miami Broward Carnival Pageant, Miami Broward One Carnival Host Committee, Florida Caribbean Students Alumni Association, Caribbean Bar Association, Consulate of Jamaica, and the Consulate of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago among others.

To join the Team as a partner, contact Team captains, 

Marlon Hill (305-244-4456) 

Kischa Gallimore (954-397-3618)

Giselle Blanche (786-712-7190)

IMPACT. Make One. 

Guys, there are fetes you go to that cost more than this.

Come on. Let's get dedicated. Lets save lives!

D'Limers Team has a lot in store for you on that day.

LET'S GO!

WASSI BABES ARE HERE!!

WASSI BABES ARE HERE

CELEBRATING THE SILVER '25'

For registration information please call 

(786) 712-7190

(954) 625-5668

(954) 687-3215

(954) 695-8939

EUPHORIA MAS UPDATE

News on the street is that Euphoria Mas is almost sold out! Take a look at the video created from their band launch at Truck Stop.

REMEMBERING 9-11

I remember being there.
I remember coming off the train, walking to work and walking around in a state of confusion.
I remember wondering if the father of my girls was now dead as he was scheduled to work in one of the towers that morning.
I remember feeling blessed as he walked through my workplace. ALIVE and well.
I remember walking through my front door late that night from no transportation.
I remember the ash on my work clothes.
I remember the smoke, how thick it was. How it couldn't escape my clothing.
I remember the fear.
I remember the tears.
I remember the deaths.
I remember surviving 9-11.
I remember it like it was yesterday and I will never forget.
God bless those who gave their lives for strangers on that day.

Take a moment to remember......

MIAMI CARNIVAL JOUVERT

The Miami Broward Carnival Committee has made a mistake and decided to add REAL jouvert for the Miami/Broward Carnival events lineup. *This is the closest I've seen when coming to traditional jouvert excepting when jouvert was jouvert in Brooklyn. It will not be in an enclosed venue like a club but out in the open at Broward Regional Park. It will however be from 7am to 1pm and not early enough in the morning for the sun to still be down but say what?! Iz jouvert!!!  This is the band I will be with and YES, I'm jumping on the ball because their first mistake was having a jouvert. The next mistake was allowing Giselle D Wassi One and Island Gems to team up with one another. This duo will mash up the poor park and there will be NO BEHAVIOR!!! I for one will be there to help with the bacchanal. I could see it now, after we're done with jouvert in that park, there wont be a jouvert for 2013. Hope to see you there!!!!

FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION CONTACT:

(954) 625-5668

(954) 695-8939

(786) 712-7190

(954) 687-3215

or just fill out a registration form HERE

MY NEW YORK LABOR DAY EXPERIENCE

Let's keep in mind that this was MY experience.

These were all MY observations.

This is MY blog and post what I want.

I was two minds about writing this post because there were so many topics that I wanted to touch and feared that my thoughts would have been so scattered that I would have lost many of my readers and probably myself while typing. I will however make an attempt to get this out in the most condensed version I possibly can. Let me start by saying congratulations RAMAJAY MAS for coming in 1st place for Large Band of the Year.

My Labor Day experience began from my landing on Friday night. Hanging out on what I now call 'The Avenue' *Church Avenue. Church Ave is usually the flex seeing as I'm no longer a New York resident and that's the best thing to do. Just chill in a mas camp, lime with friends and create memories to add to the old ones. This year I went back to my 'ROOTS' and was with my long time favorite band T&T Boys. T&T Boys isn't an 'it' band, they don't kill you with beads and feathers, they don't try to break your pocket and they actually sit in the camp, with glue guns and make their costumes among close friends and family while drinking, eatiing an takin small wines. The way mas making USED to be. This brings me to my first point of mas camps. From the time I knew how to walk, I knew mas camps to be where you actually made the mas. This seems to be a thing of the past. Actual mas making is almost COMPLETELY gone because making headpieces alone just doesn't cut it.

Parties. I opted to stick with my T&T Boys because each night the girls came home with horror stories as to why this cooler fete was cancelled, or why this DJ's set got taken away and exactly how many shots were fired where. The plan was never to really go anywhere Friday night as I knew I would be tired from my flight but I came in the same time as my twin sisters and our experiences were completely different and that was just the FIRST NIGHT!!! Saturday and Sunday wasn't too much different, the cooler fete I planned on going to on Saturday was booted from its original venue and for whatever reason was shut down at the 'backup' location. ALL the people expecting to go to that cooler fete were then rerouted to another and it caused chaos. That's how the entire weekend was going for people who wanted to party and many ended up bouncing from pillow to post and ended up in backyard jams.

Jouvert. From about 2am, everywhere you looked in Brooklyn were teams of young people dressed in hood like gear with masks and flags. If there was ever a time to take revenge on someone you hated, you can take it out for jouvert. Its the middle of the night, the presence of police is just that, presence of police and its just an unsafe environment. Bands come out but its just not the same. This too I elected to stay home for. While listening to the goings on outside, I wondered to myself if any of these 'kids' knew what jouvert was REALLY about.  Where it came from or even what it represents. The sight of the young women in thongs, boots and a flag disgusted me and just left me feeling sick as I knew this was just a preview of what was to come the following morning.

The Parkway. SMH.
I am not completely sure what the protocol was for 2011 as I missed it but missing it let me see with a pair of fresh eyes. My band assembled around 10am and were ready to hit the road around 11:30.  What we have done in the past was get the volume soaring so masqueraders can enjoy the 'jump' from the mas camp to Rochester/Dorchester Avenue *not too sure of which but where the trucks get inspected. THIS YEAR the police told us that the music had to be played at minimal to no volume as the dancing would cause masqueraders to block traffic and they wanted to avoid that. They told me personally that getting there had to be done as quickly as possible. Hmmm. Ok. Once there, we were out of breath from the fast pace/borderline running we had to do to keep up with the truck. Masqueraders can go ALL DAY, but when you're going with NO music, there's a negative impact on the body.

After passing inspection, we were good to go. By now it was a little after 1pm if I'm not mistaken. Music started pumpin and the adrenaline started flowing again. Thing is, police escorts made sure to it that the trucks didn't stop moving forward and kept us at a fast pace. I wouldn't lie, there were times that we stopped but it was always for a REASON, never to let us enjoy the music or show off costumes. Police tried to keep people from walking from previous bands into oncoming ones but that somehow got out of hand. I remember sitting on the streets taking a breather and looking behind me to see a plastic police barricade being held by a line of police officers holding back an ENORMOUS crowd of people. People were slipping through the sides, hopping over and in between people. It was a mess. It looked like a disaster waiting to happen. At this point, T&T Boys played a reggae chune and AS it buss the crowd pushed past the police, the barricade and if I was still on the floor, would have been me. While passing by me in my full costume and laughing was a young woman saying "what they thought, they could stop us"?  It was uncontrollable, the police did nothing in fear of starting a riot but apologized to those of us close by and tried giving explanations. None were necessary. A blind man could see that it was not the fault of the NYPD or the band but the unruly 'patrons' of the event. The amount of nonmasqueraders allowed in the allotted space FOR the masqueraders wasn't controlled in between the bands which made it easy for them to do as they felt when they DID reach a band.

Seeing that I missed last year, I don't know if 'the parkway' gradually changed over time or if this year was just a free for all but some of the 'costumes' were just borderline offensive and I feel like the origin of mas playing has gone WAY off coarse. There was a time when you wore a costume and as a masquerader you danced your mas, you played a character and were proud to do so and that you were more or less, covered. Yes, there is the issue of bra, beads and feathers now but have a theme. Stick to it. And if not, be tasteful let it be pretty. For God's sake, let it be rated PG at least. Is this mas? Should I have just gotten some pasties and say damn the feathers, cloth or beads? COVERTHEHELLUP.COM

*compliments KingPin Photography

I wont go into how morally wrong I thought this was because although this is MY blog, there will be some one who will have some negative opinions of what I had to say and I'd rather not go through the headache but you can just imagine.

This Labor Day was enjoyable for me.  There were some ups but more downs.  The days of old had mas and spectators. There were good times that were memorable and those memories last til now. What the 'parkway' has become is a free for all and a waste of money for not only the masqueraders but for all involved. By 5pm, there were no bands on the road, multiple injuries, some deaths and a rat race to the 'stage'. Parties are being targeted by the State and labeled venues to shut down and we wont even discuss jouvert. At this rate, there will be no more Carnival on the Parkway in Brooklyn. Everyone will want to play dumb and want to know why. If you can't understand why, let me explain. The committees aren't sponsoring anything, anymore, they along with masqueraders are seeing how much of a waste of money this NY carnival is becoming, the streets are filled with young people (that are probably not even old enough to legally drink), along with their age comes irresponsibility, some, not all are causing fights and can not contain their liquor, for the ones that act foolishly (young and old alike) are causing people to wind up dead, the police have their hands tied because they're hit with so many lawsuits they'd rather keep their jobs opposed to being fired over some knuckle head that may wind up being shot by that night anyway off their own stupidity. The list can go on and on but it's a mess. The unnecessary fighting, shooting and killing going on for Labor Day weekend that these people are doing will cause them to lose it all by themselves. They need the help of no one. They've got this one.

T&T Boys, you may not be the biggest band but you up to now have been a safe band.  The vibes on the road is always nothing sort of amazing and Wassi Ones looks forward to seeing you on the road in Miami.  Miss it? Yuh mad awah? Woo Hooo!

WIADCA 2012 MAS BAND RESULTS

WIADCA CARNIVAL 2012 - MAS RESULTS

ADULT BAND OF THE YEAR-SMALL

1^st Place: The Promise & EP + Associates

                   Portrayal: “2012 & the Rebirth”

           

^2nd Place: Kaois International

                        Portrayal: “Temptress”

                     

3^rd Place: Karma Carnival Band

                        Portrayal: “Lost”

ADULT BAND OF THE YEAR-MEDIUM

1^st Place: Pieces of a Dream

                        Portrayal: “Mama this is Mass”

                       

2^nd Place: Borokeete International Inc

                        Portrayal: “Caribbean Uniqueness”

                       

3^rd Place: 1199 SEIU: Social Cultural Committee

                        Portrayal: “The Drums: A Tribal Journey”

ADULT BAND OF THE YEAR-LARGE

 1^st Place: Ramajay Mas

                        Portrayal: “Wings: We’re Flying”

                       

2^nd Place: Sesame Flyers International

                        Portrayal: “Fire & Ice”

                      

3^rd Place: Natural Freaks Unlimited

                        Portrayal: “Illusions”

CARNIVAL GOINGS ON....SORT OF

So now that Labor Day is over with, everyone is thinking about Miami Carnival and of coarse, Trinidad and Tobago.  Miami Carnival is rumored to have none other but Machel Montano performing in the Sun Life Stadium and is a HUGE part of the reason why they are insisting everyone come INTO the park to watch the 'parade' of bands. They're saying *without saying that they want for EVERYONE to actually pay to see Machel perform.  As for bands, we have bands that are sold out like Generation X and almost sold out Wassi Ones. From the looks of Wassi's Website, you'd think she hasn't sold a costume because the website has yet to be updated to her 2012 presentation but nooooo, there are sections that have completely sold out. Guess when you have it like that, there's no need to advertise huh?!?!  Bands are sold out and almost sold out and then, we have it.  A band launch scheduled for the 9th *which is THIS SUNDAY!!!! Check it out HERE. Its Break-Awae' Kru.  I haven't heard much else from any other band (as being sold out).  What I have heard is that there are band wars going on right now in Miami and things are not looking good. We have band leaders calling around spreading rumors about their rival bands, telling patrons that events have closed/ rained out, etc. The Miami Broward Carnival Committee got wind of it and will be doing some serious damage and going to hit them where it hurts, *in their pockets*.  Kudos to the committee for finally taking a stand for the right group of people.

Then my favorite. Trinidad carnival.  How about there's a band that is so badly off they can not recover. PERIOD. Not only are they broke (which is not too much of an uncommon thing with recession) but have 'stushed' their way right out of every one's heart and pockets. They bit every kind hand that fed them and they can not get credit from ANY WHERE. Trinidad or abroad. They have made enemies with damn near everyone thinking that all things last forever and they'd never need to crawl back and crawling back is precisely what they're doing. As I've done last year, I'm going to pray that band gets it together because it has a FEW people that DID go in and register to play mas but things so bad, they're not sure to get ON THE ROAD!!! I don't know but when you make these costume deposits, aren't they NONREFUNDABLE? I've never payed attention to the 'fine print' because I've ALWAYS been sure to play. What happens to those who've paid their money? My BIGGEST concern is that when people realize what's really going on, they'll want to rush in my band.  We need NO problems where I am, we're good.

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