Icom's Blog – February 2020 Archive (21)

This is what Carnival in Trinidad is not: a big party. A parade. A festival. A chance to get drunk in the streets, wear barely-there costumes and dance until the blisters on your feet grow blisters of their own.

Well, Carnival is all of those things—but so much more. As an avid devotee of the Caribbean’s largest public bacchanal, which kicks off in the streets of Port of Spain this coming Monday and…

St Thomas is gearing up to host the 68th anniversary of Carnival Virgin Islands.

This year’s celebration of the territory’s culture, cuisine, history, music and people bears the slogan “All Eyes on We for 2020.”

“The events we’ve planned should ensure that people of all walks and stages of life are engaged in the Carnival,” said Ian Turnbull, Director of the US…

History was made last week, when for the first time in Trinidad and Tobago National Calypso Monarch competition the top three places went to women.

Terri Lyons was crowned National Calypso Monarch, while past monarch Karene Asche placed second and Heather McIntosh-Simon came third at the final at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain Trinidad.

With her first…

US rap star and actor Ludacris is here for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.

The star was seen performing at Soca Brainwash on Saturday, hyping up the crowd and performing some of his major hits.

The star shared photos of him and soca star Machel Montano and Olympian gold medallist Usain Bolt, who is also here for Carnival.…

Ar­rests, fines and even jail time are pos­si­ble penal­ties for those caught and ar­rest­ed with glass bot­tles dur­ing Car­ni­val this year.

The po­lice have warned that the Car­ni­val (Pro­hi­bi­tion of Glass Bot­tles) Reg­u­la­tions, 2020, will be en­forced this Car­ni­val.…

Award-winning rapper and Trinidad-born celebrity Nicki Minaj has returned home to the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for carnival 2020.

Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival gets into high gear today, Monday Feb. 24^th and wraps up on Tuesday Feb. 26^th in Port-Of-Spain ahead of Ash Wednesday.

The St. James-born rapper, whose real name…

Eight years after it was proposed, glass bottles will officially be banned this Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Minister of National Security Stuart Young made the announcement yesterday during a news conference at the ministry’s office at Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.

“The Government took a decision to ban the use of glass bottles and prohibit the use of glass…

This year's Machel Monday was the last for Machel Montano but the soca king is not retiring from staging events.

Instead, come 2021, Montano will be taking his brand to the high seas.

Montano announced last night that he will be launching a soca cruise next year in collaboration with Tribe. It will be called Melé.

It…

Four days after a court in France upheld a three-year suspended jail term and imposed a fine of US$33 million against the flamboyant vice president of Equatorial Guinea, he arrived in TT.

Teodorin Nguema Obiang and his delegation docked outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Port of Spain aboard a 90-metre superyacht around 1.47 pm on Friday and several people on board were seen later that evening on deck…

The great­est show on earth is al­most here again. Did you know that your eyes are con­sid­ered one of life’s great­est gifts? Here are some tips to pro­tect your eyes this car­ni­val sea­son.

Whether you are on the beach or the road for car­ni­val week­end, sun­light and bright glare can de­crease the amount of fun you’re hav­ing. For­tu­nate­ly, this is­sue can be…

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – The undeniable culture and colours of St. Vincent & The Grenadines were on full display at the recent Trinidad & Tobago Carnival event ‘Fam Jam’.

The full concert event by Vincentian Soca Star Skinny Fabulous was supported by the SVG Carnival Development Corporation (CDC).  The CDC contingent of representatives was on hand at the event to cheer on…

Pi­o­neer­ing So­ca Pro­duc­er Dar­ryl Brax­ton, the man who made hits for Bun­ji Gar­lin and KMC, died yes­ter­day.

Brax­ton’s death was con­firmed on so­cial me­dia by his cousin and fel­low pro­duc­er Aaron “Track 7” Pe­ters.

“On be­half of our fam­i­ly, we’d like to an­nounce the…

Teddy Riley, a Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter and producer, and his group Blackstreet will be at Machel Monday.

Machel Montano made the announcement via his Instagram account today with a new music alert of a song he will be debuting with Blackstreet.…

KEVON “YANKEY BOY” HEATH knows a successful music career requires marketing. Walking along Pembroke Street and Knox Street, Port of Spain in his five-foot cup is part of his 2020 marketing strategy for his song Looking For Cup.

TT knows Yankey Boy’s story: he grew up in Pinto Road, Arima, then in 2000, moved to Brooklyn, New York where he has lived since. He also has his own studio in Brooklyn. Songs like…

Hollis Mapp, better known by his sobriquet, ‘Mr Killa’, will not be defending his title as Soca Monarch in 2020. 

In a statement today, Mapp said that communication between his management and the new team undertaking the competition has not been what he expected.  

“As the…

Fans of Soca are up in arms over one artist’s demand that local dancehall acts be included in the Carnival lineup. Trinidad Killa spoke out on the issue during a radio interview on Wednesday morning in Trinidad, saying that Trinidad and Tobago’s people are being hypocritical.

Over the past week, there has bee much debate on air and online, as to whether there should be a general…

Dwight Holt Jr, the American celebrity fitness trainer who has helped comedian and actress Mo’nique drop over 100 pounds, will be in Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival.

Holt will be staging his popular dance your pounds off class while in T&T for his first Carnival experience.…

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – A fresh outlook, a pivotal move; Soca artist, Ricardo Drue is proudly asserting himself as a mainstay to the Carnival energy, continuing on his mission to deliver great music, no matter what.

 Ricardo thanks the All Starz Band

This year, even as he stands solo, having exited the frontline of the All…

For yet another year, Trinidad and Tobago menswear designer, Ecliff Elie is the man dominating the carnival scene with his spectacular menswear designs. From Swappi to Teddyson John, Problem Child and Ding Dong, this season, Ecliff’s delivering the wow factor with every stitch and hem.

In the past, the designer has shown…

Major Lazer just dropped a new EP, Soca Storm, in celebration of the upcoming Carnival season. The three-track project features Diplo’s namesake on “Soca Storm” and “King of the Party” alongside Mr Killa, plus “Wet It Up” with Zeek.

Those who have had the pleasure of witnessing Major Lazer live, know the artists take some time for the soca grooves, engaging the entire crowd in coordinated movements from…