Caribbean Buzz
He Turned Negative into Positive. Now, He’s Opening For Buju , Beres, Anthony B and Luciano.
He is living proof that there is always a way out of poverty and crime. Black Loyalty, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s prophetic, reggae musicians, says he made a vow, a long time ago, that he would not be a statistic.
The La Horquetta, Arima native will form part of the reggae cast billed for the upcoming Redemption concert being held at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. The event takes place on Saturday, May 6th. “There is a great need for more shows of this nature, more shows like Redemption,” said the singer. “Concerts like these offer the youth an example of what they should strive for,” he added.
Keon Jones his real name, the entertainer many know for the hit single, ‘On My Way,’ is excited for the opportunity to grace a major concert stage in his homeland. “I have been patiently waiting for this moment. People can look forward to seeing something unique- something they’ve never before seen from a Trinidad and Tobago reggae artiste,” he assured.
Years of dedication to his craft, strongly encouraged by his mother, who he also credits with his spiritual affinity, Black Loyalty is set to deliver powerfully on show night. A part of the music industry professionally for approximately nine years, he recalls his growth, explaining that he had the benefit of being around his neighbor, fellow artiste, Squeezy Rankin and even Calypsonian Rootsman. “Growing up, I made up my mind to be around the right people, and even though I wasn’t really pushed in the music, things began to change for me.”
Despite the challenge of an undefined music industry in Trinidad and Tobago, the masterful vocalist believes this opportunity afforded, at this time, will open doors to him. “One of the major challenges I face is being known in places like Finland and Zambia, but not performing in these places,” he said, noting that there are hindrances when it comes to effectively making it out into these markets. “Trinidad does not have a music industry. Trinidad has a body of people who do events and shows. Jamaica has an industry and they have labels and a body of people who manage artistes as soon as the artistes are on the rise,” he pointed out.
Still, Black Loyalty remains focused on his purpose. “One of the artistes I’ve been inspired by is Jimmy Cliff. I listened to his music from my early years. I looked at his way of writing, his delivery. Bob Marley was also a great inspiration; likewise, Peter Tosh, Johnny Osborne and Alton Ellis,” he explained. The artiste says he feels it is important for influential singers like Buju Banton, Luciano, Anthony B and others to share their messages with the people. “Men like Buju Banton who would have been to prison, even as a positive artiste; artistes who’ve been through certain things are exemplars for the younger artistes, educating us all on tribulations that anyone can face and overcome.”
A Roots, Rock, Reggae musician, Black Loyalty says he believes music controls a person’s attitude – “a person’s algorithm.” He says music can alter moods significantly. “Whenever you hear a song, it puts you in a mood so if the mood of that song is violent, even if you edit out the violence, it would not take away from the message that the song is sending. If the mood is love, when you hear the song, you will feel love. If the mood of the music is righteousness and positivity, people who want to feel that, will listen to that. Nobody who wants to feel a positive energy will put on a song with violent lyrics. Each type of music has its place,” he suggested.
A new single, “Woman I Love You,” recently released, Black Loyalty anticipates delivering it on the Redemption stage. “I will try to leave a positive impact because the people- the country needs it right now. The country needs more artistes like ‘Black Loyalty’ right now to speak to the youth. Not everybody with wealth and power can speak to the youths. A youth man can listen to my story or another artiste’s story and learn from it,” he said, adding, “When you tell me there is no way out of a certain life, I cannot agree because I am a living example that there is a way out. People see me today and say they can’t believe how far I’ve reached. I’ve turned negativity into positivity.”
Gates open at 7pm and showtime on May 6th, is promptly at 8pm. Black Loyalty will open for reggae music heavyweights, Buju Banton, Anthony B, Beres Hammond and Luciano at Redemption 8.
Caribbean Buzz
Guyana’s Road March Queen, Omaiah Hall Is Ready to Take On T&T.
Guyana has Soca too.
The country’s reigning Road March Queen, 24-year-old Omaiah Hall says every Guyanese Soca artiste will admit, they have to love it, to remain true to it. The young, talented vocalist who also placed third in the Senior Soca Monarch competition last year, is in Trinidad and Tobago ahead of Carnival 2026 where she plans on making the right connections while having a bit of fun along the way.
Hall never imagined she’d fall this deeply in love with Soca music. In fact, she admits that throughout her life, her passion lied in singing RnB music. “I was never a person who sang Calypso or Soca music. My father is a pianist and jazz musician. I just never found an appeal for being on stage and wining up,” she said reflectively. In 2023 however, her outlook quickly changed.
In 2020 she had won the Junior Calypso Monarch competition in what’s called, ‘Mashramani’ in Guyana – a festival that takes place on Republic Day, February 23rd, annually. Omaiah said a couple years later, she began dabbling in Soca music and by 2023, the sound, rhythm and energy of the music had totally absorbed her. “In 2022, I realized I only wanted to do Soca music. Soca found me!” she said, explaining that by 2023 a song called, ‘We Fetting,’ followed by ‘R’ in 2024, had gotten the attention of the people of Guyana. “I was booked and busy and one year later in 2025, I won the Road March title, with ‘Breakway’ – dethroning Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts, who had been the Road March Queen for a decade.” Now, as she continues her effort to build catalogue, reputation and fanbase, Omaiah has released a 2026 track called, “Happy Feeling,’ which has been receiving tremendous love in Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, a second single, “Foreva,’ which comes complete with a new video, is her 2026 Guyana Carnival Road March contender.
Explaining that Guyana’s actual Carnival takes place in May annually, Omaiah says both festivals should be experienced by anyone desirous of a great time among carefree people. “Guyana is becoming more open to Soca now because of the younger generation’s involvement in the genre,” she admitted, noting that dancehall takes precedence, and as such, Mashramani organizers have included a Dancehall Monarch over the past three years. “Guyana is all dancehall. Many say Soca music is too happy of a genre,” she highlighted, adding that artistes like O.K.C, Pahjo and Vinel Hinds have consistently stood firm in representing the genre and popularizing it in Guyana.
TALKING CARIBBEAN COLLABS
Eager to take her vibe and energy to venues across Trinidad and Tobago and certainly the world, Omaiah is hopeful for the opportunity to collaborate with other Caribbean artistes. She performed at Nailah Blackman’s concert in January. “I’ve also done A-Team Fridays, Vice Nightclub and the Eye Slam concert series,” she highlighted, explaining that her aim is to make the necessary connections along the way. “When it comes to my music, and my performance style, I’ll say, Omaiah Hall will always bring vocals. Added to that, I’m a strong performer. I will wine up!” she said cheerfully. In fact, those very traits may have been responsible for her walking away with the 2025 title of Female Soca Artiste of the Year, in Guyana.
A huge fan of Machel Montano, and extremely encouraged by the powerful personality and stage presence of T&T’s Fay Ann Lyons, Omaiah is pushing full speed ahead, truly encouraged. “I love Fay Ann. I have been compared to her many times. She is powerful- the way she commands the stage, the way she is unapologetic about who she is,” said the young artiste. She also gives tremendous credit to the late, Dexter ‘Blaxx’ Stewart, noting that he opened doors for many young, upcoming artistes. “I haven’t been able to make that solid, professional connection with Machel just yet but I am optimistic. I’ve met him before in Guyana at the CPL and at our Super Concert backstage, but I’m hopeful for greater opportunities to work with him, in the future,” she said.
Now in T&T for the season of revelry, Omaiah says 2026 will see her hit the streets in costume, and certainly enjoying every aspect of the festival. “I was here in 2025 but after winning the Road March in Guyana, being in Trinidad was more like a time for rest last year.”
Her Road March win was a big deal, she says, noting that unlike the Monarch, the Road March is completely chosen by the people. “The title holds weight because the people want to hear the song and that was the moment when I said, it wasn’t for the judges, or me, it was for the people. The people loved it!”
Patient, yet tremendously encouraged, Omaiah Hall is steadily pursuing her career in Soca. “I’m yet to travel internationally but I will soon. My music travels more than I have and that’s actually creating room for me to travel because I have a few places to go this year,” she said.
For more on Guyana’s Omaiah Hall, follow her on Instagram @omaiahhallofficial and Facebook @iamomaiahhall.
Caribbean Buzz
Grammy Nominee, Lila Ike to Perform in Opening Number At 2026 Grammy Awards.
Jamaican singer-songwriter Lila Iké, a first-time GRAMMY® nominee for Best Reggae Album, will kick off Music’s Biggest Day to perform in the opening number of the 2026 GRAMMY Awards® Premiere Ceremony on Sunday, February 1, live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Iké will join fellow nominees Grace Potter, Israel Houghton, Maggie Rose, and Trombone Shorty in the opening ensemble performance. The ceremony will stream live at 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and live.GRAMMY.com.
Iké is nominated for Best Reggae Album for her debut LP, Treasure Self Love (Wurl Iké Records / In.Digg.Nation Collective / Ineffable Records). She is the only woman nominated in the category, alongside an all-Jamaican slate including Vybz Kartel, Jesse Royal, Mortimer, andKeznamdi.
Executive produced by Protoje, Treasure Self Love blends reggae, soul, R&B, and dancehall while exploring themes of love, healing, and self-acceptance. The album features H.E.R. and Joey Bada$$, with “He Loves Us Both” (ft. H.E.R.) named one of The New York Times’ Best Songs of 2024.
The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY platform recently shared Lila’s journey to this Grammy nomination. Watch below. In addition to her GRAMMY recognition, Iké has appeared on COLORSxStudios, NPR Tiny Desk, Apple Music, ABC News Live and was recently announced as a 2026 MOBO Awards nominee for Best Caribbean Act—her third nomination in the category.
