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It’s Time for Tobago to Shine. Producer Does the Unthinkable Before ‘Bago Carnival.

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As the entertainment spotlight in Trinidad and Tobago turns to the smaller of the twin islands, Tobago, major moves are being made by some, to amplify the upcoming Tobago carnival. One music producer, Diamond Dale who’s based in Boston, has been hard at work, delivering a project collaborated on with well-known Tobago entertainment hub, Jade Monkey, a project he says is proudly Tobago.

Executive Producer, Diamond Dale.

The Jade Monkey Carnival project has illuminated four Tobagonian artistes. Diamond Dale says the project started off ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2025 carnival season, however efforts to complete it failed then, as both he and many artistes approached, were absorbed in the season’s bustling activity. Shurwayne Winchester was the lone artiste who had voiced a song on the production and Dale recalls Shurwayne later asking him to share the riddim with another artiste out of Tobago. “He shared it with Mikie Tower – a Tobago artiste and producer, and Mikie went into the studio,” said Dale. One thing led to another and before long, the riddim had been sturdily supported by four Tobagonian artistes. “I hadn’t realized it until one day while driving, it hit me. I called Shurwayne and I asked him if he’d realized that the riddim was all Tobagonian artistes. I suggested that it be released for Tobago Carnival this year and he agreed.” 

Mikie Tower
Tobago’s J Kez is also on the Jade Monkey Carnival Project.

Now, as momentum builds for the fourth installment of the festival, Tobago’s Mikie Tower, Verse, J- Kez and Shurwayne Winchester are set to share their energy on the Jade Monkey Carnival Project. “It’s a Bouyon flavoured riddim, mixed in with the traditional Soca sound. With the explosion of Bouyon around the region and even internationally, it’s as good a time as any, to deliver music that fuses our Trinbagonian sound with what’s hot,” said the executive producer. With the assistance of Dominican producer, Dada, the riddim was completed with each song written by the respective artiste. “I’m really happy to be a part of something that’s home grown- a powerful show of camaraderie among artistes from Tobago who respect each other and are giving something to show the world that Tobago’s artistes are just as good as every artiste in the region,” said Diamond Dale. He says he hopes this effort will help build more confidence in Tobago’s artistes. “I would definitely encourage producers and songwriters to engage the Tobago artistes more. They have the ability to do just what the Trinidad acts are doing, but they need to be given the same opportunities.” 

Verse is one of the artistes on the riddim.

Tobago Carnival 2025 climaxes on October 24th through the 26th. “This festival belongs to the people of Tobago and it’s a representation of the rich tapestry of cultural traditions and creativity they possess. I’m really happy about this and I think it just might have been God’s work because the way it turned out being all Tobago artistes on this riddim, is nothing short of remarkable,” he said. 

Shurwayne Winchester

The project will be released this week and even as several popular entertainers sprinkle their special Soca sauce on the scene, Diamond Dale and the Tobago artistes on the Jade Monkey Carnival Project are confident that the people of Tobago will enjoy their contributions to the carnival. “There’s enough room for everyone. It’s important for us to help each other grow and Tobago’s annual carnival has the ability to offer its people that opportunity.”

Expressing a strong sense of gratitude for the opportunity, Diamond Dale said, “I’m really grateful to Shurwayne for believing in me. He gave me the encouragement to get into production and it’s been a dream come true. He opened doors for me and I hope what I’ve done here with this riddim, will open doors for these Tobago artistes because, quite frankly, they deserve it.” He extended his immense gratitude to the management at Jade Monkey for their role in investing and supporting the project. 

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Denise Belfon Thanks Drake’s ‘OVO’ Team for Inclusion of Her ‘Work’ on New Track.

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Canadian rapper, Drake is once again teaming up with Caribbean entertainers, delivering a brand new album called, ‘Maid of Honor,’ which is now available on all streaming platforms. It was one of three albums the artiste simultaneously dropped on May 15th – the other two being ICEMAN and HABIBTI.

Rapper, Drake has released three new albums simultaneously.

One of the singles on ‘Maid of Honor,’ called ‘BBW’ features the work of Trinidad and Tobago entertainer, Denise ‘Saucy Wow’ Belfon – her 1998 track, ‘Work.’

The lyrics, ‘Put Yuh Back in It’ became a trending expression on TikTok in 2020 when it became a challenge on the popular platform. That viral opportunity six years ago, led to the song’s resurgence and Belfon’s name being called by younger generations whose parents, aunts and uncles would’ve more than likely grown up on her music and performances in the Caribbean. Fast forward to 2026, and Belfon is once again enjoying a viral moment as news broke that her song had been sampled by Drake. “Everything is legitimate and I want to thank the team – Fabian Alfonso, a copyright specialist out of Trinidad and Tobago ; He was very instrumental in making this deal become reality, said Belfon in a chat with Ebuzztt, before expressing gratitude to several other instrumental people, and Drake’s OVO team.

In 2022, dancehall artiste, Shenseea and rapper, Megan Thee Stallion also sampled ‘Work’ on the single, ‘Lick.’ Belfon, who lives in New York, had, at that time, attended a release party at a nightclub in New York, where Shenseea acknowledged the Soca artiste’s influence on the new release.

The Maid of Honor album delivers 14 singles and added to T&T’s Denise Belfon, Jamaican artiste, Popcaan is also featured on a single called, ‘Amazing Shape.’

Denise Belfon’s personality and charisma has, for a very long time, made her a fan favorite in the Caribbean. A vocal powerhouse and unique stage performer, she has stood the test of time in the Soca music industry, having created massive soca anthems like ‘Work,’ ‘Wine and Bend Over’ and ‘Wining Queen’ among countless other flavorful singles.

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Caribbean Fashion Is A Big Deal. Designer, Ecliff Elie Expands With Women In Mind.

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Caribbean fashion is top tier. In a world of copy and paste designs, Caribbean brands like the incomparable Ecliff Elie, stand in a class of their own. Earlier this month, the menswear brand made a major announcement and whether you’ve heard or not, we’re here to tell you, this is huge.

The Ecliff Elie brand will now be delivering its seamless, tailored appeal to women. The brand is known for its precision tailoring and disciplined garment construction so with that at its foundation, women can now feel the complete effect of the Ecliff Elie touch. The company steps out into this aspect of its business after what it says has been years of delivering this service privately to women. Dubbed ‘Bespoke — Tailored for Women,’ Ecliff Elie is now offering the service, at scale.

The introduction reflects a focused extension of Elie’s established approach to tailoring – one built on proportion, control, and consistency. Each garment is developed through a guided process that considers posture, movement, and presence, ensuring that the final result aligns with how the individual operates and presents herself.

From custom blazers to trousers, skirts, and dresses, customers will now be able to get their custom designed Ecliff Elie apparel, through a consultation-led process where every decision—from cut to finish—is deliberate. The company says fabric selection will be approached with the same level of discipline, with materials chosen for structure, performance, and longevity, allowing each piece to maintain its standard over time.

“This is not a new direction,” Elie states. “It is a continuation of work I have done over time, now introduced with structure and clarity.”

With more than three decades of experience, Ecliff Elie has consistently positioned presentation as a defining factor in how individuals are perceived. His work has guided clients across industries to approach style as a matter of precision and intent rather than preference.

“When the garment is correct, everything changes,” he adds. “You move differently. You carry yourself differently. That is the standard.”

As more women continue to operate at the highest levels across business, leadership, and professional environments, the demand for tailoring that reflects both authority and individuality has grown. This offering responds to that shift with a process designed to deliver consistency, clarity, and control.

Through Bespoke — Tailored for Women, Ecliff Elie continues to refine his approach while maintaining a clear focus on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a disciplined standard of execution.

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