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Archived: Glitches Mar Soca Monarch- Kerwin's Groovy Win Pleases The Masses.

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It’s over. The International Soca Monarch, anticipated by thousands annually during Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival season, is now over and done with and the winners have been announced, much to the shock of some. There has been a three way tie in the Power category and Machel Montano has again secured his $2 million dollar grand prize but now with the event behind us, speculation is rife that the International Soca Monarch is no longer a competition, but instead, many are saying that it is leaning toward the ideals of a simple talent showcase. Question is, do the artistes themselves know and are organizers willing to admit it?

Machel   has won the Power Soca Monarch title for a third year. He was however dethroned in the Groovy category by Kerwin Du Bois. PHOTO COURTESY: TRINIRAZZI.

There’s no confirmation of this but as we said, speculation is rife in several quarters, particularly so, among members of the local news media and entertainment media fraternity. In several social media posts by reputed media personalities in T&T on Friday night into Saturday morning as the show unravelled, there were sentiments of dismay and disappointment over numerous things seen on show night. Our ETCETERABUZZ.COM team was on the inside and we took things in from the crowd, looking on as perturbed attendees scoffed at several technical glitches experienced during the performances of artistes like Destra, Mr. Killa and even Farmer Nappy. This year, the Soca Monarch crowd also seemed to have dwindled a bit with the back of the venue- the Hasley Crawford Stadium, appearing bare even as the early hours of Saturday morning came. Toward the front of the stage, the usual big flag crews planted themselves, but there seemed to have been something amiss. The energy just wasn’t there. The Groovy leg of the competition which took place first was hosted by radio, television and entertainment personalities, Nikky Crosby and Paul Richards and although it appeared as though they were both mandated to make the show look completely different than it had in previous years, they failed in lifting the spirits of the people in a competition that has for years created an atmosphere of wild abandon and a true celebration of carnival. 

Kerwin Du Bois is the new Groovy Soca Monarch king! PHOTO COURTESY: TRINIRAZZI.

The production issues, the order of appearance in the Groovy category and not to mention what seemed like a downplayed performance by Montano in the power category seemed a bit questionable. When the order of appearance had been announced prior to the event, many noted that the top seeds were placed consecutively toward the category’s end. Nevertheless, with the show now behind us and with Carnival Monday and Tuesday in sight, the three way tie in the Power category of Destra Garcia, Iwer George and Grenada’s Mr. Killa, will soon be a distant memory. Many now anticipate the road and with two songs vying for the Road March title- those being Montano’s ‘Ministry of Road and Bunji Garlin’s, ‘Truck on de Road,’ we turn our sights to the street parade of Carnival 2014!

HERE ARE THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE ISM 2014. 

 

POWER CATEGORY: 

• Machel Montano- Ministry of Road – 1st PLACE. 

• Mr. Killa- Rolly Polly- 2nd PLACE

• Destra Garcia- Mash Up- 2nd PLACE

• Iwer George- Mama Oye- 2nd PLACE

 

GROOVY CATEGORY: 

• Kerwin Du Bois- Too Real- 1st PLACE

• Machel Montano- HMA- 2ND PLACE

• Farmer Nappy- Big People Party- 3rd PLACE. 

PHOTOS COURTESY: The local paparazzi- TRINIRAZZI

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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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