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Archived: Will Machel Defend His Title? Soca Monarch Boss Says The Monk Will Have To Make That Announcement.

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Will Machel Montano defend his International Soca Monarch title in 2015? This just might be the question on every person’s lips in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean right now. The question arises as the International Soca Monarch committee last evening issued a statement indicating that the defending champion in each category of the competition is no longer obligated to defend his/her title.

Machel Montano is not obligated to defend his crown in 2015.

Machel Montano is not obligated to defend his crown in 2015.

The amended rule comes ahead of the Soca Monarch semi final competition carded for January 25th at the Queen’s Park Savannah- a semi final that has seen former Groovy champ, Machel Montano choose not to enter the race to run against reigning Groovy monarch, Kerwin Du Bois. Many have already begun speculating that Montano’s general desire is to remove himself from the competition entirely. Now comes word of this latest move by the Soca Monarch big wigs, leaving wondering minds questioning, why now…

Head of The International Soca Monarch Peter Scoon says Machel will have to announce whether he will be defending his title in 2015.

Head of The International Soca Monarch Peter Scoon says Machel will have to announce whether he will be defending his title in 2015.

Peter Scoon- the head boss at the International Soca Monarch Competition told ETCETERABUZZ.COM exclusively that Machel Montano will have to make the announcement as to whether he will be defending his title or not, in 2015. “The organization is under new management and the former regime had a different mindset. We don’t want to bind anyone and force anyone to come back into the competition. We are about building the industry and young artistes,” said Scoon.

With some level of skepticim about the production of the show in 2014 still lingering in the air, Scoon told us the plan this year is to generally tighten things up. He said artistes will have to address their time issues, noting that many gaps experienced in the show last year, were due in part to artistes not being ready to hit the stage. He also said props used must be more technically inclined, arguing that the props need to be more in line with international standards.

Kerwin Du Bois will also have the choice as to whether or not to defend his Groovy Monarch title.

Kerwin Du Bois will also have the choice as to whether or not to defend his Groovy Monarch title.

Assuring that it is focused on the development of the industry, Peter Scoon explained that the Soca monarch organization will seek to better the writing ability of music writers in Trinidad and Tobago following Carnival 2015. “We want the writing to improve so we’ll be hosting writing seminars after carnival. We intend to build the industry. It’s not about money only,” he said.

Dispelling public perception that Soca Monarch makes millions in profits following the show annually, Scoon told ETCETERABUZZ.COM that the show costs $25 million to produce and it in fact a myth that the organization is making a lot of money. “The prize monies is dependent on government. The show doesn’t make $5 million or $10 million or $20 million as some people think. Just because a venue is full, doesn’t mean that the profits are high. Whatever profit is made remains in the organization to develop the industry,” he said.

The prize monies in this year’s competition will remain the same as in recent years with the Power Monarch winner receiving $2 million dollars and the Groovy king walking away with $1 million dollars. Scoon said all artistes appearing in the finals will receive appearance fees, the least of which is $150,000.

 

 

 

 

 

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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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