Ebuzz News
Miami Carnival’s Big Winners Include Gen X Mas and Problem Child.
The 40th anniversary of Miami Carnival, a cultural extravaganza that has not only become a cornerstone of South Florida’s identity but also a significant milestone in the region’s cultural calendar, was celebrated on Sunday, October 13th with a spectacular Parade of Bands which featured 17 masquerade groups. The milestone event marked four decades of vibrant celebrations and reinforced the Carnival’s role as a unifying force for the region’s cultural diversity and creativity.
With a vibrant display of colors, intricate costumes, and the lively sounds of Soca music, Miami Carnival has once again cemented its place as a thoughtfully curated celebration of Caribbean heritage. The Carnival, named one of the Top 100 Events in South Florida, offered a dynamic blend of pageantry, music, food, arts and crafts, and cultural experiences, catering to a diverse audience. This diverse range of activities attracted thousands of attendees, all eager to embrace the joyous spirit of Caribbean culture and celebrate its diversity, tradition, and artistic expression.
The 40th-anniversary celebration of Miami Carnival was made possible by the generous support of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, which was the host sponsor, alongside the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners.
Attendees were treated to a day filled with elaborate costumes, cultural performances, and an all-star Mega Soca Concert, further highlighting the rich Caribbean traditions.
2024 Miami Carnival Winners
Band of the Year
1st Place: Gen-X Carnival – Portrayal: Miami Carnival-Ravenous
2nd Place: Ramajay Mas International – Portrayal: Free Spirit
3rd Place: Big and Strong/One Island – Portrayal: A Night at the Louvre
4th Place: Pleasure Mas – Portrayal: Romancing the Stone
Queen of Carnival
1st Place: Reisha Maynard – Portrayal: The Phoenix Warrior -(Ramajay Mas International)
2nd Place: Charlene Samuels – Portrayal: Aurora: Goddess of Dawn (Freaks Mas)
3rd Place: Jessy Schuester – Portrayal: Arachnes (Revel Nation Carnival)
King of Carnival
1st Place: Percival Maynard – Portrayal: Roar: Spirit of the King (Ramajay Mas International)
2nd Place: Glen Turnbull – Portrayal: Mr. Majesty (The Forest) (Dingolay Mas)
3rd Place: Cletus Evans – Portrayal: Chronos Father Time (Freaks Mas)
Female Individual of the Year
1st Place: Janeille Campbell – Portrayal: Aello (Revel Nation Carnival)
2nd Place: Amber-Lynn Lewis – Portrayal: Pixiu (Revel Nation Carnival)
3rd Place: Kaiomi Inniss – Portrayal: SUNDJATA (Party Room Squad)
Male Individual of the Year
1st Place: Neil Williams – Portrayal: Palais Royale (Savage Mas)
DJ Awards
Best Local DJ:
Wassi Ones-Eternal Vibes
Ramajay Mas International-GBM Productions
Euphoria Mas, Inc-DJ J Rocca
Best Out-of-Town DJ:
Gen-X Carnival-DJ Kevin Crown
Savage Mas-Shakton: LovaBoi
Big and Strong/One Island-DJ Elon Baker
Road March 2024(Calypso most played)
1st Place Problem Child – Carnival Jumbie
2nd Place Bunji Garlin – Carnival Contract
3rd Place- Mical Teja – DNA
GEN X CARNIVAL: All photos credited to Photographer Ricardo Reyes.
Ebuzz News
Squeezy Rankin’s Pivot. Artiste Goes Hard into Calypso to Change Mindsets.
From dancehall music with rough lyrical content to social commentary that aims at changing mindsets, East Trinidad native, Squeezy Rankin says he has found his true calling in Calypso music. The entertainer is on the road to the preliminary round of the Calypso Monarch Competition later this month, with a single called ‘Rat Race’ – this, one year after ‘Justice’ influenced younger audiences to take a stronger look at the Calypso genre, something that he hopes he can continue to do as his journey in music continues.
In a recent radio interview, the reigning Young King, whose real name is Anthony La Fleur, said prior to 2025, he had not done music professionally in 13 years. Jumping back into the spotlight, he said, was a bit intimidating, but the exposure last year has prepared him for 2026 and the artiste is expected to confidently claim his space in the Calypso Monarch competition this year.
As real as it gets, Squeezy Rankin- a man on the ground, has always fought for his place in the music industry locally. Now, as Calypso music embraces him even more, he says he believes he’s found his place. “I plan on releasing two songs during the year because I want to change the narrative that Calypso music is old people music,” he said, adding that his hope is that urban radio stations see the value in sharing topics of social commentary, such as ‘Justice’ and ‘Rat Race’- songs deep in meaning and valuable beyond measure, in the greater scheme of things.
Determined to change mindsets one song at a time, Squeezy Rankin says his strong suit is certainly social commentary and he will not, at any time, delve into political commentary. “I was advised by someone who is deep in politics to stay out of it and I literally listened. You know sometimes we hear people, but we aren’t listening. I thought about what he said, and it made sense. I literally listened, even though they say I don’t listen,” he said with a laugh.
‘Rat Race’ was written by Squeezy and Angelo Pantin with production by Q-Ban Production.
NEW MUSIC
Ebuzz News
Patrice Roberts: “I Love Everything I Release.”
Patrice Roberts is set to give fans a free, full LIVE show- “A Night With Patrice” complete with full band, on Thursday night. She recently spoke on the upcoming event, telling radio personalities at 961.WEFM that she’ll be giving back to fans in this way at FLAVA Village, at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Asked which of her songs are her favorite this season, she started with ‘Capital’ with Mical Teja, and followed with ‘Sweet Spot,’ but subsequently said, “I love everything I release.”
Patrice is a crowd favorite. This year, she released ‘Rock So’ – an anthem that many are singing along to. She said the song is not personal, but rather, relatable – something she appreciated when she received it.
The free event on January 22nd is described as something for all of her faithful fans. It starts at 9pm and Patrice will be backed by the A Team Band.
On Sunday, she is set to take the stage at the A Class Experience – an event hosted by the A Team Band at the Cipriani Labour College. That event will feature a number of soca stars and is expected to be a blockbuster Carnival experience for real fans of soca.
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