Kaiso Dial is proud to welcome Ato Osei, aka Nerukhi, the artist, to our growing family of cultural storytellers. He’s a true Caribbean creative: a singer/songwriter, music producer, teacher, writer, visual artist, and cultural advocate whose work is rooted deeply in Trinidad and Tobago’s traditions.
Nerukhi has been part of the Calypso landscape for years, releasing tracks like “Country Gyal” and earning praise from those who are culturally aware. His studio collaborations, including work through Neruki Studio, connect him to the next wave of Calypsonians.
He continues to promote cultural preservation through community projects, art initiatives, and his active online presence.
Now, he puts that same love into Kaiso Dial by writing, thinking, and helping us keep track of the changing story of Calypso and Trinidad and Tobago culture.
Look out for his posts, insights, and creative contributions as we move into the Carnival 2026 season. This is a voice worth listening to.
To all Calypsonians reading this post, if you want your music or biography featured on Kaiso Dial, contact Nerukhi for assistance. Help is on the way...
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
We are in a good place with this first Calypso post for the new year. Our first release for the new year is "Cast Them Away" by Ta'zyah O'Connor. The songwriter cleverly blends social commentary with a spiritual theme, calling on the nation to confront the destructive forces shaping everyday life. The song warns us that fear, deception, greed, and division are real issues that divide and destabilize communities.
This is a reminder that we have faced troubling issues in the past: slavery, indentureship, exploitation, and the long struggle toward dignity. Those shared histories, O’Connor argues, should anchor the society against modern attempts to divide and destabilize it. His message is simple and direct: unity is not optional; it is necessary.
As you listen to the song, the spiritual theme is constant. O’Connor invokes symbols from multiple faith traditions—rosaries, holy water, Quranic references, candles, and bells—reflecting the country’s spiritual diversity. This is not a call to one religion, but a call to collective cleansing. The repeated chant to “cast them away” becomes a ritual of removing the forces that corrupt public life, from crime and corruption to fear and confusion.
Consider this song your reset, our reset song, as Carnival 2026 takes control. Consider it your reset for the new year. It calls on the nation to reject its weaknesses and restore its unity. It is a fitting anthem for a new year: clear, urgent, and rooted in the belief that the people still have the power to choose a better path.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Cast Them Away
Artist/Performed by: Ta’zyah O’Connor
Songwriter: Sheldon Reid
Co-Writer: Ta’zyah O’Connor
Record Label: THE RUBICON REC.
Album Art: Tazyah O’Connor
Mastered and Mixed by: CRAZY D Studios.
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
Kaiso Dial Closes Out 2025 With Pure Trouble—Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Freetown Collective & XplicitMevon.
For our final post of 2025, shared across Kaiso Dial and Sokah2Soca, we’re ending the year with fire. Trouble—the brand‑new collaboration from Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, Freetown Collective, and XplicitMevo—arrives with the kind of vibrance, melody, and raw Carnival energy that reminds us why this music moves the world.
Produced by XplicitMevon, with live guitars and bass by Kyle Peters, Trouble is a soca track built for motion. It’s lively, playful, and full of that unmistakable “she causing trouble” energy—the kind of woman who steps into a fête and instantly becomes the center of gravity. Phrases like "trouble on the bass," "making up her face," and "jumping up on the stage" paint a scene straight out of Carnival: uninhibited, joyful, and alive.
And behind the groove is a powerhouse writing team:
Jason “Shaft” Bishop, Muhammad Muwakil, Lou Lyons, and Mevon Soodeen—a lineup that guarantees melody, message, and movement.
But what truly elevates Trouble is the presence of Boogsie. Calypso and soca were born for the steelpan, and with Boogsie at the helm, the anticipation for Phase II Pan Groove’s Panorama 2026 interpretation is already electric. If this is the starting point, the road to the Savannah will be something special.
Listeners are already feeling it. The early comments say it all:
“This is a great song. Ready for the road and panorama.” — @elizabethfrank3383
“Calypso needs to come back for decades. Beautiful arrangement of music. Well done, Boogsie.” — @Rajendradeonarine
“On point, Boogsie. Come out the gate swinging…” — @MK-cc8ih
“This song is TROUBLE!!” — @arielsaunders2527
“Phase II’s guitar and cello sections have lovely chords and lines to play thanks to Kyle!!!” — @adeliat3983
“TROUBLE ❤❤❤❤❤” — @Lisa-K-US
As we step into Old Year’s Night and welcome 2026, Trouble is the perfect send‑off—a reminder that melody, musicianship, and pure Carnival joy still reign supreme.
Here’s to more music, more culture, and more Kaiso in the new year.
Blessings, love, and rhythm straight into 2026.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Trouble
Artists/Performed by: Len Boogsie Sharpe x Freetown Collective x XplicitMevon
Produced by: XplicitMevon
Written by: Jason "Shaft" Bishop, Muhammad Muwakil, Lou Lyons, and Mevon Soodeen.
Live Guitars & Bass by Kyle Peters.
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
We are going to walk through the fire with Rose Gold’s My Trinbago. This calypso is a gift to our people, our culture, and the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago. My Trinbago is a beautiful tribute to the vibrance, determination, and love of Trinbagonians—a reminder of who we are and the fire we carry in every season.
Written by Hammond Bruce and produced by H.B. Entertainment, the track moves with a sweet traditional calypso rhythm, the kind that instantly roots you in home. But it’s the message that truly shines.
Rose Gold sings of resilience and hope, even in serious times. The lyrics of the song shine brightly with Rose's vocal delivery. She calls on us to raise our voices, celebrating a people who refuse to bow, who hold unity close even when the weight of the world is weighing us down. The song reminds us of our strength—to use it and ensure a better future.
"My Trinbago" takes us on a journey reminding us of our progress and that the change we seek rests on our shoulders. We must take responsibility, overcome our challenges, and contribute to the success of Trinidad and Tobago. Does the song inspire us to take action? It is, and it pushes the listeners to take ownership of the future we want to build together. The song encourages listeners to become active participants rather than mere spectators.
At its core, My Trinbago is about cultural identity and history. We all face struggles, individually and as a nation. However, Rose Gold asserts with confidence that these challenges cannot shatter our hearts or extinguish this passion. Our past struggles should fuel us—to make our lives, and our beloved Trinbago, a better place. In that strength, nothing can break us.
After all is said and done, the song does celebrate our unwavering spirit—a people who move forward with no retreat, no surrender, even through the darkest of nights.
That is Trinbago. That is us.
YouTube Music Release Notes:
My Trinbago is a beautiful calypso about the vibrance, determination and love of its people.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: My Trinbago
Artist/Performed by: Rose Gold
Written by: Hammond Bruce
Produced by: H.B. Entertainment
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
Ok, let me say the following: This is one of my favorite Calypsos for 2026; I love this song!
Stacey Sobers steps forward with The Greater Good, a calypso that speaks directly to the heart—and to the conscience. In these uncertain times, selfishness often overpowers empathy, giving the impression that the world has lost its direction. This song reminds us that equal rights, equal opportunity, and collective care must be the foundation of any just society. There is no place for selfishness and only self-preservation.
Brilliantly written by Cre8v Dremr, the song challenges us to look beyond ourselves: to reject inherited biases, to embrace tolerance, and to build a joyful space where differences are respected, not feared. She draws from history’s lessons—from conflict and injustice—and calls for corrective policies and reparations that can pave the way toward true equality.
Is it just a social commentary on the ills that befall today's societies? Absolutely not! The song calls for economic fairness and an end to the vast disparities that leave many suffering while a few have too much; America is a prime example of this malaise. The message is clear: peace, progress, and liberty must be for everyone—not just the privileged few. Caribbean people, remember when we were a kinder, more generous nation?
This is a calypso with purpose. A song that dares to imagine a world built on justice, fair pay, and shared humanity. And it’s one we’re proud to celebrate.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Greater Good
Artist/Performed by: Stacey Sobers
Written by: Cre8v Dremr (Creative Dreamer)
Produced by: DANCIN DREAD Productions
Background Vocals: Joseph Williams & Tricia Hamilton
Mixed & Mastered by: Martin "Mice" Raymond
Bass: Rodney Alexander
Guitar: Jevan Ochoa
Trumpet: Dan Clarke
Tenor Sax: Oral Rodriguez
Trombone: David Jacob
Video: Keegan Taylor
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Video Director: Rayshawn Pierre
Choreography: Sherma Burke
Dancer: Delese Rabathally
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
Hansil Buntin, whose Calypso sobriquet is "Richie Buntin," rose to the top of a competitive field of nine contestants to capture the 2025 St. Croix Calypso Monarch crown. He is undoubtedly a seasoned performer. Real name, Hansil Buntin, delivered a standout performance that also earned him the title of Best Social Commentary. There is no doubting his talent, underscoring his command of message, melody, and stagecraft.
The first runner-up was veteran calypsonian Samuel "Mighty Pat" Ferdinand, a former four-time monarch whose consistency and wit remain unmatched. Mighty Pat also secured the award for Most Humorous Song, proving once again why he is celebrated as a king in many places.
Rounding out the top three was Cedric “King Spade” Brooks, the multiple‑time winner whose presence and delivery continue to resonate deeply with Virgin Islands audiences. His placement as second runner-up reflects both his enduring artistry and the strength of this year’s competition.
The 2025 results highlight a powerful blend of veteran excellence and lyrical craftsmanship for those who love Calypso, especially in the USVI—a reminder that the tradition remains vibrant, competitive, and culturally essential.
While Kaiso Dial is focused on the upcoming Trinidad Carnival and Calypso season, we have to show love to the 'others' in the Caribbean basin: after all, the diaspora needs to know what is going on with Calypso across the region. The Mighty Pat’s performance stands as a reminder of the enduring power of veteran calypsonians, the cultural pride they carry, and the lyrical excellence they continue to bring to the stage.
Kaiso to the bone—and congratulations once again to a true standard‑bearer of the artform. We were able to obtain a sample of a few performances, posted below; the final song, "Quality of Life," is by the eventual winner, Richie Buntin.
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
Kaiso, Kaiso—yes, Kaiso! Pae3ot steps forward with Mother Music, a heartfelt reminder of what calypso once was—and what it still should be. Mother Music speaks plainly about the state of the artform: the slipping standards, the rising production costs, and the painful reality that too many strong songs and singers are overlooked.
One of the central issues he raises is a familiar cry from calypsonians every year: a system that rewards names over merit, where judges bypass powerful compositions and where radio silence borders on the unconscionable. This leaves artists carrying the full financial burden of production with nothing in return. Yet through all of this, Pae3ot’s love for our Mother Music shines. He reminds us that calypso is the root—the genre that birthed so many Caribbean styles and influenced music across the world. His message is one of love, respect, and restoration: a call to honor calypso’s roots and protect its integrity.
Politics—especially the use of politricks—further undermines that integrity. Similar to the electoral cycle, calypsonians often face pressure to focus solely on social and political issues, neglecting the calypso styles that made artists such as Stalin, Shadow, Kitch, Sparrow, and Singing Sandra so beloved.
So remember, we are here to uplift our Mother Music, and we depend on you to help spread the word. Share this post, share the song, and support Pae3ot and other calypsonians—while helping Kaiso Dial continue to grow.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Mother Music
Artist/Performed by: Pae3ot
Written by: Dave Maikoo AKA Pae3ot
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by GQ MaxZmum (Gideon Quashie).
Background Vocals by: Trisha Hamilton
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
If you are familiar with Calypsonians and Calypso, you would recognize that signature greeting.
Veteran Calypsonian and master of the art of Double Entendre, Hamidullah Wahid delivers in his own unique style, another timely classic. The Calypso titled “Wear Clothes” is directed at how women dress and its impact on many of their male counterparts.
Making the salient points Dress to impress not to suggest; You don't have to compromise to look nice, he appeals for balance in the way women present themselves.
Hamidullah has captivated audiences over the years with his audience connectivity and rib tickling humour, as well as his serious social commentary. With songs like - One stick of matches, Yuh Cyar Land and Not my Boy to name a few, his pedigree as a humorous entertainer is beyond question, while the elderly statesman in him is reflected in songs like Change, Sycophant and Essence of Democracy.
His 2026 selection Wear Clothes reflects both sides of this awesome entertainer, one who always bring a smile to the faces of his audience.
Hamidullah is a Calypsonian/Recording artiste for forty plus years. He has had performances throughout the US Virgin Islands, North America and the Caribbean. He is one of those senior Calypsonians that younger and inexperienced artistes could always look to for advice and constructive criticism.
You can catch up with him this upcoming Carnival season in Trinidad at the Classic Russo Calypso Tent in Port of Spain as well as entertainment spots across Trinidad. You can also find his music on YouTube, Spotify, and other social media platforms.
Lyrics
WEAR CLOTHES
Ah love yuh hair and yuh lips
But let me tell you this
You look so fine
Ah want to make you mine
But the way you dress
I am not impressed
Is why I willingly suggest
Chorus
Wear clothes darling more clothes
Make me want to know what it is yuh hiding so
Wear Clothes woman more clothes
Dress to impress and not to suggest
Them kinda thing that you wearing
Could make angels lose they wings
I trying to be a pope
But you destroy all meh hope
Wear Clothes, wear clothes, more clothes
by Nerukhi Ato Osei
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Wear Clothes
Artist/Performed by: Hamidullah Wahid
Composed by: Hamidullah Wahid
Executive Producer: Kenny Phillip
Background Vocals by: Tricia Hamilton
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Listen. Share. Amplify. Kaiso Dial—Where Rhythm Lives. Calypso, Steelband, and Soca thrive every day, not just at Carnival. 🌴✨ Elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word! 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
This is a solid social commentary calypso from Squeezy Rankin; the song is titled "Rat Race." This song does not hold back; it serves as a blistering and classic social commentary that presents the truth directly. This song simply forces the listener to confront the uncomfortable truths shaping Trinidad and Tobago's society. Although it is uncomfortable, the truth will ultimately set you free from all bondage.
"Rat Race" comes from Q-Ban Productions, delivering a steady musical pulse that mirrors the pressure cooker lifestyle that is the experience on the streets today. He sings "rats with human faces," using this metaphor that becomes a powerful device, one that captures a sense of danger and survival in the poverty-stricken areas.
Lyrically strong, the song was written by the team of Anthony La Fleur and Angelo Pantin; they crafted a narrative that is both intimate and one that also has an international feel. This is classic calypso songwriting, which is why it will be in the Calypso Monarch finals and at Calypso Fiesta. It’s a portrait of a country wrestling with itself, and Squeezy delivers it with the clarity of someone who has lived the story.
This song is musically strong; take a good look at the production notes—it is rich with talent. Squeezy Rankin's emotional vocals never overpower the classic music. The engineering, done by Q-Ban Productions, keeps everything tight while Diamond Sounds Studio polishes the production with the final mastering of the song.
This song resembles a sermon, yet it avoids preachiness! It is a solid social commentary, lyrically sharp but never loses its calypso core. The ending is the kind of song that judges remember, not because it is sensational but because the words are true and tell the story of life experiences.
At the end of the day, this is a classic social commentary calypso. If this calypso style wins the monarch title, expect to see Squeezy etching his name in the history of the Monarch competition for Trinidad and Tobago. This is how strongly we feel about Calypso. Kaiso, Kaiso! Yes, Kaiso.
Production Notes/Music Credits:
Song Title: Rat Race
Singer/Performed by: Squeezy Rankin
Produced by: Q-Ban Productions
Written by: Anthony La Fleur & Angelo Pantin
Guitars by: Kwami Kwamz Morrison & Angelo Pantin
Brass By: Dan Clark
Background Vocals by: Kizzie Huggins
Mixed by: Q-Ban Productions
Mastered by: Diamond Sounds Studio
Music Video Directed By: Kevan Gibbs & Nic-kelson Williams
Origin: Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago.
Genre: Calypso 🎶
Empowering Caribbean Creatives
🎧 Share. Amplify. This is your Calypso Dial, where rhythm lives. Steelband and Calypso music pulse year‑round, not only at Carnival. 🌴✨ Help elevate Caribbean music and culture—be a cultural ambassador and spread the word. 👉 Find us on Facebook and YouTube.
