The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!

 

My original goal was to do a post about Chandon benni with the goal of posting the various names that this Caribbean seasoning herb goes by in various countries. Then it dawned on me that this is one of the magic ingredients that we used to put in our 'mango chow' to add flavor and not lose the joy of eating that 'mango chow' with added Scotch Bonnet pepper! I will illustrate my point with a short story. 

 

It was one of those sweltering hot days in Trinidad. We were younglings, and mischief was our way of getting things done. Seven boys are liming under a mango tree with branches bending from the weight of the full mangoes (the next stage is to ripen). Hey Fraff, how about some chow boi? We agreed that it was a wonderful idea, and everyone scampered away to get something to add to the chow. We collected a bowl, pepper, a head of garlic, salt, and Scotch bonnet pepper, also known as the yellow market pepper due to its popularity and abundance in the markets. Lastly, we found the chandon benni, a crucial ingredient, abundantly growing everywhere, including near the mango tree! 

 

The next challenge was to get the mangoes we wanted. There was no need to climb for mangoes; a few big stones pelted onto the heavily laden branches were good enough to get us the mangoes we needed. I could still hear Miss Maud cursing as a few of the stones fell on her house. We got a few half ripe mangoes and some "full green ones"... ideal for the chow. We washed the mangoes at the street standpipe, peeled them, and cut them into slices. No, not cubes; that is what the foodies do for mango chow videos today. Back in the day, we sliced the mangoes and even put the seed with traces of mango pulp in the chow. Then, we added salt and black pepper, crushed garlic, sliced Scotch bonnet pepper, and chopped cilantro, also known as chandon benni, which the Trinis affectionately refer to as shadow benni. We tossed and sampled it for taste (especially salt), added a touch of water, and mixed it all well... ahhh, it was time to eat!

 

Mango niceness indeed... That mango chow, our childhood humble dish, gained legendary status with the addition of the chandon beni, a fragrant green herb with long serrated leaves, which transformed any dish, making even a simple pot of rice and beans burst with flavor. However, for us, it added that touch of magic to help us tolerate the Scotch bonnet pepper (remember the yellow market pepper).

 

Oh man... the good old days! We devoured the tangy-spiced delight, licking our fingers as the chandon beni performed its magic. "Boi, this chow, it's lashing, boi!" exclaimed one of them, her eyes widening with delight. But the excitement soon turned into chaos when the Scotch bonnet kicked in. Faces went red, tongues fanned the air, and panicked shrieks echoed through the yard as they scrambled for relief—gulping water, sucking ice, anything to tame the fiery storm. Miss Maude, who was upset with us for pelting the mangoes with stones falling on her house, was now laughing from her porch, enjoying the spectacle. She said this was the first burn and that we would have to endure the pain in our behinds when we went to the bathroom! The pain was unbearable, yet somehow, they kept reaching for more. Despite the fire and tears, they couldn't resist the delicious mango chow with chandon beni.

 

We added a song to accompany the post. Initially, I wanted to post the Trinidad folk song "Mangoes" by Olive Walke's La Petite Musicale but decided on something more contemporary for the post. I came across Sevana's mango. We would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the song. 

 

To get back to our original idea, here are other common names for Culantro aka Chandon Benni:

Other common names for Chandon Beni, aka Culantro, are:

• Sawtooth coriander
• Serrated coriander 
• Recao (Puerto Rico) 
• Chadron benee (Dominica)
• Chandon beni (shadow-beni) and Bhandhania (Trinidad and Tobago) 
• Coulante (Haiti) 
• It weed (Guyana)

The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!

 

The music feels good, just like today feels wonderful, and because it's Friday and the start of the weekend, we thought you would enjoy reliving some of the best music from Trinidad Carnival and then some. We are committed to empowering the youth, and today is KrisK's opportunity to shine. 

 

The featured songs on this mixtape reflect the vibrant culture and celebration of our Caribbean culture.  The mixtape was expertly curated and mixed to bring out the spirit of the weekend. We are happy, here at Sokah2Soca, to bring this music to you, just because it is Friday, of course. 

 

So, as we move forward and prepare for the weekend, let's all, as soca music lovers, immerse ourselves in the pulsating rhythms and lively melodies of the Caribbean. After all, it is Friday, and West Indians love the weekend and all the fun activities—especially Soca music parties— that transform an ordinary weekend into a festive Caribbean party weekend. 

 

So, there you have it. DJ KirsK's mixtape invites you to enjoy life, love, and be happy! This mixtape sounds like the perfect soundtrack to set the weekend in motion! What’s your go-to Soca song to get the energy flowing? ??

 

From Dj KrisK

This is the first installment of my Soca Vybz Session Mix (2025), which is titled Bumpa Protocol. I hope you all enjoy it, and please like and subscribe if you want more from me.

The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!

 

"Best Night" delivers a magic feeling, a night that everyone going to a carnival fête dreams about. The song brings out the joy and feeling that Caribbean carnivals deliver year after year. Not all the new songs bring the pulse and excitement to the streets, but this song does just that. It has the fire and the energy of the people released in the sweet sounds of Soca. "Best Night" gives you the vibe and nostalgia of Soca, but it also delivers a modern feel to the music. 

 

Jus D Music consistently delivers top-notch music production at every carnival. The infectious melodies, the crafty lyrical content, and the sweet vibe make this song one that you will hear at fetes taking place all over the island. This song sets the mood; it brings the vibe, and we expect it to be one of the most requested songs on the radio for Kadooment 2025.

 

So, are you ready to party with Jus D Music and Edwin Yearwood? Are you in the mood to experience the magic of Crop Over Carnival 2025? If you answered yes to all of the above, then what is holding you back? Press play, and let's start the party right! This song sets the mood, and it doesn't matter if you are just chillin' at home or partying on the island; "Best Night" will definitely put you in a wonderful mood to experience the best night of your life.

The content was first published on the blog Sokah2Soca (www.sokah2soca.com). We bring you only the best new music, while Island Vybe Radio rocks it live on the air!

Crop Over 2025 is in the air; Kadooment 2025 will not be the same after listening to the latest track released by Bajan Soca star Hypasounds; the song is titled "Perfect Man." He is a well-known singer and one who means what he says. For this song, he said exactly what he wants in a bold and unapologetic manner. This one is for the adults in the room!

 

Once Hypasounds starts singing, the sweet music carries you away, and that unmistakable Bajan twang comes roaring through, signaling that it is Kadooment time. Hypasounds has chosen sultry overtones while steering clear of double entendres in his lyrics. When you listen to the song, you clearly understand what he desires. This one adds a little extra spice to liven up the mood.

 

Produced by Boom Muzik and distributed by VPAL Music, one can expect this song to command the party scene for sure. It is a teaser that could become the Soca anthem for Carnival 2025 in Barbados. Perfect Man brings the vibe; it has the sauce and is spicy enough to raise not only an eyebrow but the mood of fête goers.

 

So, are you ready for Kadooment 2025? Well, go online and get familiar with all the new music. Or, just keep coming back to Sokah2Soca for the best Bajan Soca. We want to hear from you. Do you think that "Perfect Man" has what it takes to become the anthem for Carnival 2025 in Bim? Leave a comment!?