April 9, 2010 « LargeUp

2 Kings: New Walshy Fire Soca Mix ft. Machel Montano

words by Eddie STATS Houghton

Looks like our boy Walshy’s pointed questions for Machel Montano on missing Trinidad Carnival 2010 have not strained their friendly relations any because here is the socavivor himself hosting his new-brand Soca 4 mix CD. Considering all Walshy’s done for us, it would just be wrong not to give him a plug when he drops his won thing but when the thing is the most-anticipated Soca mix of the year, it’s hardly a favor. Let’s just say his last name ain’t Fire for nuttin.

Download it here and check Walshy’s other podcasts here.

Best Foot Forward: Vybz Kartel’s Clarks Obsession

words by Eddie STATS Houghton

As if the recent Nike-off wasn’t props enough, Vybz Kartel has single-handedly (single-footedly? double-footedly? you get the point) re-ignited the Clarks-wearing phenomenon in the caribbean and every urban center where dancehall is played. No sooner did his Popcaan and Vanessa Bling collabo “Clarks” (or “Clarkes” if you’re litigious) drape up the imagination of ghetto youth by their name-brand lapels then he turned around and dropped “Clarks Again” over a beat from our favorite young producer Russian (more on him soon).

The lead single dropped on iTunes today thanks to Brooklyn blastmaster Johnny Wonder (more on him soon, too) so go cop it. Even if he never made a dime off digital distribution, though, Vybz might be due a check from the British shoemakers themselves, once they feel the impact on their sales numbers. Best of all, it makes those of us who stay incorporating sand-colored Wallabees into our uniform game look like clairvoyant footwear wizards.

Toppa Top 10: Movies Filmed in the Caribbean

Words by DJ Gravy

Even way back in the early sixties, it was obvious the Caribbean would be an amazing location for a visually stimulating film. Such was the case in James Bond’s investigation of a missing colleague in Jamaica, that leads him to the island of the mysterious Dr. No and a scheme to end the US space program.

Maybe the British agent was lookin’ out for the U.S. because Bond’s name was borrowed by writer Ian Fleming from famed ornithologist James Bond. Son of the Pennsylvania-based Bond family, Bond allowed Fleming the use of their estate in Jamaica (now owned by Chris Blackwell and known as Golden Eye Resort) to write these wild tales of spies, espionage and adventure, very loosely based off his own experience in intelligence agencies.

Nothing really specified why these are my top 10, some are corny, but all have great scenery and elements of Caribbean music, art and people. And for the record Cool Runnings was NOT filmed in the Caribbean!