Catch Up On Your Soca: Afrobeat, Soca, And Afrosoca — Know The Difference
Featuring Afrosoca Mixes by DJ Lovaboi and DJ Wumi
If you attend any Afro/Caribbean event you are bound to hear some Soca, Afrobeat, and/or Afrosoca. For those who may be unfamiliar with specific genres/artists, it may be difficult to distinguish the difference between the three aforementioned sounds. This blog post should help with just that (all bolded words are active links). Be sure to check out the dope mixes featured at the end of the blog by two extremely talented NYC based DJ’s DJ Lovaboi and DJ Wumi.
Afrobeat, is a West African influenced music genre founded in the 1970s by the late Fela Kuti, a sound that incorporates percussion, call-and-response of memorable chants, and multiplexing rhythms. Similar to Trinidad and Tobago’s Calypso music, it consistently utilizes instruments such as: classical/bass guitar, congas, and saxophone. The unique sounds that traditionally can be heard in this genre include: shekere, vocals, and drums. According to Carlos Moore, Kuti believed, “AfroBeat is about social, political and cultural literacy. It confronts the geography of world complacency, greed and fear and calls for a transformative insubordination”.
Soca (the art form in which my blog is influenced), is a Trinidadian influenced music genre also founded in the 1970s alongside influential music genres such as West African Afrobeat, and African American Funk which was pioneered by the late James Brown. Check out my latest blog post Soca Saves Lives which mentions the many subgenres of Soca music.
Afrosoca, is arguably now a new subgenre of Soca. Some will say the “afro” sound was always there, and some say that it is sounding too much like afrobeat, however I see it as organic. Afrosoca songs are typically at 120 beats-per-minute like groovy soca and truly reflects the growth and potential of the art form.
Machel Montano introduced this afro sound to my personal Soca playlist in 2013 with Possessed — ft. Kerwin Du Buis Ladysmith Black Mambazo bringing this afro-vibe to modern day Trinidad Carnival. In 2014, Timaya, a Nigerian singer/songwriter who teamed up with Machel to create Shake Yuh Bum Bum which found its way to Trinidad Carnival. Timaya had a song titled Sanko, an Afrosoca/Dancehall/Afrobeat chune which was well received during the carnival season of 2015, a pivotal year for Soca music as a genre. One of the first times that I personally experienced this unique sound was in Trinidad during 2015 carnival season, Olatunji, a Trinidadian Soca artist/songwriter had a song titled Ola (Kan Kan Riddim), that was well received at many fetes and nightclubs along The Avenue. This chune and his epic performance earned Ola the title of Groovy Soca Monarch in 2015 for Trinidad’s annual Soca Monarch competition.
Here are three Soca Riddims released for the 2019 Soca season to give you an idea of how the art form has arguably evolved into an Afrosoca subgenre:
- Jollof Rice Riddim which features songs by Faddax Fox, Turner, and Marzville
- Bantu Riddim which features songs by Orlando Octave, Benjai, Marlon Asher, Lady Lava, Shea Shea, and Dale Ryan
- Foli Riddim which features songs by Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Salty, Dale Ryan, M1 aka Menace, and Jonnelle
Below are two recently released Afrosoca mixes that contain a compilation of the great songs coming out of both art forms (Afrobeat x Soca).
DJ Lovaboi, International NYC based DJ, releases this dope selection of sounds: “Afro Soca” (Dec. 2018)
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The introduction in this rhythmic mix starts out skillfully as DJ Lovaboi starts with Pana — Tekno and at approx. 1 min and 56 secs he shows his prowess as a DJ by transitioning into Bend Down Pause — Runtown ft. Wizkid and Walshy Fire until the beat drops at 2 mins and 12 secs causing you to dive into this Afrobeat x Soca selection. DJ Lovaboi, well known for his Soca Bacchanal mixes and energy during a live DJ set, further eases listeners into some of his personal favorites within the genre by combining Afrobeat instrumentals and Soca acapellas, a risk rarely taken. The mix consistently takes you on a afro-infused journey song after song and at appox. 17 mins he smooths tings’ out with Tingo — Nessa Preppy only to calmy transition into Romantic — Korede Bello feat. Tiwa Savage. Lovaboi then builds the pace of the selection at approx. 22 mins and we go from Sanko (Razorshop Remix) — Timaya to a wickeddd transition into Practice — GBM Nutron. The mix climaxes at approx. 34 mins taking listeners to a higher level with Mad Over You — RunTown transitioning into Is Jam- Dev into Away — P Square; an elite transition if you ask me. The outro of this mix is phenomenal, it uniquely slows down and mixes a power Soca, Fast Wine — Machel Montano in transition with an afro-beat instrumental into Ojuelegba — WizKid.
“Afro Soca” (Approx. 40 mins) (Listen on SoundCloud)
DJ Wumi x Live Love Soca releases this immaculate selection “Afro Soca Mix 2018” (Dec. 2018)
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The introduction in this mix starts out with a wise choice in song, as DJ Wumi starts out with Iron Love — Nailah Blackman only to smoothly transition into Toco Loco Riddim (which he mashes up including multiple songs on the riddim). DJ Wumi then takes listeners on a musically paced journey at approx. 6 mins starting with Flavour — Sake of Love ft. Sarkodie. At approx. 7 mins he gives us pace as he speeds up the BPM on Energy (Stay Far Away) — Skepta & WizKid. He continues to give us more pace until approx. 17 mins, where he skillfully leads listeners to the Osaka Riddim (which he mashes up including all songs on the riddim). DJ Wumi then takes us for a ride of skillful song selection until approx. 55 mins, giving the listeners heattttt with Love You Die — Patoranking before wickedly transitioning into Oil It — Mr. Killa only to set us up for another dope transition into Kupe Dance — A-Star. DJ Wumi keeps the mix pumping and does not give listeners a break to rest because at approx. 1 hr and 7 mins it’s time to dance as he plays Pick Your Position — Motto x Skinny Fabolous transitioning into No Dutty Satfish — Chennet D Man into a mad melody of BM (Break Your Back) — Rosalina, Bruk it Set it — AkaiiUsweetft. Mr. Bagnail & EK, Lost and Found — Preedy and Akwaaba — Guilty Beatz, Mr. Eazi, Patapaa, & Pappy Kojo. The outro of this mix is phenomenal, at approx. 1 hr and 17 mins DJ Wumi takes listeners to Grenada with Tombstone- Mandella Linkz — followed by She Don’t Text — DJ Flex and a sick transition into Sugar Lump — Lil Rick. The final song of this mix takes the listeners to the Carnival of their choice with Get In Yuh Section Get In Your Section-Lil Natty x Thunda.
Afro Soca Mix 2018 (Approx. 1 hr 27 mins) (Listen on SoundCloud)
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