pg. 7

6 Editor Kenny Spence VS Phelonious Phunk

8 The Last Don

10 Prodigy Movements

13 10 Favorite Things to do at Hellshire Beach

14 Mavado: Saint or Sinner?

21 Food: Chicken Curry in Coconut Milk

22 Maniac Park

25 Meet the 8 Friends that made me Hate Facebook

28 Machel Montano

Letter from the Editor 5IHQ’s Top 5 12Featured Model: Melissa Martinez 16

Got Beef? 18 Caribtionary 24Through the Len’s of Nick Wallace 26

CONTENTS f

eatures

regulars

Dear Readers,

On September 11th the country took time out to recognize the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 tragedies. A few months prior to that on May 1, 2011 President Barack Obama reported that the orchestrator of that devastation, Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Initially after being taken aback by the news I experienced emotions of ambivalence; I didn’t know whether to declare the outcome as triumphant or anticlimactic. In the ensuing moments following the announcement, mil-lions of Facebook and Twitter accounts nationwide erupted with testimonials of euphoria. I tried to convince myself that I should share in the country’s excitement over Bin Laden’s demise, but quickly realized that my feeling of repugnance was instinctive and real. Re-joicing over the death of someone is what people in other countries partake in, that’s just not something that we do in America. So what exactly were we celebrating? If the answer is victory, then we have lost perception as a nation of the 9/11 tragedies.

In addition to the thousands of innocent lives that perished on 9/11, the life that we were familiar with prior to that disastrous day no longer exists. Bin Laden not only murdered Americans, he robbed us of our comfort and disrupted our sense of safety. In exchange for being dissected by airport personnel and suff ering from bouts of trepidation due to sporadic homeland security alerts, we granted him martyrdom. So if you are keeping score at home, that is one lone soul versus a purported 2994 casualties and a lifetime of inconvenience. My rudimentary math skills tell me that he won, and the end result was simply a display of delayed justice.

Th e one thing that was worthy of rejoicing, was the courageous eff orts of the men who raided the compound in Abbottabad. Th eir valor symbolized the dedication of the men and women in our armed forces, who will put their lives on the line to protect the quality of life that Americans have become accustomed to. Whether we agree with the politics of our government or not, we must acknowledge their sacrifi ce and praise them for their commitment to defending the privileges we enjoy as a nation.

Sincerely,Kenny Spence,IHQTV IncCo-President and staff editor

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features

Kenny Spence - Staff Editor Phelonious Phunk - Staff Writer

GerontophobicHe is obviously afraid of getting old, have you seen his face? Th is guy has had a few plastic surger-ies. His face looks like he drove through a wind tunnel with his

windows down.

VitiligoTh e Michael Jackson skin

disorder. And I’m saying that with a straight face.

AmbidextrousWrites left-handed but shoots

fade away three pointers with his right hand

AndrogynousFor the life of me, I am rendered

powerless in my attempts to determine his gender

AttireCapri’s, Prada slippers

and small earrings

HypocriteYou can’t tell people how to live

and not practice what you preach

IguanaCheck his side profi le

Just Say NoNancy Reagan 1980s style

Muammar Gaddafi

Vybez Kartel

Lebron James

Justin Bieber

WNBA

Sarah Palin

Lil Wayne

Bobby Brown

GangsterFidel Castro is a choir boy com-pared to this dude. 42 years in power and still pimp smacking

all adversaries

Liver spotTh e man skin patchy patchy

Male patterned baldness Rumor is, his hairline started

receding in the womb

White-ChocolateTh e young man can dance with

the best of them

WomanizersTh ese women have game

NBA Jump off Nuff said

TartarHave you seen his teeth?

ChemistryCoc-H+Cl− + NaHCO3 � Coc +

H2O + CO2 + NaCl

L adies and gentlemen, it’s time for Faceoff , IHQ Magazine’s inaugural battle of word association between Chief Editor Kenny Spence and staff writer Phelonious Phunk. Okay gentlemen, obey

my commands at all times and let’s have a fair fi ght. Ding! Ding! Ding!

Editor Kenny Spence VS Phelonious Phunk

Phelonious Phunk - Staff Writer

The June 2010 capture of former Jamaican drug lord Christopher “Du-dus” Coke brought an end to months of confl ict and bloodshed in the city of Kingston and simultaneously placed a global spotlight on the island’s antiquated system of political tribalism. Ironically Jamaica’s administrative history is built around the bureaucratic principles of mer-cenary work and “donship,” going back to the days of the Maroons. Th e story of the Maroons has been romanticized in Jamai-can society as a symbol of resistance and freedom. Th e accounts of their numerous victories over the British and their eff orts in liberating hundreds of slaves have been well documented. However, few are aware that the peace treaty between the

British and Maroon leaders like Cudjoe and Ac-compong, stipulated that the Maroons supported the colonial order and assist in the recapture of runaway slaves. As mercenaries for the British government, the Maroons helped to maintain political order and took part in crushing several slave revolts, oftentimes for fi nancial gain. In fact, the Maroons played a major role in quelling the peasant revolt that resulted from the lynching of national heroes George William Gordon and Paul Bogle in the 1865 Morant Bay rebellion. Th e Ma-roons had a “survival by all means” mentality, even if it meant sacrifi cing fellow Africans. Th eir chief obligation rested with those actions necessary to ensure the continued existence of their communi-ties, rather than the perseverance of the race. Th is way of thinking became the predominate attitude of the masses, as the country moved from slavery into post colonialism. Th e people’s social impairment combined with the destructive civic practices of the founders of Jamaica’s two major political parties – Norman Manley (founder of the People’s National Party) and Alexander Busta-mante (founder of the Jamaican Labour Party) – during the 1940s, laid the foundation for what is known today as “garrison politics”. Politicians created a divide among urban localities based on political allegiance, which ultimately positioned supporters of a particular party to live together in certain areas. Th e incumbent party would reserve special privileges such as housing, jobs, cash, and land in exchange for loyalty. After Jamaica’s independence in 1962, this caustic atmosphere fostered heated gang rivalries and unprecedented violence; the leaders of these local gangs would become the fi rst generation of “dons.” Th e local knife wielding rudeboys of the late 1960s and early 1970s in post independence Ja-maica would take on a more ruthless role, as both political parties sought out their own henchmen to serve as liaisons between the bureaucracy and the garrison communities. Several “dons” emerged

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from this era, the likes of which included Curly Locks, Claudius “Claudie” Massop, Aston “Bucky Mar-shall” Th omson, and Spanglers posse chiefs George Phang and Anthony “Tony” Welch. Mas-sop was the leader of a group that would later be known as the infamous Shower Posse. As the Cold War paranoia of the 70s heightened, the PNP’s alliance with Cuba and Fidel Castro triggered heavy involvement by the United States of America in Jamaican politics. American meddling re-sulted in increased cor-ruption in an already decaying society, as the infl ux of assault rifl es fl ooded the island. With U.S. dollars and arms in signifi cant rotation, the Jamaican dons grew in stature and relevance. Th eir fi nancial access and infl uence launched them into celebrity status and elicited the adulation of the common people.

On the surface, the people saw greater ac-cess to basic necessities, which they attributed to the works of the neighborhood dons. What they did not see – despite the dead bodies that littered the streets – was the evil that contrib-uted to these benefi ts. In the 70s, Massop and Bucky Marshall stood at the forefront of this national dysfunction, ruling with brutality for their own personal gain and to a lesser extent, the survival of the people within their respec-tive communities. Like Cudjoe and Accom-pong before them, both men were mere pawns in the government’s grand scheme to maintain political order. Th ey would go on to die violent deaths once they were no longer of use to the politicians. Th e ensuing decades would see the nations’ moral structure deteriorate into pieces as the cocaine trade invaded Jamaica. Th e ghettoes

islandheadquarters.com 9

birthed new Dons, who not only replaced those dead and gone, but also refi ned the criminal blueprint with a more sophisticated business sense and unbridled savagery. In the early 1980s, Lester Lloyd Coke, aka Jim Brown would gain international prominence and immense wealth as the new head of the Shower Posse. Coke would eventually die under mysterious circumstances in a prison fi re while awaiting extradition to the United States to face trial for his crimes. Strangely enough, Coke’s son and successor Dudus al-most met the same fate - but mindful of his-tory - engaged U.S. authorities on a month long cat and mouse chase until he was fi nally detained during a routine roadblock while attempting to surrender himself to the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. Most people are of the opinion that Dudus will become an in-formant, and so he should. His corporation with U.S. prosecutors could expose the evil of Jamaican politics for the world to see and eff ectively end this counter progressive cycle of garrison politics and “donship.” Jamaica needs all the help it can get in ridding its beautiful shores of this insanity.

Just like the Justice League of America, Prodigy Sound has a super hero to tackle every problem. Whether it’s Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop or R&B, there is someone on the roster with the expertise to suit your entertainment needs. Every member on the team is skilled at the art of DeeJaying. Let me say that again with emphasis, DeeJaying!!! Not just “playing music.” So after months of playing phone tag, IHQ Magazine finally caught up with one of Prodigy’s founding fathers Bigga Don, to shoot the breeze and dissect the science

IHQ: How old is Prodigy?BD: The foundation was formed in 1992

IHQ: How was prodigy formed?BD: Back in Brooklyn, by DJ Cuts, Coolie Don and Scorpio Don. Killa Mike and I were mutual friends of those guys, but we did not know each other at the time. I came to Florida and met Killa at Barry University. DJ Cuts suggested that we should form a Prodigy in Florida. In 1995 we approached DJ Dapper and the rest is history.

IHQ: Now that everyone and their grandmamma is a DJ, how do you feel about the current state of the art form?

BD: It’s been diluted and watered down, es-pecially in the dancehall community. Anyone with a computer that can download virtual DJ calls them self a DJ, but as we know, in ev-erything the cream rises to the top. You could bust real quick if you have the right connect but people will eventually figure you out.

IHQ: If you were to come up with a list of pre-requisites for DJs what would that be?BD: Passion for the art form, and with that you would automatically become a student. You have to love music, study it and put in work. You have to put in the time. Not like “I know you so you should put me on.” I mean really put in work to affect people the way you want to. There is a big difference between

PRODIGYMOVEMENTS

someone who deejays and someone who plays music. So putting in the work is what’s gonna get you to the next level.

IHQ: Name an artist on your Pandora or IPod playlist that would surprise people?BD: Adele, a lot of Kompa, Motown, and Al green

IHQ: Fill in the blank, a playlist is not a playlist without ___ ________?BD: Oh that’s easy, the great Bob Marley. I don’t care where you are from, if you don’t have Bob Marley on your playlist, you don’t know music. You know what; you don’t even want to get me started on Bob. For real man. I could go on all day.

IHQ: Prodigy’s current roster includes who, and what are their specialties?BD: Okay, Killa Mike’s specialty is Dance-hall, Contemporary rap, Shadow is the emcee, Dapper’s strength is R&B, Glammer Fire is our Soca specialist, and as for myself, I’m the guy you go to for that good Old School Hip

Hop and Reggae. At the end of the day, all of us are versatile enough to switch genres.

IHQ: Which do you prefer, house parties or clubs? BD: The business side of me prefers clubs, not for the money, but because you do your thing and bounce and you don’t get a bunch of personal requests. With a house party it’s more fun, but you get people telling you what to play. I hate weddings for the same reason.

IHQ: What is your approach for a house party versus a club?BD: With a house party you control the vibe. In a club most of the time you are playing with other DJs and you gotta pay attention to the crowd that’s there. You also have to know what was played before you got there. It’s like playing at a concert; you won’t play the records if the artist is performing that night.

IHQ: This was interesting, thanks for the interview.BD: No prob, thank you.

5. Kompa music at a Klan Rally

4. A one arm amputee driving while texting

3. A cat burglar in tap dance shoes

2. A suicide hotline operator with a stuttering problem

1. A drill sergeant with halitosis

www.islandheadquarters.com 13

If you haven’t been to Hellshire beach in Jamaica, you are missing out on an opportunity to enjoy a complete vacation experience when visiting the island. Originally called Healthshire for its perceived therapeutic purposes, the name has evolved over the years into “Hellshire,” due to mispronunciations. Today both pronunciations are considered technically correct. Th ere are a myriad of fun things to do at Hellshire; from delicious food to great music, or just simply enjoying the beach itself. In attempt to come up with the one thing that is most fun to do at Hellshire, we conducted an internal survey among the staff at IHQ and formed a list of our 10 most favorite things.

10

10. THE PEOPLE: Just observing the people interacting and having a stress free good time. 9. THE VIBE: Great music and great food puts you in a great mood. 8. SCENERY: Laying in the shade and staring at the peaks of Blue Mountain, it’s an awesome feeling.

7. THE WATER: Albeit it’s not what you would call a beautiful beach, especially compared to the ones in Negril and Ocho Rios, but the water re-energizes you. Th ere is something about the water. 6. DANCING: Just watching the people dance is a spectacle in and of itself. 5. THE RENT-A-TUBES: Th at’s the best thing to do fun wise. 4. THE PRICE: Th e prices of the food are extremely reasonable. Especially being a public beach, the people are aff orded free access. 3. SUNDAY NIGHT PARTIES: Usually run into the wee hours of Monday morning. Just listening to the music and the soothing sound of the ocean in the background is second to none. 2. THE MUSIC: Th ere is always great music, always. Maybe it’s the vibe that adds to it. 1. THE FOOD: Escoviched fi sh, steam fi sh, lobster, bammy and a cold Red Stripe.

FAVORITE THINGS TO DO AT HELLSHIRE BEACH

M A V A D O : S A I N T o r S I N N E R ?F rom assassination attempts on his life to numerous run-ins with law enforcement, Reggae icon David Brooks, aka Mavado, appears to have an ultra-magnetic attraction for peril and chaos. To his defense, Mavado claims to be a victim; a helpless man frozen within the crosshairs of the Jamaican police force’s sniper scope. To the average observer, Mavado’s cries of persecution rings like the boy who cried wolf, especially considering his recent arrest for assault and destruction of private property stemming from an alterca-tion with a commuter. The accuser claims the entertainer dragged him from his vehicle in a fit of road rage, kicked him in the groin and wrecked his car. Whether these allegations are true or not is left for conjecture; but the fact is, Mavado’s lengthy list of problems parallel his vast musical aptitude, one so vast it has placed him firmly at the top of a watered down genre filled with run of the mill charac-ters with exaggerated names.

Since his arrival in the mid-2000s, the immensely talented and problematic superstar has proven to be one of Dancehall’s most influential and enigmatic artistes, using thoughtful rhyme patterns to convey the ever-shifting manifestations of his complex persona, attracting legions of zealous fans and haters alike. A psychoanalytical breakdown of his work and career would bear a striking similarity to rapper Tupac Shakur. In fact he credits the deceased rapper as one of his idols and much like Shakur, Mavado’s defiance, in-telligence, and compassion for his beliefs can be felt in every syllable he articulates. These profound elements of his music are lucid even to the untrained ear, but what remains un-

clear and perplexing about Mavado is whether or not he has a message, and if so what is it?Over the last few years Dancehall music as degenerated into a cesspool of wanton gimmickry, which makes the presence of an artiste like Mavado even more important. His abilities are light years ahead of his peers, but he appears to be content with what works and what has worked for him is the precarious juggling of spirituality and ghetto posturing. Mavado’s social awareness shines through on songs like Every Situation, in which he eloquently advises, “Trust inna di King/Yute put yuh trust inna him/Nuh badda wid nuh dutty living.” His effort here is introspective, and the message is direct. However, on tracks like Bawl Dem Ah Bawl, the direction goes awry. In the opening verse the Gully God angrily warns, “Its on, yeah, that’s why me rise the chopstick/Brand new AK weh the (exple-tive) nozzle long just like a mopstick,” and we know when he mentions chopsticks that it’s not a reference to Chinese takeout.

Whether inside the booth or in real life, Mavado engage fans in a never-ending, back and forth melodramatic tug of war, swaying between two impassioned extremes like an emotional pendulum. For the mature onlooker, deciphering what is real from what is mere dialogue is fairly simply, but for the young and impressionable mind, it becomes far more convoluted. Fair or unfair, artistes like Mavado who stand at the forefront of Dancehall music, bear the responsibility of uplifting the downtrodden youth left wal-lowing in the very same sewages that they themselves crawled out of. Although the Gully God should be praised for his masterful

M A V A D O : S A I N T o r S I N N E R ?reckless. Of course we can easily rationalize that musicians do not have an obligation to

justify their moral stances on the socio-political issues of today, and yes it is true that parents should be the real role models. The fact remains young people who already look up to these artistes, are usually from impoverished

conditions with few role models in their immediate surroundings. Music

is usually their escape and inspira-tion, so the message automatically becomes the representation of what they aspire to be.

Fans who have grown tired of the clichéd gang-ster bravado that pervade dancehall music, can only hope that gifted artistes like Mavado will separate himself from this mishmash of mediocrity. Maybe it is too much to ask, especially when there is so much money to be made in the exaltation of violence and decadence.

depictions of a degener-ate society overseen by corrupted politicians, it must be emphasized that there is a fine line between “being real” and being

islandheadquarters.com 15

IHQ: How did you fi rst become interested in modeling?MM: It was by accident; a few of my friends were already modeling and they kind of introduced me to it.

IHQ: What do you like to do when you are not modeling?MM: Watch movies, go dancing, chill and hang out with my sister and friends.

IHQ: What is your favorite pig out food?MM: Sausage and pepperoni pizza, LOL!!

IHQ: What is your favorite TV show?MM: I don’t have a favorite, I just watch whatever is interesting

IHQ: Biggie or Tupac?MM: Lol, this is hard, I like both, I can’t decide. You would have to put a gun to my head.

IHQ: What is the one fashion trend you would like to see end?

MM: Skinny jeans on guys, or pants that sag off their butt, ugh.

IHQ: How tall are you?MM: 5’7’

IHQ: Would you date a guy that is shorter than you?MM: No, because I’m kind of short.

IHQ: What is your favorite place to shop?MM: I don’t have a favorite, I don’t like shopping.

IHQ: What is your biggest turn off ?MM: Ugly feet and hot breath, lol.

IHQ: What quality do you fi nd most appealing in a guy?MM: A good sense of humor.

islandheadquarters.com 17

Courtesy of Roger B stillz.

islandheadquarters.com 19

Got Beef ? If you are familiar with IHQ magazine then you should know what to ex-pect from this segment. It’s the space that is reserved for my personal protest against absurdity. For instance, those people who refuse to adhere to super-market etiquette and guidelines. When I speak of etiquette, I am referring to those unwritten rules, like blocking the aisle with your cart or writing a check for a loaf of bread. A check is appropriate for the lawn man or the plumber; you shouldn’t be in the supermarket with your checkbook. If you are reading this and know you are guilty of this act, I have one question for you; why are you wasting people’s time? Everyone has to wait for you to pull out your checkbook, fill out the necessary information, show your driver’s license to the cashier for verification and then wait for the authorization to be com-pleted. All of that for $3.00! There are also those written rules that are often neglected, for example, 10 items or less in the express lane. Not only is this an established rule, but the sign is brightly lit. This is probably the most egre-gious of all supermarket sins, and it’s obvious from the scowl of resentment on the cashier’s face that you are the object of hate, which is further exacer-bated by the fake comment, “oh did I go over 10 items”? Yes you did, by 20.

My other beef concerns people who hire babysitters without doing a thorough background check. Woe to those people who commit this error, because when the fecal matter hits the fan, you have no one to blame for your poor judgment but yourself. Hiring an irresponsible 16 year old high school drop out or your neighbor’s over grown pre-pubescent kid to watch your 4 month old child is a recipe for disaster. That’s similar to inviting Michael Jackson to your kid’s sleepover pajama party or allowing your teen-age daughter to sit on R. Kelly’s lap so that he can read her a bedtime story, knowing his troubled past, and I’m not even talking about his bladder prob-lem. If you want to ensure that your infant child is still breathing by the time you are back home, take the extra step to carefully consider your options for a babysitter.

Beef of honorable mention; grown men who have no business wearing skinny jeans.

creo

Ihave always been disinclined to adhere strictly to certain gender roles. I think such things are used to force males and females alike into specific stereotypes that are not necessarily always fair to individuals. It causes expecta-tions that not everyone can always rise up to, and it places those who do not fit into the ideal theory of what a man or woman should be, outside the box and leaves them open to judgment. I mean so what if a little girl wants to play with toy trucks and a young guy thinks he looks best in the color pink. These simple preferences are sometimes so tainted by the stereotypes forced upon us that they are interpreted as bigger issues than they need to be. My introductory rant is just to emphasize my point that I do not think that there are things I should be forced into doing simply because I was born a female; especially considering that I did not have an opportunity to make a decision about the matter. I have often been told that I would make a great girlfriend/wife, simply because I can cook and clean. If that is the case, tell me why am I still single? Is that all that qualifies me to find a partner and not my stunning good looks and charming wit? Despite my issues with these gender stereotypes I have no difficulties whatsoever adhering to a specific one; I am a woman who loves to cook. Yes I know my introduction to this was long and drawn out but I felt I had to explain myself. I love to cook and more important, I like to eat what I cook, which is reflected in the ever increasing size of my jeans. So I wanted to share a little recipe with all of you (or the three and 1/2 persons who made it through my prolonged rant). This is not anything gourmet from Food Network, but it is something that makes my tummy happy and hopefully will do the same to yours:

What You Need2 pounds (1 kg) Chicken Breasts1 teaspoon (5 millilitres) Salt1 teaspoon (5 millilitres) Grace Caribbean Traditions Blk Pepper2 tablespoons (30 ml) Grace Vegetable Oil1 tbsp (15 ml) Grace Caribbean Traditions Curry Powder2 tbsp (30 ml) Ginger, Chopped3 cloves Garlic, Minced1⁄2 tbsp (35 1⁄2 ml) Scotch Bonnet Pepper, Finely Chopped1 stalk Escallion, Chopped1 can Grace Coconut Milk (200 Ml)1⁄2 cup Chicken Stock*1 sprig Thyme1 whole Scotch Bonnet Pepper2 tbsp (30 ml) Green Sweet Pepper, Julienne2 tbsp (30 ml) Yellow Sweet Pepper, Julienne2 tbsp (30 ml) Red Sweet Pepper, JulienneHow To Make It1. De-bone chicken breasts, cut into strips and season with salt and GRACE CARIBBEAN TRADITIONS BLACK PEP-PER.2. Heat GRACE VEGETABLE OIL in a large skillet, add GRACE CARIBBEAN TRADITIONS CURRY POWDER and allow to burn.3. Add chopped ginger, minced garlic, scotch bonnet pepper and escallion and stir.4. Add chicken breasts and combine thoroughly. Allow to cook for 2 minutes.5. Add GRACE COCONUT MILK and chicken stock, mix thoroughly. Add thyme and the whole scotch bonnet pepper. Allow to simmer for approxi-mately 7–10 minutes. Stir.6. Spoon into service container; garnish with green, yellow and red sweet peppers.7. * Chicken Stock: Dissolve 1 packet GRACE COCK SOUP MIX in 2 cups of boiling water. Allow to stand for 10 minutes, then drain and reserve noodles for other use.

Chicken Curry In Coconut Milk

Now enjoy and eat! Recipe courtesy of Gracefoods.comWritten By: Aisha T. McDonald

MANIAC PARK

IHQ: Explain the name Maniac Park?

Maniac: Well back in the beginning our music was really mixed with a lot of dif-ferent sounds. People use to always tell me “yo your sound is crazy,” so from that we came up with the name Maniac.

IHQ: Are you guys signed?

Maniac: No, we are doing the independent thing right now.

IHQ: Did Ky-mani Marley discover you guys?

Maniac: Well I have been making beats for a long time, at first I was just learning as I went along, but gradually I got better and my name started getting out there. But basically Ky-mani heard about from my MySpace page. He contacted me about some beats and we just made the link from there.

IHQ: Who are your influences?

Maniac: Well I grew up listening to a lot of Bone Thugs & Harmony, Bob Marley, and Tupac. As far as right now I like Lil Wayne, Kanye amd Jay-z. But my biggest influence is definitely Bob Marley.

IHQ: How would you describe your sound?

Maniac: I would say we are different from anything out right now. Our music is really eclectic.

Producer/artist/engineer Lostsoul and rapper Sonny Daze make up the duo called Maniac Park. The group hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Not exactly the hotbed for ground breaking musicians, but their music encompasses the type of quality that belies the stereotype of South Floridian artistes. What you expect is not what you will hear. Track after track you are treated to a refreshing demonstration of vibrant beats succinctly produced down to the last hi-hat. In a recent interview with IHQ Magazine, the man behind the group’s sound Lostsoul - aka Die-Do from his days touring with dancehall artist Mr. Vegas - explained the formula for the group’s wonderfully uplifting sound

IHQ: What projects are you guys currently working on?

Maniac: We are working on a street album for my dude Sunny Daze scheduled to drop Nov 1st, 2011. We have got some big names featured on this mixtape. Rihanna and Ky-mani are on there.

IHQ: When should we expect an album?

Maniac: Well right now I’m working on some beats for Ky-mani for his upcoming project. But we do plan on putting out a street album first, probably sometime around January 2012. We’re gonna try and get some things in order first, so if the label thing doesn’t work we can still put out material independently.

IHQ: What comes first creatively, the track or the lyrics?

Maniac: The track comes first, then I create a hook, then Sunny Daze will add the rhymes

IHQ: What is like working with Ky-mani Marley?

Maniac: Oh it’s real cool. Ky-mani is like the first person to really reach out to us. We have gone on tours with him, like the Bob Marley fest. I mean ever since we linked up, we have really clicked.

IHQ: Where can fans get your music?

Maniac: Well they can check out my MySpace at Myspace.com/maniacpark or youtube. By next month we will have about 17 more songs on youtube. But as for now you can check our MySpace page. You can also reach me at twitter.com/maniacpark and Facebook.com/maniacpark.

EXPRESSION

Sell Off

Passa Passa

Pyah Pyah

Nose Naat

Whax Palax Bruggadown Brax

Zoutupeg

Sorey Borey

Sweet Woman

Fowl Teef

Front end Lifter

Charlie Choker

Goo-whe

Haadback

Hucks up

Blertnaat

Freshwater Yankee

Mampi

DEFINITION

A comment of approval regarding a successful endeavor.

Scandal similar to the Bahamian term “Sip Sip”

Weak or ineffectual.

A slippery secretion produced by mucous membranes.

Hit hard and fall

An uncouth person, a term usually reserved for females

who lack sophistication.

Scarred skin.

Other woman in an adulterous relationship, similar to matey.

To cheat or have an affair.

A beverage made from herbs with the intent to strengthen

the back to improve sexual prowers.

Tight pants on a male, i.e. skinny jeans.

Disrespectful dismissal, usually followed by a hand gesture

executed by the flick of your wrist..

An elderly person.

To grab someone by the collar.

An exclamation of surprise used in place of stronger profanities.

Someone who goes to the US for a short trip and comes back

with an American accent

A person stricken by extreme obesity

LAND OF USAGE

Jamaica

Jamaica

Jamaica

Jamaica

Barbados

Jamaica

Belize

Guyana

Trinidad

Trinidad

US Virgin Islands

Jamaica

Belize

US Virgin Islands

Jamaica

Trinidad, Guyana, US Virgin Islands

Jamaica

8. The Over Promoter: Filling my in-box with unwanted flyers for an event that’s going to flop anyway.7. The inspirational Quote Person: Keep your new found enlightenment to yourself.6. The take a picture every 5 minute person: No one cares.5. The cute girl that never shows her body: You are probably morbidly obese anyway.

4. The Fake Baller: Updating status with pictures of money after you just cashed your paycheck; stop it, just stop it.

3. The abject misery person: Never happy with their life. Posts usually read “If you don’t love me then leave.”

2. The Serial Poster: Telling you what they’re doing every 5 minutes, just leave facebook and join twitter.

1. The gamer: So what you are a Farmville genius, what is the point? Do you want a brownie? Are you craving the adulation of the masses? Trssssst (kiss teeth sound effect)!!

Through the Lens of

Nick Wallace startimekid.com

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MACHEL MONTANO

IHQ: Expectations at a Machel Montano concert?MM: Excitement, musical rapture,sheer enjoyment and your money’s worth. Th e greatest show ever.

IHQ: Th e only true international superstar in the genre. An accurate assessment?MM: I would not say that is true. However, I think I have played a major role in bringing Soca to the international front and will continue to do so.

IHQ: Feeling when you watch a young Machel performing Too Young to Soca - Dimanche Gras?MM: I feel proud and I wonder “Who is that young man, and what inspired him”?

IHQ: Th e most diffi cult thing about growing up as a young musician?MM: Not having a regular childhood, having to sacrifi ce time for friendship in order to work.

IHQ: What is Machel going to be doing in the next 10 years?MM: Fulfi lling mainly my other dreams and fi nding ways to do what I have done better.

IHQ: Your place in Soca music both currently and historically?MM: Th e Innovator - Th e one who made Soca young, hip and fashionable. Getting appreciation of Soca by young people

IHQ: Doing songs with American Stars, Did you think you would reach such heights?MM: At some point that was my wish and when you work at it, dreams do come true.

I could introduce this legend of, not only Trinbagonian music, but world music, by giving you the dictionary defi nition of high defi nition and connecting it back to his name. Except, that it would not scratch the surface of what he has accomplished and the dizzying heights he has climbed to. Th is is a rare person that you can ask what does it mean to be arguably one of the best in history at your profession (or should I say, passion). Directly out of the mouth of Machel Montano, we will hear what it means to be Machel Montano. Not only that, IHQ is giving you the full HD experience, picking Machel’s brain for thoughts on everything from “Too Young To Soca” to superstardom (anybody who could sell out d Madison Square Garden is ah supastar to me), to what was the real scene with Carnival 2011 (T&T). You will now be privy to the thoughts of one of the most consistently prominent entertainers in a genre that he has been immersed in since his virtual infancy.

IHQ: What is your favorite Machel Montano song ever?MM: I love a lot of them but One More Time is special.

IHQ: What is your favorite soca song ever?MM: Don’t have one.

IHQ: Who is your favorite soca artiste ever?MM: Too many!

IHQ: What is playing on your iPod at this very moment?MM: Songs I’m writing, Bob Marley, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Black eye Peas, Vybz Kartel, Adelle, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Drake and Niki Minaj.

IHQ: If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?MM: A lawyer

IHQ: Word Association;

Trinidad & Tobago - ParadiseSoca - EnergyCalypso - HistoryCarnival - FreedomLord Kitchener - MelodyMighty Sparrow - ShowmanshipSuperblue/Blue Boy - SpiritDavid Rudder - SoulMachel Montano - LoveSoca Monarch - War

IHQ: Any fi nal message to all the Machel Montano fans out there?

MM: I love you all; you are a part of me. Th ank you!

IHQ: Dancehall Stars create their own renditions of soca tracks. What do you think is the current state of soca music around the world?MM: It’s evolving and expanding into wider audiences and into a sound appreciated and liked by many more.

IHQ: Where do you see Soca music in the years to come?MM: Much further than it is now.

IHQ: Th oughts on Soca Monarch and capturing your fi rst Soca Monarch title?MM: It was a great competition and a great honor to win the crown.

IHQ: DO you view the high level of competition displayed at Soca Monarch 2011 as a good or bad thing for the genre?MM: I think everything has good and bad in it. However, as Soca artistes we do need to work together more. Competition is good at times but we should compete at selling albums.

IHQ: Some people think your involvement was advantageous?MM: Well people are free to think what they want and back who they wish - You win some you lose some.

IHQ: No stranger to controversy, what you say to the Haters?MM: Th ank you, it keeps me going.

IHQ: Favorite place to perform and favorite carnival?MM: Trinidad is my favorite carnival but I cherish all the places I go to perform for their diff erent experiences.

IHQ: Give me a funny or embarrassing story from all your years as an artiste/per-former.

MM: When i sang Too Young To Soca at Dimanche Gras and my diaper kept fall-ing. For all the years that followed, people wondered whether it was staged or costume malfunction. Th ey never found out!

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Written By: Ajax Syntax Photo Courtesy of Jermaine Cruickshank

Editor In Chief &

Co - President Kenneth Spence

Marketing Director &

Co - PresidentMario Lawson

Art DirectorVeon Watson

vwats.com Contributors

Tiffany Lawson Tammy Spence

Aisha McDonald Photographers

Lead Photographer: Nick Wallace

Roger B. Stillz

Thanks to all our family & friends

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Editor In Chief &

Co - President Kenneth Spence

Marketing Director &

Co - PresidentMario Lawson

Art DirectorVeon Watson

vwats.com Contributing Writers

Ajax SyntaxAisha McDonald Photographers Roger B. Stillz

Jermaine Cruickshank

Lead Photographer: Nick Wallace

Thanks to all our family & friends

Please Support Our Advertisers

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