Semifinalists For First International Bashment Soca Monarch Competition Announced

At 3:00 PM this afternoon, during a live-stream on their Facebook page, Yello Barbados announced the twenty-five semi-finalists for the first Yello International Bashment Soca Monarch Competition, which will be held at Kensington Oval on July 6th. After two years of the Bashment Soca Monarch Competition being limited to Barbadian soca artistes, 4D Entertainment – the producers behind the competition – decided to open it to regional and international artistes. Local Bashment Soca artiste Stiffy has won the competition in its first two years.

The prize for this year’s international competition is $80, 000 BBD (or $40,000 USD), almost double last year’s prize of $50,000 BBD. There will be no second or third place prize in this competition; it is winner takes all. This year’s competition will also have a public voting component through the FindYello app, which will contribute to the determination of the twelve finalists in conjunction with the decision of a panel of twelve judges.

The twenty-five semifinalist are:

1. Big Red The DJ – “Pelt Back” (Barbados)
2. Coopa Dan – “Boom Boom” (Barbados)
3. DRC (Da Real Champ) – “Balance Pon It” (St. Lucia)
4. Dynamite – “Brave” (St. Vincent)
5. Enterprise Squad – “Issa Snack” (Barbados)
6. Freezy – “Badang” (St. Lucia)
7. Jagwa De Champ – “Face Down” (Barbados)
8. Jah Reddis – “Bamm Bamm” (Barbados)
9. Jus D – “Manager” (Barbados)
10. Kadiem – “Ben Ya Back” (Barbados)
11. Lil Rick – “Bend It” (Barbados)
12. Marzville – “Roughness” (Barbados)
13. Mole & Brucelee Almightee – “Aye” (Barbados)
14. Natahlee – “De Test” (Barbados)
15. Porgie & Murda – “Come Down” (Barbados)
16. Rhea – “Bounce” (Barbados)
17. Rubber Waist – “Jiggle It” (Guyana)
18. SK – “Despicable” (Barbados)
19. Scrilla – “Ooh Ooh” (Barbados)
20. Sita – “Hammer” (St. Vincent)
21. Stabby – “Tongue Out” (Barbados)
22. Stiffy – “No Boring Girls Allowed” (Barbados)
23. Timmy – “Get Dibby” (Barbados)
24. Unda Dawg – “Booty Bounce” (Barbados)
25. Verseewild – “Backway” (Barbados)

To learn more about the Yello International Bashment Soca Monarch Competition, visit their website.