Finalists selected for Ragga Soca, Soca Monarch

Hundreds of patrons came out last Saturday to witness 50 artistes fight for a spot in the 2018 finals of the national Ragga and Soca Monarch competitions.

Saturday’s show, dubbed “Boarding Pass”, was held at the decommissioned ET Joshua airport tarmac and the judges must have had a tough time choosing who to give the available 23 places to, as all the artistes gave memorable performances.

Chosen to compete against the reigning Soca monarch Delroy “Fireman” Hooper were Joel “Tha Fugitive” Bibby, Johnroy “Mad King” Haywood, Keith “Grabba Finese” Charles, Tracy “Scarbz” Cozier and Kesslon “Sicko” Shallow, Kester “Flanka” Chapman, Chewalee Johnson, Recardo “Recka” Wilson, Dennis Bowman, Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle, Hance John, Antonio “Small Circle” Edwards and Shane “Hypa 4000” Husbands. This group has three former Soca Monarchs in the form of Dennis Bowman, Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle and Shane “Hypa 4000” Husbands.

Chosen to take part in the Ragga Soca category were Ozarie Matthews, Kamara “Keido” Foster, Shane “Hypa 4000” Husbands, Samantha “Sunshine” Bryant and Nadine “Nadiva” Bryant, Nickeisha “Nicki” Pierre, Jamalie “L-Pank” Stapleton, Shernelle “Skarpyon” Williams, Shena Collis, Fimber “Fimba” Jardine, Chewalee Johnson and Delroy “Fireman” Hooper.

This group will try to wrest the crown from the head of last year’s winner Hance John. The prize money for Ragga Soca has been raised from EC$9,000 to EC$15,000, while the Soca Monarch’s prize money remains at EC$25,000.