‘Bad Company’ earns Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper Soca crown

The win at this year’s Soca Monarch competition was for the people and by the people, according to Delroy “Fireman” Hooper.

“My people win the crown. You ever hear me say me? Is not me win, is them,” Hooper told SEARCHLIGHT days after taking his 13th Soca Monarch title with his song “Bad Company”.

The veteran entertainer, always hard to beat in any arena he enters, won EC$60,000 in prize money, and said he went into the competition confidently.

He explained that the song “Bad Company”, a piece he had in his musical vault since 2019, is a message as are all his songs.

“Everybody went through that, hearing your parents telling you keep from bad company, but this one is just the musical.

“If you notice, the song had the message where I told the children at the end to stay away from bad company.”

Hooper said that he gave a stern warning at the end of his performance on Saturday about staying in school and keeping away from drugs and guns.

Asked about persons who say repeatedly that he should stay out of the Soca Monarch contest, Hooper said he is all about culture and not fame.

“I am the ruler of the land,” he affirmed.

In relation to the recent destruction caused by Hurricane Bertyl and the effect it had on Vincymas 2024, Hooper said he would have been supportive of any decision the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) made in relation to the carnival festivities.

“My heart tears and goes out to everyone who lost their lives and property…a postponement would not have affected me, and we always have to be good to everyone,” he noted.

“This one is very touching, the people in the Grenadines never got anything like that, we have experienced it on mainland, it is shocking to them.” Hooper said as well that he and his team members are willing to do whatever they can to help.

“I want us to keep them in thoughts and prayers and make sure everything is good, and let’s hope that they get all the help they need,” Hooper commented.

Hooper’s 13th Soca Monarch win means that he now has 18 crowns attributed to Vincymas; the others being three Ragga Soca titles and two Road March wins.

Coming in second in this year’s competition was Derron “Magikal” Rouse with “Fully”; while the duo Jahlil “Vyper” Williams and Klyvert “KTB” Browne with “Side Man”, placed third. In fourth place was Ozarie Matthews with “Front Teeth”.