Antiguan & Barbudans call foul after ‘Kentucky’ star’s loss

By Alicia Simon - Monday, February 20th, 2012.
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ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Some Antiguans & Barbudans have expressed displeasure with local artiste Hard Knaxx’s loss at the International Soca Monarch Competition in Trinidad on Friday.

The current jumpy soca king and Road March winner represented Antigua & Barbuda in the power segment of Saturday’s show, performing his song “Kentucky,” but failed to place in the top five.

One caller to the Serpent’s Snakepit concluded, “I think we waste time sending artistes down there to perform. It doesn’t make any sense… In a million years they are not going to win anything.”

This sentiment has been echoed again and again on radio and in conversations throughout the island.

Hard Knaxx himself responded to the reactions in an interview with OBSERVER.

“People say that because it’s true.” He continued, “In Trinidad they mostly play their music … they push their own all the time, 24-7.”

The artiste conveyed that aspects such as fireworks, confetti and stage lighting were not delivered during his performance.

“I see that as not being professional enough at the night of the show, by paying for everything and not getting nothing … It’s like a bias thing,” Hard Knaxx said.

The artiste also claims that although the music was fine in rehearsals it was lacking on the night of the show.

“The band didn’t catch the music how I wanted to catch it. The presentation wasn’t put on how we planned and paid for it, but I went out and did my thing … did my best,” he said.

The lack of crowd support was also evident to Hard Knaxx. “Everybody was still … standing and watching as I’m doing my performance.”

He believes that the lack of audience response was because his song received little airplay.

However, Hard Knaxx said he does not dwell on the innuendos and remains in high spirits. He is calling the show a “win-win” situation.

“It’s a big thing, it’s a big achievement, even though I didn’t win. Everyone is still a winner,” Knaxx said.

He is awaiting confirmation of his placement that will be disclosed at a presentation today. The performer anticipates being awarded EC$60,000 for his performance.

After two months abroad the entertainer was slated to return home yesterday. He has already penned new songs, beginning preparations to defend his crown in August.

Machel Montano, who won first place in both the power and groovy segments of the competition dominated the Soca Monarch Competition.

Montano was followed by Iwer George, Destra and a tie between Blazz and Prophet Benjamin for the power division and Kerwin Dubois, Benjai, Nadia Batson and Kes in the groovy division.

Has anyone other than a Trinidadian won a Soca Monarch? I didn't know they were so bias.

yes Biggie Irie from Barbados won Groovy Soca Monarch in 2007

They boldface an outta place....they thought he woulda place wid dah bullshit kentucky???? buck buck buck buck?...Trinidad got enuff fukry songs out in dey own right like dah bucket shit..u tink u cud come from antigua cluck dong d place bout kentucky chicken an win soca monarch....steups....

The International Soca Monarch is a show with majority Trinbagonian artists with artists from other soca nations. It has always been a show where there are a lot of Trinbagonian artists and 1 person from a few other nations. To me unless the song real sweet one of the popular natives from Trinidad and Tobago will usually win.

When I was at International Soca Monarch in 2011, I had a ball. I was in in the front so I can see everything going on in the stage live and direct and to have the most fun. A lot of the people in the front was real wild sometimes but it was fun.

I did not care if the person performing was a Trini or a person from SVG I danced. I obeyed commands from the singers to wave, jump or whatever. Of course I partied harder for my favorites but I danced for all since it is not an easy thing to get in front of a crowd of people and try to move them. I gave them that respect. Plus I was open minded so I can enjoy myself.

I did not go to one of the biggest Carnival shows to stand up... I was going to dance.
If I was there this year, I would have danced too for Hard Knaxs. I will be back later to talk about what I think about the song.

Trinidad/International Soca Monarch
1993 - Superblue - Bacchaanal Time
1994 - SuperBlue - Flag Party
1995 - Ronnie McIntosh - On The Road
1996 - Superblue - Bounce
1997 - Ronnie McIntosh - Ent + Superblue - Barbara (Tie)
1998 - Super Blue - Ato Party
1999 - Kurt Allen - Dus Dem
2000 - Super Blue - Pump Up
2001 - Shadow - Stranger
2002 - Bunji Garlin - We From de Ghetto + Iwer George - Gimme Ah Bligh (Tie)
2003 - Iwer George - Ah Home
2004 - Bunji Garlin - Warrior Cry
2005 - Bunji Garlin - Blaze de Fire
2006 - Shurwayne Winchester - Ah Can't Wait
2007 - Iwer George - Fete After Fete
2008 - Bunji Garlin - Fiery
2009 - Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez - Meet Superblue (First female winner)
2010 - JW & Blaze - Palance [2]
2011 - Machel Montano - Advantage
2012 - Machel Montano - Pump Yuh Flag

International Groovy Soca Monarch
2004 - Michelle Sylvester - Hone
2005 - Michelle Sylvester - Sleeping In Your Bed
2006 - Shurwayne Winchester - Don't Stop
2007 - Biggie Irie - Nah Goin' Home
2008 - Shurwayne Winchester - Carnival Please Stay
2009 - Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez - Heavy T Bumper
2010 - Shurwayne Winchester - Murdah
2011 - Kes The Band - Wotless
2012 - Machel Montano - Mr.Fete

__________________

When You Get.. Give.... When you learn... teach (Maya Angelou)

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Let us work with others to change our communities.

If you have to make a statement about a large group of people please phrase things better nah.

Who is they??

I am Trinbagonian and fuh damn sure I eh biased. Let's put things into context. Let us think about the show itself and the odds stacked against a non-Trini winning

See my post above also.

__________________

When You Get.. Give.... When you learn... teach (Maya Angelou)

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Let us work with others to change our communities.

An article does not compare to seeing and hearing the performance by this artist.


Song alone




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Video for Song





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Singer live Antigua Carnival 2011




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Singer live Trinidad and Tobago (not Soca Monarch eh)



Anybody have the performance from Saturday at Soca Monarch?

__________________

When You Get.. Give.... When you learn... teach (Maya Angelou)

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Let us work with others to change our communities.

now this! is sad...

sounds like a syndicate thing goin on..

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After me tell dem run de marathon
dem couldnt run it!
after me tell dem bun dung de dance
dem couldnt bun it!!

Buju

The performance on youtube

Do you have a moment to embed it here? I would love to see it as I watched the others.

__________________

When You Get.. Give.... When you learn... teach (Maya Angelou)

Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Let us work with others to change our communities.

I cant even sit here and fight for Hard Knaxx or whatever he name is, people asking what going on with Antigua Soca.

he should go in a dark corner and siddung..

I wonder why Antigua kicking up de biggest fuss when their artist was actually the worst, they say dey wanna boycott TNT soca and artistes because Trinis are selfish.

They say dey sick of Antiguans idoloizing Trini artists but Trinis only support their own and disrespect other music.

Well dating back to the Bajan invasion, Trinis have embraced foreign music and artists. If u nah make the grade..u nah mek it.

I believe this is the performance from couple days ago.

bok bok bok

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