ADMIRAL T was born on the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies. At the age of 16, he joined the DJ collective Karukera Sound System, introducing the world to his “unique fusion of dancehall, reggae, and soca music.” (AllMusic) Five albums later, he is one of the most celebrated dancehall artists of the French-speaking world, bringing his trademark radiance and positivity to every performance. His latest record, 2014’s I Am Christy Campbell, features some of his most widescreen dance tracks to date, and hooks to send you home with.
Haitian compas band TABOU COMBO formed in 1968 in a suburb of Port-au-Prince, and has gone on to spread the sounds of the hometown around the globe. With a deep, merengue-meets-funk sound, they became the first Haitian band to perform in Japan, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, and the first Caribbean band to have a #1 in the French Top 40. They boast nearly forty alumni, making them more of an ongoing force in the compas community than a traditional band. Songs in English, French, Spanish, and Haitian Creole reflect their variety of backgrounds and influences. DJ SPIKE T.I., a regular at SOB’s and an avid collector of Soca, Zouk, and Hip Hop, sets the vibe with a set of his favorite finds.