VP RECORDS DELIVERS THE SUMMER SOUNDTRACK FOR REGGAE AND SOCA MASSES WITH THEIR LONG-STANDING ANNUAL SERIES

Soca Gold 2016 (Out This Fri. June 24) & Reggae Gold 2016 (Out July 22)

For over two decades, the popular VP Records’ series consistently delivers the year’s more influential hits and showcases musical trends in reggae and dancehall. Available July 22, Reggae Gold 2016 maintains its heralded reputation and also features a bonus DJ mix disc by Chromatic Sound, “the taste of Jamaican youth” (The Fader). Jamaican music comes in many forms and facets and continues to push boundaries. Reggae Gold 2016 showcases the island’s diverse range – from dancehall and roots reggae to it’s influence in contemporary pop, EDM and Top 40.

Whether it is the #1 Billboard Top 100 single “Cheerleader” from OMI or the club banger “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” from super producer Jamie xx featuring Young Thug & Popcaan, the album has no shortage of mainstream appeal.

The compilation also features a heavy dose of dancehall from some of the most in-demand, breaking artists like Tanto Blacks (“Real Rich”), Alkaline (“Champion Boy” and “A Bagga Tings (Radio),”) and Chi Ching Ching (“Way Up N Stay Up” feat. Popcaan & Beenie Man). Following the success of Busy Signal’s Major Lazer collab “Watch Out For This (Bumaye)” (that received over 100 million YouTube views), the dancehall ambassador is back with more fire on “Watch Me Now,” the current theme song to international ad campaigns with LG Smartphoneand Smirnoff.  Dancehall’s reigning Queen of the Stage Spice also leads the pack with her latest dance craze “Needle Eye,” which already boasts over 4 million video views.

Summer romance is in the spotlight on Romain Virgo’s “Caress Me,” the soulful singer Ikaya’s “Love Note” and emerging roots vocalist Kelissa’s “Best Kept Secret (Locked Away).”

On a conscious tip, the set opens with the aspirational anthem “My Dream” from rising Jamaican reggae singer Nesbeth and closes with socially enlightening track “The Message” from Bunji Garlin and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley.

Fans will also get a chance hear some of the new sounds of the summer, including Christopher Martin’s R&B reggae thumper “Under The Influence” and Gyptian’slatest single “Jiggle Jiggle.”

This versatile collection proves that Jamaican music is and will always be impactful, innovative and indestructible.
TRACK LISTING (with video links)

1. My Dream-Nesbeth
2. Champion Boy-Alkaline
3. Watch Me Now – Busy Signal
4. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times) – Jamie xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan
5. Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix) (Radio edit) – OMI
6. Under The Influence-Christopher Martin
7. Jiggle Jiggle-Gyptian
8. Way Up N Stay Up -Chi Ching Ching, Popcaan & Beenie Man
9. A Bagga Tings (Radio)-Alkaline
10. Real Rich-Tanto Blacks
11. Bogle Move-Elephant Man
12. Needle Eye-Spice
13. Chinese Jordan-Dexta Daps
14. Caress Me-Romain Virgo
15. Best Kept Secret (Locked Away) – Kelissa
16. Dash Wata-Raging Fyah
17. Love Note-Ikaya
18. Whom Shall I Fear-Bulby York feat. Assassin & Tenor Saw
19. The Message -Bunji Garlin feat. Damian ‘Jr. Gong” Marley

For 22 years strong, the VP Records Soca Gold compilation series has become the staple release to the genre, rounding up the most in-demand songs from this Caribbean carnival season.

Highlights for Soca Gold 2016 (available Fri. Jun 24) include Teddyson John’s “Allez” (1M YouTube views), Hypasounds’ “How She Like It” (1M YT views) and Ricardo Drue’s “Professional” (500k YT views). The 16-track release -like its annual predecessors-maintains soca’s signature uptempo sound that is a continued influence on contemporary pop and electronic dance music.

Soca Gold includes soca ambassador Machel Montano’s “Better Than Them” feat Timaya and Peternsky’s “Non Stop” – two of the latest hits on the popular reggaeton flavored Jambe-An rhythm which spawned Charly Black’s chart-topper “Party Animal.”  In “Non Stop,” Peternsky declares, “let me take you to Trinidad and Tobago, we are the greatest land of calypso.” Soca Gold will take you on a sonic tour of the Caribbean carnival.

The CD release of Soca Gold 2016 is packaged with a 40-minute bonus DVD featuring exclusive LIVE performances from Trinidad & Tobago carnival and music videos that that provide an authentic carnival experience. The sensual imagery of the Soca Gold cover art is another hallmark of the series. Photographer Rayon Richards photographed cover model Noella Diaz, who both conveyed the beauty and colorful energy synonymous with Caribbean carnival, for this year’s edition.
For a comprehensive look back on great moments in Soca Gold history, follow the VP Records Spotify playlist smarturl.it/BSGSpotify and visit https://www.facebook.com/socagold for more information.
TRACK LISTING:
1. Allez-Teddyson John

2. Plenty- Skinny Fabulous
3. How She Like It- Hypasounds
4. Better Than Them- Machel Montano & Timaya
5. Non Stop- Peternsky
6. Leh We Fete- Rikki Jai
7. Professional- Ricardo Drue
8. Carnival Today- Bunji Garlin
9. Hands In The Air- Fay-Ann Lyons
10. All Ah We- Peter Ram
11. Money Done- Patrice Roberts
12. For All Ah Dem- Problem Child
13. Heart Of Me- Edwin Yearwood & Giselle (The Wassi One)
14. Bum Bum- Bass AKA Trilo- G
15. Wid You- Statement
16. Spread out- Tony Prescott