Features
Newsday
Legendary sound system selector Ricky Trooper of Sound Trooper comes to southern Trinidad for the first time in his career for this year’s Sound 7 Culture Festival at Price Place in La Brea on August 24 from 4:00 p.m.
Jamaican Trooper is considered one of the best selectors in sound system culture and has a legacy of “slaying sounds” across the globe, spanning the past four decades.
He rose to stardom when he joined the timeless Killamanjaro sound system in the 90s. Trooper’s unique style of dubbing and his animated stage presentation made him one of the most feared selectors around the world, especially with Killamanjaro. He gave them the name “Killing Machine”.
However, in 2000, he parted ways with Jaro and formed his own sound system, Sound Trooper. Since then, he has used his knowledge and experience in the art form to carefully build Sound Trooper into another global brand and great sound.
Sound Culture Festival 7 is being organized by Culture Blend and Silva Cat sound systems.
Event organizer Ravon Daniel, CEO of Culture Blend said the festival was conceived because there had been a huge decline in sound system culture in Trinidad and Tobago. He chose to “renew the energy” and hosted the first edition in 2018.
“Back then, a lot of people didn’t really understand or be exposed to sound system culture. The festival started with about ten people and we did it for six years in a row, free of charge to the public. All expenses were at Culture Bend.”
Daniel added that “word got out” and more people started coming out in support.
During the Covid19 pandemic, Daniel and his team used online streaming platforms to host the dubplate exhibition, and this allowed it to gain more traction internationally.
Due to the positive exposure and support, with fans streaming in from Japan and the UK, when the Covid19 restrictions were lifted, the organizers continued the live broadcast to facilitate their growing international audience.
Sharing the stage alongside Trooper will be some of TT’s finest sound systems, which have also made a name for themselves globally over the years.
Among them are Chosen Wunz, Taurus Movement, Xixgon International, Tek-9 Movements, Digital Entertainment, Zion Movements, Black Heart, Asif The Turntable Assassin, Skymaxx, Zodiak, Audio Menace, Black Dymond and Big Life Sound.
Reggae artist Prophet Benjamin, who hails from nearby Point Fort, and Malabar’s Jahllano close the event.
