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Bunji Garlin Since his debut in 1998, Bunji Garlin has taken the dancehall soca genre and turned it into his musical kingdom. His raspy chant and dancehall background, combined with pulsating soca rhythms and the energy with which he performs, have earned him many loyal subjects, who ensure his position as 'King of Ragga Soca and Ragga hip hop'. Bunji started composing material as a teenager for school competitions. His success at that level encouraged him to enter similar competitions and to perform at parties in and around his hometown of Arima.By age 18, he had developed a unique chanting skill on account of his exposure to dancehall music. He soon realised that being a dancehall act in Trinidad’s mainly soca industry was both a novelty and a liability. As such, in late 1998 he collaborated with Daryl Braxton, a young and very talented producer, to create a soca/dancehall track titled Send Dem Riddim Crazy. Bunji performed the song every chance he got, and soon everyone had caught the 'Bunji bug' and the song was everywhere. With this track, Bunji placed third at the Ragga Soca Monarch, his first competition at a professional level.After the carnival season, he travelled the Caribbean and performed at carnival celebrations worldwide. On his return, he signed with IP Music International, headed by Ian Pantin and Daryl Braxton, and began work on a full-length soca album. Bunji worked with top local producers and composed all the material. His rhythms ranged from pumping soca to Latin flavours, and slower dancehall grooves. The Chronicles was a smashing success and helped catapult Bunji into soca superstardom. For the 2000 carnival season, his tracks Brass, Breakaway and Bad Man enjoyed heavy rotation on radio stations, both locally and abroad. He performed at all major fetes and appeared in such competitions as the Soca Monarch, Young Kings and Ragga Soca Monarch. With the track Chant Down Babylon, Bunji captured the Ragga Soca Monarch title. For Carnival 2001, Bunji continued to promote the diversity of his lyrical gift. Blessings, a popular favourite with fans and critics alike, enjoyed a great deal of radio airplay. Bunji collaborated with the Bajan soca band Square One on the single Ready to Get On, and also recorded the duet Party Start with soca legend Super Blue. Bunji scored big with wins in the Ragga Soca Monarch competitions (he performed Licks). With his monster hit Fete is Fete, Bunji secured second place at the Soca Monarch competition. Bunji’s next offering is his first album for international distribution, entitled Revelation. This album will again feature his trademark 'Ghetto Breed' phrases, nitty gritty lyrics and hard-hitting rhythms. To flavour this mix, he has chosen to collaborate on some tracks, including with the internationally-renowned R&B group Allure on a song entitled Bump. Although he participates in and frequently wins competitions, Bunji Garlin’s main focus is, and always will be, pleasing his audience and remaining true to his art form. DISCOGRAPHY: 2007 - Global, 2006 - Next Direction, 2004-Graceful Vengeance, 2003-Black Spaniard, 2002-Revelation |
