The Stream

Soca’s rising star: Nailah Blackman

Trinidadian singer joins us to perform her distinctive blend of East Indian and African rhythms.

The infectious rhythm of soca is an intrinsic part of Caribbean music, but it’s recently been making waves around the world. And one of the main reasons: the songs of soca’s rising star Nailah Blackman.

She first broke onto the scene with “Work Out” in 2017 and since then her songs “O’Lawd Oye” and “Sokah” have been massive hits in the genre. Nailah is considered by some to be “soca royalty.” Her grandfather, Lord Shorty, is widely credited with inventing the genre, a combination of East Indian and African rhythms created to bring East Indians, Africans and Trinidadians together. In June 2018, Nailah was nominated in BET’s Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act category.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

 

Nailah Blackman, @nailahblackmantt

 

Read more:

The History of Sokah (Soca) – Sophia’s Blog
Nailah Blackman Carries the Legacy of Original Sokah Music in Her Blood – Noisey 

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