(TRINIDAD GUARDIAN) – The 2019 International Soca Monarch winner is in Trinidad and he is hoping to pick up another crown.
But soon after touching down on T&T shores, the Grenadian singer found himself defending the genre of music as he addressed criticism that some local soca artistes are responsible for men viewing women as objects, therefore contributing to domestic violence.
The comment was made by former Health Minister and San Juan/Barataria MP Dr Fuad Khan on the spate of domestic violence, which led to three women being murdered so far for the year.
According to Mr Killa, the mental health and well-being of men are the issues which should take focus and not soca music.
“Throughout the year sometime soca hardly playing and men killing women. I think society is mentally deteriorating in many other ways. I think you have more issues that are more pressing on the stressed nature of human beings in society than to try and blame something on the music. Music is what helps people to actually free stress, free their problems, and also frustration. Soca is medicine.”
Mr Killa whose real name is Hollice Mapp, took home the 2019 title with his song Run Wid It. He said he is looking forward to Carnival 2020 and he anticipates that his song The Storm will pick up steam.
“I am a man going to be the leader of the storm and I know definitely in Trinidad there are going to be some dread storm hunters. Arm up yourself with yuh rag, with yuh flag, go to the gym get fit and we get ready to move something, to shake something, to sway, make the soca breeze blow.”
And he said fans can soon expect to see him alongside some international artistes later this year.
“There is a collaboration we are going to launch for the summer, its Mr Killa, Barrington Levy, Shaggy and Capleton on one track and it’s going to be soca flavoured.”
And when it comes to dancehall music being played in soca fetes, Mr Killa said it’s no threat to the culture.
“I don’t think we should be afraid of anything playing amongst the soca music because when Carnival time come there is nothing that can beat soca and I feel even outside of Carnival right now soca is a force to be reckoned with.”