iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

I didn't realise how much Amerie sounded like Mary J. Blige until I watched her Tiny Desk. Similar inflections and all. But more soprano.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Well...most of them were over 25. Mike City was 31.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

And there were challenges getting the sample cleared. It didn't stand a chance lol I always wondered why it didn't make the deluxe edition back then.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

The producer who put it on Soundcloud years ago mentioned that it was probably because it was similar to Stay the Night, Circles and Your Girl, and Mariah wanted more variety. It was a close race between that and Stay the Night and she chose the latter.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Trinidad is the central soca market. There's a reason why most of the music is released during our Carnival season: It is tied to our cultural expression. The leading artists in the genre are all Trinidadian. If you can't accept that then go argue with the ghost of Ras Shorty. Facts are facts.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

There is a glaring level of ignorance among people in the diaspora regarding soca music. Many don't know its history or cultural significance in Trinidad. Some even attempt to separate it from Trinidad, claiming "no one island can claim soca." That is bullshit. Soca is a Trinidadian genre.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Reggae is considered Jamaican genre, although it is performed globally. It was developed in a Jamaican cultural context and is tied to their national identity. Soca is a Trinidadian genre created by a Trinidadian in Trinidad for Trinidadians. Others have added to it but the music is Trinidadian.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Jamaica's carnival of today was started by Trinidadian people in the late 1980s. It doesn't have a cultural or historical foundation that makes it distinctly Jamaican. Regarding soca, it's a Trinidadian genre; invented in Trinidad by a Trinidadian for Trinidadians and it spread to include others.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Then I say keep it simple and focus on genres that are considered primarily African American in origin - jazz, gospel, doo wop, hip hop, disco, funk, house, go-go, etc. They may have wider diaspora influences and participation but the social, geographical and cultural contexts are African American.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

It's an interesting challenge because Caribbean people were also involved in the development of hip hop, etc. It's undeniably American but can't be divorced from the wider diaspora. Then there's salsa that is Caribbean but it took form in America, specifically NYC, thanks to Puerto Rican musicians.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Might be. There's also the cultural divide between Jamaica and Trinidad; the long history of competition and rivalry between the two. And the difference in the rhythms. Soca, especially music from Trinidad, is generally very different from dancehall and reggae. PS: Some Jamaicans love soca!

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Salsa and merengue are Caribbean genres.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

It's also important to understand that Caribbean musics as well as releases from the rest of the diaspora influenced what those in America. It's a big exchange of ideas and culture. There would be no reggae or even hip-hop without calypso, for instance, which has roots in Africa.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

I was today years old when I found that the voice actress for Storm in X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men 97 was born in Barbados 🇧🇧 and raised in Canada. Caribbean people everywhere!

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

The joy in that title track and the way she uses her upper register. I wonder if it was the structural template for Mariah's Emotions single? The way it builds higher and higher with each chorus.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

The name of the book is Capitalism and Slavery, and Dr Eric Williams never ran for President. He was our first Premier in 1959 then first Prime Minister when we became an independent state in 1962. He later led us to became a Republic in 1976 when our first President, Sir Ellis Clarke, was appointed

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Reposted by Trini Trent 🇹🇹

Panyol 🇹🇹 @panyol.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Someone knows it! Dr Carol James (Biologist, honoured for her contributions toward people-centred environmental management 🇹🇹) “Haven’t seen them for decades! They make fabulous smoothies and punches because of the sweetness. Great to purchase slightly turned so you can eat over a longer timeframe!”

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Thinking of this one by Rebecca Ferguson today. It always speaks to me when I think of who and where I want to be ✨ Some black British pop and soul for your Sunday! music.apple.com/tt/album/run...

music.apple.com

Run Free by Rebecca Ferguson on Apple Music

Song · 2011 · Duration 3:12

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

She worked with them again + Layzie Bone and Bow Wow on Lil L.O.V.E. in 2007. She also had Krayzie with Brat on the I Still Believe/Pure Imagination remix in 1998 youtu.be/xj8npgf0BRc?...

youtu.be

I Still Believe / Pure Imagination (Damizza Reemix - Official HD Video)

YouTube video by MariahCareyVEVO

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Is there a university course on Mariah Carey? I think a study of her life and career as a case study of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality in American culture through the late 20th into the 21st century would be great. Mariah sits on a very unique intersection that hasn't been fully explored.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

If we are going to discuss black musics and culture in America or otherwise, it is important to acknowledge the existence and significance of the wider black diaspora. All of our contributions are valid and none of them were created in a vacuum.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

And I have heard instances when non-American black music is mentioned - usually by guests on said podcasts - and it is either brushed aside or mocked as somehow less important.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

I listen to several podcasts discussing black music and I find the glaring omission of black Caribbean, South and Central American, British and continental African works to be incredible.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

The challenge with how black music and culture is discussed in America that it often omits or ignores blackness outside of America or from non-African American communities. It also ignores the contributions of other groups of black people to African American cultural spaces (hip-hop, for example).

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

I finish! Well done. The only thing I would add is more context on the results of the election in Tobago and the now-confirmed TPP/UNC coalition. There is a parallel between Tobagonians' call for self-determination and those of the oilfield workers in southern Trinidad. Great work!

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

This is so well done! At first I thought the Red Wedding comparison was a bit much but the analogy really came together as the article unfolded. I particularly enjoyed the perspective on labour and its connection to party politics in the existing dominant duopoly! 🇹🇹

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Child, not the red wedding. Things aren't THAT bad 🤣 I will check this out!

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

I have so many words muted on this app that the timeline is QUIET 😅 It also shows me that I need to follow more people who talk about things I enjoy. Because clearly most of the folks I currently follow don't. And that's no shade.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Oh Tamone, there are so many lol Patra and Shabba Ranks are 90s dancehall. Bob is a taste of reggae. There dozens and dozens of other genres across the region. Of course, my bias is for soca and calypso, both of which come from Trinidad (my country).

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Over 1000?? And you've listened to them all? That's incredible! Do you listen to any music genres from the Caribbean?

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I heard the rumours of the Barbra Streisand/Mariah Carey/Ariana Grande collab back in February. But what I do feel even more curious about is the fact that Walter Afanasieff might be a producer on the album. If he worked on the song, it would be his first new track with Mariah since 1997.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

I really enjoyed Mwale Henry's analysis of the 2025 General Elections results in Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 There's so much to learn from how the campaigns were run and how successfully or unsuccessfully drummed up support from voters youtu.be/gcWSqjQ3x0A?...

youtu.be

Breaking Down the 2025 General Election Outcomes

YouTube video by TTT Live Online

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Shout out to @markchappelle.bsky.social for writing this! I also enjoyed @discowallflower.bsky.social and @joshjenks.bsky.social talking about EV3 on the Part of Us En Vogue podcast. En Vogue's work past their first two albums didn't play often here in Trinidad but I know "Don't Let Go"

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

How big is your record collection? I was just thinking of asking you that the other day because you know so much music. Do you listen to genres beyond R&B too?

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Many historical sites and important buildings in Trinidad and Tobago are neglected and falling apart. There's been good work by the most recent government but much more is needed. Here's an interesting piece by Jerome Teelucksingh newsday.co.tt/2025/04/24/r...

newsday.co.tt

Regression is the new normal - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

DURING the covid19 pandemic, one of the popular phrases was the "new normal." Today, I wonder if regression has become our new normal.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

It's Election Day here in Trinidad. Get your ASS up and VOTE.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Of course! You've done the work and you deserve all the success.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

I enjoy the show! You know so much about music. I love how you even know album tracks by every artist you interview.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

This latest episode of the We Sound Crazy podcast featuring Regina Belle is so good! I loved what she said about knowing and refining our gifts. Great job @itstamone.bsky.social @claudekelly.bsky.social and everyone on the team! youtu.be/CzQ3HhUfJPw?...

youtu.be

Regina Belle: From “A Whole New World” to R&B Icon - Greatest Hits Interview | We Sound Crazy

YouTube video by We Sound Crazy Podcast

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Reposted by Trini Trent 🇹🇹

josh @joshjenks.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Help. Podcast recommendation? For someone who loves Serial, This American Life, Heavyweight, and such.

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Does anybody here use Affinity Photo? I've been facing a challenge in an edit and just can't seem to find a way to resolve it: Exporting PNG selections keeps leaving traces of the background, no matter how much I refine or adjust the selection.

media.tenor.com

a woman wrapped in a plaid blanket sits at a table with a cup of coffee in front of her

Alt: Iyanla puts her head down in frustration

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Trini Trent 🇹🇹 @trinitrent.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

And part of that sacrifice means giving up the followers and engagement people got on the other app. People are willing to overlook the privacy concerns and hate on other app as long as they get their egos stroked with likes and retweets. They don't want change. They want attention.

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