Biography
3canal is a Rapso group from the Caribbean island of Trinidad. They began using the Jouvay of Trinidad’'s Carnival as their platform for expression in 1994. Three years later they ventured into the form of Rapso Music [a musical genre defined as the fusion of Rap and Calypso] to ‘make a statement’. “We never intended to be players in the music business, we started off by looking for solutions to some of the problems faced by artists coming from a place where the odds are stacked against you,” says Roger Roberts. Jouvay provided their platform; Rapso became the voice.
Their first song Blue (1997) was an immediate and spontaneous hit, and together with its video redefined the face of Rapso, Their 1999 single Talk yuh Talk, was powerful social commentary which became an anthem for the disadvantaged and dispossessed. “We are on a musical adventure and the Rapsoman’s mission is to educate and entertain. We have the freedom to ‘make a statement’, while ‘riding’ a powerful infectious riddem” says Stanton Kewley.
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3canal has since produced 9 Albums and 15 Jouvay Bands. Their latest single Boom Up History [Jan 09] is a call to reconnect to the stories coming from their birthplace {Trinidad] a call to replace contempt of self with Knowledge of Self, "We say Knowledge of Self Is a serious powerful dangerous powerful thing" says Wendell Manwarren.
In 2004 they produced their own musical production -The 3canal Show- a performance extravaganza collaborating with groups of young artistes in a Performance Workshop Lab, combining the disciplines of Theatre, Music and Mas [masquerade]. The now annual 3canal Show has become a fixture of The Trinidad Carnival Season.
3canal describe themselves as Rapso Soldiers on a mission to spread the power of the word, the message of Truth Love and Possibility.
Albums:
2009- JOY+FIRE
2007- 3:10
2006- 3canal Vibes
2005- Jab Jab say...
2004- The Best Of 3canal
2003- 2003canal [EP]
2001- Trinity
2000- Heroes of Wha?
1999- The Fire Next Time
1998- A Rakak Kie Bonay
1997- The Book of Blue
Jouvay Bands:
2008- SHINE
2007- Back2Blue
2006- Jouvay Warriors
2005- Jab Jab Take Over
2004- Iere Irie I
2003- X
2002- The Land of the Free
2001- Is Wha?
2000- Enter the Dragon
1999- Black Indian Nation
1998- Mud Madness
1997- Blue
1996- Jocks tuh Pose III
1995- Jocks tuh Pose II
1994- Jocks tuh Pose I
Soundtracks:
2000-Clear Water (from the production Clear Water, The Barbican Theatre, London)
2000-Wide Open (from the production Clear Water, The Barbican Theatre, London)
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.