New Album from Banco Bizmol - "Last Man Standing"

Banco Bizmol, who hails from the Virgin Islands, released his album, "Last Man Standing," on September 20, 2023. He was the 2020 winner of the Virgin Islands Qua-rap-tine Battle. Banco Bizmol has built an impressive discography of music, including EPs, "Route 88" and "Banco Bizzo Day." This artist captured over one million views with the music video for "Who Boost," which featured Prince Swanny.

Here are the eleven tracks on "Last Man Standing."

"Double Down" featuring Iyaz
The first track on "Last Man Standing" features Iyaz, another Virgin Islands artist, who is well known for the 2009 hit "Replay." "Double Down" is an excellent opening for this album, which balances Iyaz's soulful vibe and Banco Bizmol's witty lyrics.

Lyric Snippet: "Every man does get a shine when the time right/ but when you get the shine/ better shine bright, do it dawg for the cause/ don't get lost in the sauce/ never do for the likes or limelight."

"Never Fold" featuring Pressure Buss Pipe
The song opens, "This is the making of my history/ preaching to the world/ do it lyrically like a ministry/ all respect to God for the blessings that He has given me/ feel like I could make it, thankful for my ability."

Pressure Buss Pipe, an internationally recognized reggae artist from the Virgin Islands, is featured in "Never Fold." The refrain reminds us, "Give up don't live around here."

"For Me"

This song offers a softer, lovey-dovey side of Banco Bizmol. With the soulful vibe, the artist delivers with cadence and deep lyrics. He chants, "I still giving out the love I ain't receive yet/ some people stab me in the back and leave me speechless/ if I overthink and push away, it's just a reflex."

"My Life" featuring Timo Makaveli
"Good days, bad days, down times, up times/
rough nights, backstab, friends bite, heart breaks/
love fights, hurts right? Sudden highs, goodbyes/
big lies change lives, soul ties, my life, my rights/
one shot, one strike, three points"

"My Life" features Timo Makaveli, an international recording artist from the Virgin Islands and a member of the duo Rock City.

"Something to Say"
"You gotta keep going when you fed up/ it got times I feeling to quit but my people be like nah dawg keep your head up/ focus on music and go get your bread up/ shoot for the stars and see where you end up."

As the lyric snippet shows, the artist definitely has something to say in this track. He shares his journey about how his music and life have evolved.

"All Going Shine" featuring Theron Theron
Theron Theron is the other half of international recording duo, Rock City. In "All Going Shine," Banco Bizmol re-emphasizes his philosophy.

He chants, "Doing my thing, don't hate - just watch/ come from ground but we going up top/ I ain't going stop till they put we on the map/ and they fully realize that we more than a dot/ things ain't right but I love my life/ real ones in the pic, fake ones getting cropped."

"Fully 8" featuring Kalonji
"Fully 8" features Kalonji, who is known for "Apply Pressure" and "Chop Stick."

Lyric Snippet: "Lotta them a yes men, all they say is "Yes, Boss"/ I don't really talk much, I don't really take talk/ I be trying to keep calm, but my head sick, dawg/ I does see the devil on my shoulder with the pitchfork."

"Whole Time" featuring Th3rd
"I does go through the street like a Cadillac/ I maneuver the beats like an Acrobat/ mehn, this **** could get sticky like cataract/ cause we up like we deh on a flight/ cut off the ones who were there for the hype/ I see the duppie-dem, I see the blights."

"Whole Time" features Th3rd, who is also from the Virgin Islands. Th3rd's discography includes "Heartbreaker," "Best Things," and Higher."

"Retaliation" featuring Pediko
Banco Bizmol does not disappoint in "Retaliation". This high-energy track features Pediko, another Virgin Islands artist. We know Pediko from his tracks, "Bacck Seat" and "Grease" and his feature on Pressure Buss Pipe's "Who Feels It Knows It."

Lyric Snippet: "Just run your race, dawg, trying to keep my name good/ always need a face card/ n***as think they booming but it sound like the bass gone/ blind to the bull ****/ I feeling like Ray Charles."

"Donz Dem"
"Donz Dem" is another lyrically hitting track with Banco Bizmol's usual on-point delivery.

Lyric Snippet: "People always want to bring news and it don't even be the right set/ move on with your fake ***/ when I gone is bad talk and when I there is big laugh/ study long and you playing wrong/ in the game, you gotta think fast/ they be saying I the one now/ but I used to get picked last."

"No Problems" featuring DynamiQ
DynamiQ's discography includes "Dangerous," "Send Dem Home" and "Bad Inna Real Life."

Lyric Snippet: "I going hard till my last breath and my heart stop in my chest plate/ me and life in a chess game/ make the right moves and I checkmate/ one shot - get your best take/ don't want fame - we want estates/ and real moments that breathtaking - a blessed place."

Banco Bizmol absolutely delivers a powerful album with these eleven tracks on "Last Man Standing." You will enjoy the featured artists' performance, catchy instrumentals and Banco's usual on-point lyrical delivery. I commend this artist and his team another awesome release because the album is enjoyable from track one to track eleven.

POEM: Broken

too light for a burden

too bright for the vision

so much light on the path

of my inconceivable past

it's all revealed

in my inconsistent parallels

with the deceivably and diagonally designed

pieces of my mind

an interloping intertwine

of randomly revealed revelry

to be truthful

I possess no camaraderie

because I'm drearily built for

anti-socially sociable solitude

my attitude is not the most

commendable force

as it is usually the unfortunate source

of my wreckless bearings

confused utterings and irrefutable mutterings

although I'm hurting

because my stomach

is bursting

from trying to digest my feet

because we don't

like to admit

that we worship seats

yes, be seated for the

next session

of broken impressions

incessant ravings

unsettled cravings

and yet I stand

light as a feather

brightness dimmed

my past in front of me

© Linette Rabsatt

Book Review of "Flying 16" by Alexandra Psaropoulou

I first interacted with Alexandra Psaropoulou at an online poetry reading last year. Most poets recite their pieces during the recitals. However, Alexandra shared her screen to reveal intense yet soothing artistry while she read her poem. She also captured me with her performance because her voice was breathtaking. Alexandra composes her poetry with an immense vocabulary that often has me searching on Google for definitions.

During one of the more recent online poetry events, Alexandra shared that she has books available on Kindle. I logged on and searched for "Flying 16: New age, illustrated poetry books, taking the reader on an uplifting, spiritual flight. (The Flying series) [Print Replica]," which is part of her "Travelling beyond: Illustrated poetry books."

As I shared above, Alexandra's performance is encapsulating and energizing. As I read Flying 16, I imagined her voice performing the piece.

The poem begins,

 
"Do they know
the throbbing
of my aura
is shaped with
storms and sunrises..."

The author then takes the reader on a journey filled with beautiful and artistic displays as she wends her words and tells her story. This poem challenges the reader to consider spirituality, conscience, nature, empowerment, and self-awareness. Alexandra makes natural references to the "shimmering oceans" and "olive trees" while pushing your mind to wonder about "Gaia's expression of wedded earth and sky" and "Panentheism." The poem is rhythmic with its tone and references to instruments and other movements that can be musical.

The author shared that Flying 16 is "...a poetical, philosophical, metaphysical, linguistic journey."

"Do they know
the euphoria
of my triumphs
is shaped with
steel and devotion
pyrrhic dances
and ecstasies..."

Alexandra's work will challenge, amaze, and awaken you. She is a talented wordsmith who masterfully intertwines her words with art. I highly recommend her for her written work and performance.

Out of Breath by Linette Rabsatt - Entry for The Poetry Archive Now! WordView 2023

Here is my entry, "Out of Breath" for the The Poetry Archive's Poetry Competition. Do like, comment and share! 

https://youtu.be/bViaoBqJlWg?si=yZEhQQBTyLfQmJQz

POEM: Visually Versed

visually versed
in virtual form
in the endless storm
of my thoughts
gives me
poetic license
to fly freely
across the spectrum
of wizardry
whimsicality
and wild dreams
manipulating time
intensely
disturbing
the wavelengths
of all that exists
in my head
too many ideas
too many concoctions
that lead to misdirection
deflection and insurrection
no room for hiatus
just hallucinations
and hyperaction

© Linette Rabsatt

Virgin Islands Talent on the Rise: Renique

Renique, aka Tymia Fahie, is an eighteen-year-old singer from The Virgin Islands who aspires to become a world-renown artist. People know her from the local Gen-Y Factor Competition and her performance at the 2022 Elmore Stoutt High School Valedictory Service. I featured her in my 2020 BVI Youth on the Rise article with other young creatives and entrepreneurs. Renique shares her inspiration, supporting cast, plans, and ideas in this article.

Renique's Musical Journey
Renique shared, "I started singing when I was approximately two years old. It was at my church's Christmas concert when I bravely took the stage." She comes from a family that loves music. Her father is an avid old-school reggae fan. Her mother sang in a church choir and was a member of an all-girl singing group. She stated, "I guess it’s fair to say that music is within me." Renique sings at her home church and other sanctuaries when invited to perform.

Who Writes Your Songs?
She shared: "I write the lyrics to all my songs. Sometimes, I share what I write with a friend to get feedback. Constructive criticism comes more from my mom."

"Liar"
Renique's latest release is "Liar." She wrote "Liar" after a friend told her about a recent breakup. "The things that she told me - I kept in mind and added the additional words to create the song. That’s how the song got its title, “Liar.” "Liar" was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Brent Hoyte and Jougo in November 2022.

Lyric Snippet: "But things have changed and I see who you really are/ You're out here collecting hearts in a jar/ You lied to me/ Said that you gon' ride for me."

Renique's Inspiration
Renique shared that her inspiration comes from "things that happen in life, not just mine, but things that I see on a day-to-day basis."

Renique's Favorite Track of Hers
Renique shared that her favorite track she has created is “Heal Me.” She has not released "Heal Me" yet, but she is working to share it soon.

Advice to Youths Wanting to get into Music
According to Renique, "My advice would be to stay focused and remember that good things take time. And always put God first."

Renique's Proudest Moment
Renique said that her proudest moment was winning the 2023 TropicSpin Music and Song Competition with her video for "Liar." According to TropicSpin, the competition was open to "musicians and singers who have not won any national, regional, or international awards." According to Arawak Media and Caribbean Magazine Plus, "Liar" was declared the winning song after amassing "the most votes on [the] platform after all the votes were tallied. No one else came close." They also shared that entries came from Colombia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Grenada, and other countries.

Something Most People Don't Know About Renique
She said, "I'm an introvert at heart."

Renique's Message to the World
Her message to the world is: Be yourself - real people will accept you for who you are."

Who Renique Listens To
Renique enjoys old-school music, including Percy Sledge and Otis Redding. She shared, "When it comes to finding inspiration for writing my music, it would be Ann Marie, Tink, Sydney Renae, Sam Smith, and Antonio Sanders - mostly R&B artists.

Shout Outs
Renique would like to thank everyone who has supported her with her music. She would like to highlight the following persons:

• "Shout out to my mother for getting me to and from my studio sessions."
• "Shout out to Tre, Oreo for their listening ear and telling me what could be fixed and done better."
• "Shout out to Mrs. Desiree Flanders-Harrigan and the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports for allowing me to share my music with The Virgin Islands community."

This young singer is a talented performer and lyricist with immense potential. Please subscribe to Renique's Facebook, Soundcloud and YouTube pages for updates and new releases.

POEM: Out of Breath

panting while I stand still
it's like I'm haunted
or maybe I'm hunted
I can hardly catch my breath
it's not like I'm close to death
but the breadth of my pressures
knock my wind out
and even though the pain
winds down
I whine constantly
I'm not a wine drinker
but I am an overthinker
classified as a sunk cost
described as a soul that's lost
and as my heart overbeats
and my breath cannot be controlled
my mind is swimming
while my hair keeps thinning
and breaking and shedding
like a feather plucking bird
in a destructive behavior
I am in constant upheaval
in a consistent erracticness
never without distraction
disagreement
and disgust
with no rescue diver
no designated driver
and no CPR giver
I pant
as I
stand still

© Linette Rabsatt 2023