Latest news with #Quan
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside Bouyon: How a Fusion of Local Folk Music & Digitized Instruments Gave Way to Dominica's Fast-Spreading Homegrown Genre
Last summer — and, for what it's worth, this summer as well — Quan, Litleboy and Trilla G's 'Someone Else' was inescapable across the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. Whether you were feting pon di road, out with friends, or humming along to your daily playlist, the song's infectious bouyon drums echoed across the region. Bouyon, the fast-growing genre originating from the island of Dominica, is poised to follow the footsteps of reggae, dancehall, soca and konpa as the next Caribbean genre to garner global attention — yet another major moment for a region that's wining on the precipice of another crossover wave. A mixture of traditional sounds and contemporary instrumentation and grooves, bouyon's origins reflect the generation-bridging essence of its composition. The term 'bouyon' roughly translates to 'soup,' and the pounding, syncopated percussion and high-octane tempos are normally paired with smooth crooners à la 'Someone Else,' or brash chant-adjacent delivery, perfect for a never-ending fete. More from Billboard Michaël Brun Talks Bringing BAYO Fest to Barclays Center Amid Trump Travel Ban & Increased ICE Presence in NYC Ye & Sean Combs' Son King Release 'Never Stop' EP, Including a Song Called 'Diddy Free' Ask Billboard: Here Are the Nos. 1 & 2 Reasons That the Hot 100 Has Been Historic This Month Cornell Phillip, one of the founding members of the bouyon-pioneering WCK Band (Windward Caribbean Kulture), tells Billboard the genre was born out of a few musical families in the mid-late 1970s. His older brother, Daryl Phillip, was a cultural officer, and he had the opportunity to document the traditional rhythms and dances of Dominica. As he brought the bands to the family house to record them, another brother named Ashton was learning how to use his Synchronic Sound System, giving the boys access to speakers, a mixer and other production tools. Ashton also bought a keyboard for Cornell and a bass guitar for Keith, another Phillip brother, once he took note of their musical inclinations. 'Boys being boys, we started to play along with the traditional instruments [that the bands our brother was recording played],' he tells Billboard. 'The boumboum [a hollowed wooden bwa kan] became the bass guitar, the syak and tambal [which are percussive instruments] became the drum machine, and the accordion turned into the keyboard. We couldn't play our own thing, so we joined them in our own way.' The brothers kept up their semi-digitized fusion of cadence-lypso and jing-ping (a kind of Dominican folk music), playing tea parties across the island. By the early-mid 1980s, 'hi-fis had taken over the music scene, and live bands weren't really playing in Dominica,' Phillip explains. 'My brother noticed that void, and we decided to take the other guys [friends from other musically inclined families] in to properly form a band together. That's how it all started.' WCK Band formally debuted with 1988's One More Sway, but it was 1990's Culture Shock, which housed early bouyon hits like 'Dance Floor' and the title track, that proved its breakthrough moment. By 1993's Forever, the band had perfected its bouyon blueprint, using it to craft 'Conch Shell,' one of its biggest hits — perhaps only rivaled by 'Balance Batty,' a timeless smash from 1995's Tou Cho Tou Flam. The band built on its cross-regional success with tours visiting the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. The group even graced the iconic Apollo Theater during this time. In the following years, bouyon continued its ascent across Dominica and the rest of the Windward Islands, especially Saint Lucia, evolving into subgenres like bouyon-soca and reketeng. Asa Bantan, one of the genre's current leaders and the voice behind hits like 'Wet Fete,' notes that alongside that development came the shift from bands to solo artists. 'If you was not in a band, you couldn't make it,' he says. 'You would have to join a band. But I was the first one [who] came out as a solo artist and took it to another level. [WCK's] 'Balance Batty' was probably the first bouyon crossover hit that reached other islands. Then, Triple K had one with 'Sousse.' [Around 2013], I performed 'Do Something Krazy' on the Ubersoca cruise [an annual seven-night soca festival at sea], and I was the only one there representing bouyon music at the time. When all those different artists heard my riddim, they recognized it was unique and different and wanted to hop on it.' Once soca giants like Bunji Garlin, Fay-Ann Lyons, Problem Child, Mr. Killa, Voice and Machel Montano took note of bouyon, they incorporated the genre into their own releases, like the latter's 2019 Motto-produced 'Issa Vibe.' As soca and bouyon artists began their cultural and sonic exchange, a new class of 'nasty business' bouyon acts emerged, marked by their penchant for 'rawer lyrics,' says Bantan. These artists, like Mr. Ridge, Reo and Nice, employ the same 'rough and commanding,' tone that Bantan, who's been a recording artist for two decades, says is paramount for bouyon vocalists, but their lyricism leans closer to X-rated fare than the socially conscious songwriting of the genre's roots. Today, bouyon is arguably the most popular style of music in Dominica, and its influence can be heard in several tracks from artists across the West Indies, especially during Carnival season. Bantan is probably the most popular stage performer in the genre, with his World Creole Music Festival entrances growing more elaborate each year. 'I've come in through the crowd on a horse as a king, one time I came out of a coffin, and another time I came in on a zip line over 15,000 people,' he reminisces. 'I've also come in an ambulance; I've come in a limousine as the president with bodyguards. Every year, I'm stepping it up another notch, and thousands of people look forward to what I'm going to do.' This year also marked the very first time Dominica hosted a Bouyon Road March competition during Mas Domnik, its annual Carnival celebration. Campaigned for, in part, by Emile Depooter, who previously managed WCK Band and Triple K, the separate bouyon category reflects the genre's growing influence on Carnival season. With just over a third of the vote, 'Rags' — a collaborative track from Trilla G, Shelly and Skinny Fabulous that melodically nods to The Greatest Showman's 'Never Enough' — won the inaugural Bouyon Road March title. Impressively, Shelly, the lead singer of Signal Band, also placed second and third alongside his bandmates with 'Bye Bye Bye' and 'My Band,' respectively. 'We had a lot of criticism over the years that Carnival time is not for Signal Band,' Shelly reflects. 'The consensus was that Carnival is not for us, and we are for the festivals and concerts instead. We made a conscious decision to change that narrative, and we did. When they kept calling our names for the results, that's what we worked hard for.' As bouyon continues its ascent and power players from other genres and islands turn their attention to Dominica, pioneers like Phillip welcome the outside investment, as long as true bouyon artists remain at the forefront. 'We as Dominicans have to be responsible because there is such a thing as fusion, but you have to be careful or you might lose the original form,' Phillip stresses. 'You can put a little R&B influence so that people in the States can relate, but we have to be careful to keep it organic and special to Dominica. We can't think so far outside the box that bouyon is eventually labeled as something else. Hopefully, one day soon our music will have its own classification. Music spreads love, so I want bouyon to go as far as it can — even Mars!' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
IOL News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
YouTube couple Rissa and Quan under fire for charging fans to unveil baby's gender
Famous YouTube couple, Rissa and Quan sparked online outrage after charging fans for an early access to their gender reveal. Image: Instagram Popular YouTube couple Clarissa Caleb and Shaquan Roberts, affectionately known as Rissa and Quan, are facing internet backlash for making fans pay $14,99 (R271) just to know the gender of their newborn baby. The pair, who announced in December that they are expecting their third child together, welcomed the newborn on June 16. On June 20, the couple posted a birth vlog on YouTube. The video documented the emotional and raw experience of welcoming their third child into the world. Rissa and Quan revealed that there will be another video following this one; however, the plot twist to the second birth vlog was that the video will include a gender reveal, and they shared with fans that some can have early access to the gender reveal vlog by paying a fee of $14,99. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ A screenshot of the fee that the fans had to pay to get early access to know the gender of their third baby. Image: X The early access fee did not get a positive reception from fans, as many claimed that the pair are now using their platform to milk money out of their fans. A social media user wrote: 'Something about Rissa and Quan making people pay to know the gender of their baby doesn't sit right with me.' Another user shared: 'Rissa and Quan are making fans pay to see the gender of their baby? Wow.' While another user added: 'Rissa and Quan charging $15 for a gender reveal is insane. Honestly, they might as well keep the child off the internet forever.' Despite online criticism from fans regarding the paid access, the couple released the gender reveal video to the public on June 23, announcing the arrival of another baby boy. Rissa and Quan gained popularity after they started a shared YouTube account which showcases their day-to-day life routines, couple pranks and vlogs that give fans an inside peek into their relationship. The pair has gained a solid fanbase over the years since they started their YouTube channel in 2018 and have amassed a total of 3,23 million subscribers. The US couple got engaged in 2022 and now share three children, namely: Shine, Saviour and their newborn baby, whose name has not yet been revealed.
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Five MIAA state champions will be crowned Friday. Follow along with live updates.
pinned MIAA championships: Friday schedule and results .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied D3 baseball (4 p.m.): No. 11 Arlington Catholic vs. No. 9 North Reading at Polar Park D2 girls' lacrosse (5 p.m.): No. 4 Reading vs. No. 2 Walpole at Babson College D1 boys' volleyball (6:30 p.m.): No. 3 Needham vs. No. 1 Brookline at Xaverian D1 baseball (7 p.m.): No. 8 Braintree vs. No. 14 Chelmsford at Polar Park D3 girls lacrosse (7:15 p.m.): No. 2 Newburyport at No. 1 Medfield at Babson MIAA state championships: Live updates from Thursday's games .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied Advertisement How North Reading and Wakefield got here — 4:50 p.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied Semifinals: North Reading 6, Wakefield 0 — North Reading starting pitcher Ethan Quan felt shaky. His curveball wasn't turning. His changeup wouldn't dip. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But he trusted his gut through a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, and completed all seven innings in shutout fashion, clinching the ninth-seeded Hornets (20-4) a spot in the state championship at Polar Park. 'My arm couldn't feel any better,' Quan said. 'Wasn't the best start, had the bases loaded, but I have a great staff. My pitching coach over there, my coaches and my teammates, they helped me keep the ball low and that seemed to be effective.' The North Reading baseball team is headed to the Division 3 championship game after taking down Wakefield, Dietz Advertisement Quan only registered two strikeouts but limited No. 13 Wakefield (18-6) to zero runs on four walks and five hits. 'Honestly, the key to the game for him was those first three innings,' North Reading coach Eric Archambault said. 'I think they had base runners in all three innings, and for him to be able to work out of those jams — I mean, if they rip a double there it's a completely different game.' North Reading centerfielder Gavin Brady (3), right fielder Max Forristall, and second baseman Antonio Ricca celebrate after Forristall caught the final out of the Hornets' 6-0 win over Wakefield Wednesday at Fraser Field in Lynn. North Reading will face Arlington Catholic in the Division 3 Marra Photography Christian Lava scooted a two-run single through the right side of the infield to put the Hornets on the board in the top of the third inning. A Glenn Mello moonshot scored Nick Torra in the top of the fifth, and effective baserunning led to two more North Reading runs. Jason Curran scored on a passed ball, and Gavin Brady raced home on a sacrifice bunt by Max Forristall. North Reading players swarm the mound to celebrate their 6-0 win over Wakefield Wednesday at Fraser Field in Marra Photography Archambault wisely chose to intentionally walk Wakefield junior Jack Pennacchia whenever he stepped up to bat. Andrew Nemec led the Warriors with a single and a double. 'We just weren't going to let [Pennacchia] beat us,' Archambault said. 'He is such a phenomenal player. I've seen him in person, seen his highlights, talked to a few people and I know he's a key cog when he gets going.' Advertisement Junior Ethan Quan pitched a complete game and shut out Wakefield 6-0 at Fraser Field in Lynn to lead North Reading into the MIAA Division 3 baseball championship this weekend against Arlington Marra Photography Arlington Catholic 5, Sandwich 4 — With Tyler Valente singling home Matt Toland with the winning run in the top of the eighth, the 11th-seeded Cougars (16-6) clawed past No. 7 Sandwich (18-6) and into the championship game. Toland finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Patrick Clair pitched three hitless, scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts after starter Tyler Nelson went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts. It's a beautiful day for baseball at Polar Park — 3:40 p.m. .cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;} Link copied The first game of the day is the Division 3 baseball final, pitting ninth-seeded North Reading (20-4) and 11th-seeded Arlington Catholic (16-6) and Graham Dietz will have coverage from Worcester. Hello Polar Park!! 🐻❄️📍⚾️ First up: Division 3 State Final. No. 9 North Reading (20-4) vs. No. 11 Arlington Catholic (16-6). Temp: 76 degrees, mostly sunny but partly cloudy. Coverage for — Graham Dietz (@graham_dietz) Brendan Kurie can be reached at
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Quan Yifeng disputes Addy Lee's claim: She made $400k over 3 months from livestreaming, not $300k in a month
Quan Yifeng disputes Addy Lee's claim: She made $400k over 3 months from livestreaming, not $300k in a month Lim Ruey Yan The Straits Times May 16, 2025 Local TV host Quan Yifeng has broken her silence on her fallout with local celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee, detailing in a recent interview what went down between them. Lee, 54, hosted a Facebook live stream for two consecutive nights on May 13 and 14, bringing up his beef with Quan, 51, after her daughter Eleanor Lee hogged headlines last week for allegedly making derogatory comments about the people of China. The 25-year-old China-based Singaporean actress has denied making such remarks, but the incident dealt a major blow to her burgeoning career in the country. Addy Lee then implied that what happened to Eleanor was "karmic retribution". In his rambling six-hour tirade on May 13, the Malaysia-born personality said he and Quan were "close like family" for over two decades. However, their relationship soured after she stopped conducting live-stream sales together with him and moved out of his home, where she and her daughter had stayed temporarily for a few months during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Lee explained that during the pandemic, he had to foot his ill parents' medical expenses. His 10 hair salons also needed a cash turnover. He added that he had to make money through live streaming as he could have gone bankrupt any time. He then called Quan "heartless" for leaving him when he was facing a crisis. Responding to his claims, Quan told local Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao in an exclusive interview on May 15: "He owned a $3 million property, drove a luxury car and had several assistants then. He never told me he was in financial trouble." She said they began doing live streaming together after Lee told her that he saw a business opportunity in the area. Quan said that on top of working more than 10 hours hosting shows at her day job, she continued with live streaming at night at Lee's home. She added that the longest live stream session was 14 straight hours. "I was so tired during those three months," she said, adding that it was not the main reason she quit live streaming with Lee. Quan, a Mediacorp artiste, said her management had noticed she was earning additional income through that avenue, and it was inappropriate to do so while she was still an employee with the broadcaster. She also disputed Lee's claim that he helped her earn $300,000 in one month doing live-stream sales, saying that it was actually $400,000 in three months. "That was like money falling from the sky and it was the first time I saw such a large sum of income," she told Zaobao. "He said it was more than what I made in a year at Mediacorp, and asked me not to be a host but to sell goods together with him." Lee began to sell a range of products that he developed, and she felt guilty promoting them as she did not understand them fully. She also felt she was exploiting her over 260,000 Facebook followers, who had bought large quantities to support her. Quan and Eleanor eventually moved out of Lee's home, and she said she penned him a long farewell letter. "I am following the principle of friends parting on good terms," she told Zaobao. "We should cherish each other if we are fated to be together, but we can slowly fade out of each other's lives if we are not fated to be together." Quan remains perplexed over Lee's accusation that she and Eleanor had been "ungrateful". "After all, we used to be friends. I don't know where his bottom line is," she said. "His criticisms have no effect on me." Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
New Paper
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
'His criticisms have no effect on me': Quan Yifeng addresses fallout with former friend Addy Lee
Local TV host Quan Yifeng has broken her silence on her fallout with local celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee, detailing in a recent interview what went down between them. Lee, 54, hosted a Facebook live stream for two consecutive nights on May 13 and 14, bringing up his beef with Quan, 51, after her daughter Eleanor Lee hogged headlines last week for allegedly making derogatory comments about the people of China. The 25-year-old China-based Singaporean actress has denied making such remarks, but the incident dealt a major blow to her burgeoning career in the country. Addy Lee then implied that what happened to Eleanor was "karmic retribution". In his rambling six-hour tirade on May 13, the Malaysia-born personality said he and Quan were "close like family" for over two decades. However, their relationship soured after she stopped conducting live-stream sales together with him and moved out of his home, where she and her daughter had stayed temporarily for a few months during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Lee explained that during the pandemic, he had to foot his ill parents' medical expenses. His 10 hair salons also needed a cash turnover. He added that he had to make money through live streaming as he could have gone bankrupt any time. He then called Quan "heartless" for leaving him when he was facing a crisis. Responding to his claims, Quan told local Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao in an exclusive interview on May 15: "He owned a $3 million property, drove a luxury car and had several assistants then. He never told me he was in financial trouble." She said they began doing live streaming together after Lee told her that he saw a business opportunity in the area. Quan said that on top of working more than 10 hours hosting shows at her day job, she continued with live streaming at night at Lee's home. She added that the longest live stream session was 14 straight hours. "I was so tired during those three months," she said, adding that it was not the main reason she quit live streaming with Lee. Quan, a Mediacorp artiste, said her management had noticed she was earning additional income through that avenue, and it was inappropriate to do so while she was still an employee with the broadcaster. She also disputed Lee's claim that he helped her earn $300,000 in one month doing live-stream sales, saying that it was actually $400,000 in three months. "That was like money falling from the sky and it was the first time I saw such a large sum of income," she told Zaobao. "He said it was more than what I made in a year at Mediacorp, and asked me not to be a host but to sell goods together with him." Lee began to sell a range of products that he developed, and she felt guilty promoting them as she did not understand them fully. She also felt she was exploiting her over 260,000 Facebook followers, who had bought large quantities to support her. Quan and Eleanor eventually moved out of Lee's home, and she said she penned him a long farewell letter. "I am following the principle of friends parting on good terms," she told Zaobao. "We should cherish each other if we are fated to be together, but we can slowly fade out of each other's lives if we are not fated to be together." Quan remains perplexed over Lee's accusation that she and Eleanor had been "ungrateful". "After all, we used to be friends. I don't know where his bottom line is," she said. "His criticisms have no effect on me."
