Thanks mainly to Sean Paul and VP Records, 2002-03 will be remembered as the period in which Dancehall exploded onto the popular music scene in the United States. Although most of the artists (i.e. Beenie Man) have been around for quite some time, they didn't receive the kind of attention they started to receive in 02-03 until now. Perhaps the most hilarious happening around Dancehall so far is the recent re-release of Sasha's "Dat Sexy Body" to the American masses, which had already been receiving airplay in select markets for YEARS.

But now it is time for yet another possible influx of international music of Black (which a lot of American music aficionados for some reason hate to admit -- that Black people do indeed come up with certain styles of music) origin and this time -- it's SOCA. SOCA is a descendant of CALYPSO, a deliciously festive brand of rhythmic music with origins in Trinidad and Tobago. The Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener are the two titans of CALYPSO, so in case you find yourself enjoying Kevin Lyttle and SOCA music, you might want to do a little more exploring to see if you enjoy CALYPSO too. Both SOCA and CALYPSO are heavily played at Carnival, the annual festival that is celebrated in many places around the world -- but also originates in Trinidad and Tobago.

I first heard "Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle while listening to WMOC Urban Net Radio (www.mocradio.com) during their MOC Mix Party (MOC stands for "Music of Class") and fell in love with it instantly. "Turn Me On" has a hypnotic, island vibe that brilliantly lifts elements from 112's "All My Love", from their unfairly under-appreciated 'Room 112' album. "All My Love" innovatively employed a sitar (creating an R&B-meets-India feel), with Slim's delicate vocals making that song great. Kevin Lyttle seems to update what 112 was trying to pull off, adding more aggression but not losing any of the honey-lite flavor that "All My Love" originally contained.

"Turn Me On" is perhaps only the beginning of what Kevin Lyttle has to offer if we do indeed see a SOCA music explosion in 2004. For those of us who love and appreciate the genius of Missy Elliott, the Neptunes, R. Kelly, and Timbaland -- but are also ready to hear something "new", I would highly implore you to check out this single -- "Turn Me On". I would also recommend two places to hear a refreshing blend of "urban" music -- www.flow935.com, that is the website of Canada's only urban FM, Flow 93.5 out of Toronto, Ontario; and as I mentioned earlier, www.mocradio.com, WMOC Urban Net Radio.

Bottom line: SOCA is the combination of R&B/SOUL and CALYPSO, hence the name ("SO" from Soul, + "CA" from Calypso = "SOCA"). If you love melody, and the softer side of rhythmic music at a quicker pace, then "Turn Me On" is for you. But if you prefer Hip-Hop over R&B, you should definitely pass on this one. Thanks for reading!

Andrew Knyte

This song is HOT!!!! It makes a bad mood turn into a good me.
Where ever you are when it comes on youjust wanna get up and dance.
It's a song that puts you in the mood. He will be very big Kevin Lyttle.

Kevin Lyttle has the voice that just makes you want to stand up and dance. Stuff is way hot at the club, peoples be jumpin everywhere. When you first hear the song your like what the @!&# is this? But u continue listening your like oh snap, this cat is incrazysane, jumpin off the hoook nice! HAHAH can't went till he drops his CD on us.

This song has truly been around the caribbean scene for a few years. Today America seeks new flava in the ear...So, it seems soca is now headed in the same direction as Reggae. WOOOOOAH!!!!! If you like this tune then you must check out thisisrupee.com, another soca artist recently signed to Atlantic records....with a hit song "TEMPTED TO TOUCH"...congrats fellas for making the Caribbean proud.

If you like Sean Paul or Wayne Wonder, then this guy is for you! Everytime I play this song my friends want to hear more. If I can make 10 people fall in love with it, then you, a lover of reggae, will like it. By the way, launch.com has 2 versions of this song available on video (the carnival one has a lot of dancing). Enjoy!