CATEGORY:CALYPSO
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By Trevor Thwaites (Inside Grenada correspondent)


ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada - Hollis Mapp “Mr Killa” has had a truly rewarding 2006 Carnival season. The talented young artist who burst onto the scene a couple years ago crowned a wonderful season by winning two big titles. He produced a truly dynamic performance to win the Soca Monarch crown for the second time in three years. It was a repeat of the results in 2004, when he did exactly the same to defeat Ajamu to win the prestigious title at the National Stadium.

Ajamu certainly set the pace and proved to be the man to beat when he appeared in his white attire and white flags, pleading for peace this carnival. It was a presentation and a performance that sent the more than 4,000 fans at the Tanteen Playing Field in Frenzy. The talk then was “Ajamu gone clear”. However, in totally contrasting styles, Mr Killer rose from the ground in his coffin to prove that he was a reincarnated warrior that was unstoppable.

He resurrected in a blaze of fireworks, back like a burning flame destroying all that was in his part. It was almost 10 minutes of non-stop, pulsating action that had the large audience on their feet calling for more. In the final tally Mr Killer amassed 256 points, three more than Ajamu, who had to settle for second position. “I did it. I produced a massive performance just as I planned”, a delighted Mr Killa told Spice Isle Review following the victory. “I am also hoping to snatch the Road March”, he said

The 2005 champion Boogie B finished third on 245 points with his rendition “Swim”. Former champion TallPree was fourth with his rendition “Clean Heart ”, while Soca Banton’s “Over your head, earned him the fifth position. Soca Sterling and Randy Isaac finished joint seventh with two of the big songs this year Bum Bum Time and Propaganda. Mr Killa also captured the Groovy Soca Monarch Title with classic rendition entitled “Spice Isle Rock”, with another splendid performance.

He thrilled the fans and impressed the judges to tally 234 points. The Calypso Monarch Findley Jeffrey “Scholar” was just one point adrift, while Ranking Marvin finished third on 229. However, Mr Killa did not complete the triple as expected, with another of his big hits “Jump and Balance”, being among the songs in the reckoning. “Over Yuh Head by Soca Banton won the Road March Title.

Nonetheless it was a most rewarding season for Mr Killa who picked up handsome EC$37,000 for the two titles. The Soca Monarch earned him EC$27,000, while the Groovy Soca Monarch saw him pocketing another EC$10,000. His victory at the Soca Monarch Competition has earned him the right to represent Grenada at the upcoming International Soca Monarch Competition in Trinidad and Tobago and the OECS Soca Monarch Competition later in the year in St Kitts.

See video of Mr Killa's Performance and an interview with the Grenadian media after his victory.