By Haitianbeatz Bedjine's "J'avoue" is a strong release, even if it doesn't carry the same immediate impact you might expect from her singles. Her performance is appealing, but its sing-along appeal may be less immediate for listeners who aren't comfortable with French. The central tension in this Bedjine “J'avoue” review is the distance between enjoying a song and feeling ready to participate in it. For some Haitian and Haitian American fans, that distance could affect how r

By Moses St Louis I had the opportunity to have a small chat with Esther Surpris of Djapot, and it brought back memories of her performing at my Unplugged shows. Seeing where she is now makes me appreciate the years of work behind the recognition she's receiving. Our conversation also brought me back to the other women who performed at those shows and deserved more attention. Esther's story gives me a reason to revisit those memories and recognize the talent that was there al

By Moses St Louis "You know nothing about communication, how dare you try to challenge me?" That was a Haitian media personality's response when I asked whether he had checked a story with both sides involved in the video he was discussing. My question was meant to encourage fair reporting, not insult him or undermine his work. Instead, a request for verification became a confrontation about my right to ask. That exchange raised a larger concern: when attention and views beco

By Moses St Louis "Wow! For anyone who hasn't heard of me, they must have been under a rock these past few years!" Mickael Marabou opens with a laugh, then explains that she's been giving her all to the culture, behind the scenes and in front of the camera. In her remarks, Marabou expresses gratitude for the millions of people who follow and support her work online, along with the organizations and public figures she's worked with. She also takes time to congratulate others w

By Haitianbeatz Djapot's video single "Sispan'n profite'm" centers on a personal demand: stop taking advantage of me. With Esther Surpris as lead singer, the song invites attention to both the words and the voice delivering them. That directness gives listeners an immediate point of connection, even before considering the full lyrics. The song, performance, and video deserve attention on their own terms, beginning with the boundary expressed in the title. That musical context

By Moses St Louis ____ Rain usually threatens to spoil an important concert, but at Rutshelle's sold-out 12 Era show at MGM Music Hall in Boston, it felt like a blessing. Fans had traveled from across the region to see a major milestone in the career of one of Haitian music's pioneering female artists. Built around her album "12 Era," the set featured much of the record, along with surprise appearances by Dena Babe, Anie Alerte, and Richard Cave. Their guest performances adde