Born in Trinidad, Brooklyn-resident and New York’s Hot 97 (WQHT) personality Dlife is the ranking diplomat for the emerging Soca movement. Soca (or “Soul of Calypso”) is the most popular music in English-speaking Caribbean islands like Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and St.Vincent. It forms the theme music to the huge and celebratory “Carnivals” that occur in each country and now occur in 25 major cities across the world. However, before Dlife joined forces with legendary reggae selectors Bobby Konders and Jabba of Massive B, there were no DJs in the United States dedicated to giving Soca any commercial airtime. “I remember sending CDs of mixes to stations, only to be told they didn’t want a Soca DJ. At that time the carnivals and pirate stations provided the outlet for the people to hear the music.”  

Now, through his one-hour slot in the Massive B “On The Reggae Tip” program every Sunday on Hot 97, Dlife can reach millions of people and serves as the lightning rod for the Soca community. Many credit him with breaking hit records like “Turn Me On,” “Soul on Fire” and “Nookie” that provided Kevin Lyttle, Rupee and Jamesy P. with major record deals. More recently, Dlife supported Alison Hinds’ “Roll It” record, which has now entered daytime rotation at Hot 97. However Dlife has not forgotten his roots. He is still featured on pirate stations 95.9 Wah Gwan Radio in Brooklyn and Mixx96 in Miami (along with DJ Khaled), and performs weekly in Soca hotbeds like Jamaica, Queens and Flatbush, Brooklyn.  

“Soca is entering a new stage,” says Dlife. “It has the potential to be the English-language reggaeton and to fill a niche left by the hardcore nature of dancehall reggae. I’m excited to be involved with a music that has the power to transform American culture.”