April 15, 2008 — Decked out in a white pinstripe suit and aviator sunglasses — and "coming with diction and clarity" — Singer Boy Kahmoi took the Junior Calypsonian crown in the primary division Tuesday evening at Lionel Roberts Stadium on St. Thomas.
Representing Joseph Gomez Elementary, Singer Boy Kahmoi — AKA Kahmoi DeSilvia — strutted his stuff on stage, confidently dancing in front of the packed crowd. He beat out Maurice "King Maurice" Hansby from Lockhart Elementary and Na'kaya "Princess KeKe" Esdaille from Leonard Dober Elementary with a total 259 points from the judges.
Hansby's song, "Teacher, Teacher Give Me a Break," got the crowd clapping with lyrics that talked about the fun of "dancing up and jumping up" during Carnival.
"Teacher, teacher give me a break, and let me jump up and shake up my waist," sang Hansby, dressed in a red and silver costume with matching crown.
Esdaille's song illustrated some of the financial problems the local community currently faces.
"I'm back this year, telling you about the problems in society," she sang. "Everything's going up, except mommy's salary. There's trouble in paradise."
In the intermediate division's field of seven contestants, Jalen "Yellow Man" Fredericks of Addelita Cancryn Junior High School stood above the rest, taking the Junior Calypsonian crown for the second consecutive year. Singing his song "Ah Love to Hear Deh Steel Pan," while playing his own drum on stage, Yellow Man showed his passion for the regional instrument.
"It's music from the heart," he sang. "There's nothing sounding better — the music is sweet like sugar."
Fredericks won the title with 264 points from the judges. K'mani "Mighty Terror" Dowe from Cancryn took first runner up with 259 points, singing "Little As I Am." Second runner up with a score of 235 points was Cancryn's Emil D'Andre Aska — better known as "Little Terror" — who gave his support to Gov. John deJongh Jr. with the song "Governor, I Am On Your Side."
In the secondary division, Shiryra "Lady Prissy" Crabb from Charlotte Amalie High School took the crown with the song "Raise Your Standards." This is Crabb's second consecutive win.
Second runner up was Rudel "Daddy Hart" Hart Jr. of Ivanna Eudora Kean, with a song mimicking the hit Tempo slogan "Badness Outta Style."
"It hurts my heart to see how the youths are acting today," Hart sang. "They are fighting so much that the young kids can't play outside."
It takes the entire community to spread the message that violence is just "badness" that has "gone outta style," he added.
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