DJs are among the main gatekeepers to artist development in the region. Even if artists produce quality tracks, and no one bothers to spin them on air, or at live events, the growth of the industry is stunted for reasons too obvious to mention. The role of the DJ in pushing Caribbean music forward cannot be overstated, and is a role which Top Gunners, the “Caribbean DJ fraternity,” takes seriously.

 Launched in March 2005, Top Gunners represents DJ synergy across the Caribbean. Currently covering the territories of Barbados, St. Vincent, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and with additional representation in the US and Canada, Top Gunners intends to further spread its DJ membership throughout the region and the world.

Locally, the Top Gunners include DJs MixMaster Donné, Malcolm X, Gruvemaster and Hurricane. The first two DJs hail from Hott  95.3 FM, while the latter two rep 98.1 The One. The 23 radio and club DJs from across the region who make up Top Gunners act as a unit to gain access to record pools, pre-released music, artist interviews and other benefits. Top Gunners directly receive the latest music from producers and artists at major labels like Def Jam, VP Records and Capitol Records amongst others. The arrangement, says Hurricane, allows Top Gunners to “drop tunes first.” As the Caribbean music scene continues to boom, Top Gunners puts DJs on track to better promote artists both regionally and internationally and spread Caribbean music even further. Speaking on the role of DJs in promoting Caribbean music to the wider community, Hurricane notes, “Us pushing Caribbean music is one of the reasons it’s blowing up. We are part of an international market.” 

The Top Gunners Caribbean DJ fraternity has plans for developing the Caribbean Top 40, which will be compiled from deejay rotations and playlists on radio and in clubs throughout the region. It hopes that the Top 40 will be a major catalyst for developing the regional music industry, legitimizing artists’ popularity within the region and providing a means of comparison and record-keeping over time. Citing the Top 40 countdown as a push for regional unity, Gruvemaster says, “I don’t need to have people outside the region telling me what’s a hit in the region.” Plans are in place to air the show, a mix of the hottest reggae, soca and R&B tunes, on 2 Clear Channel stations in the U.S. The Top 40 is then expected to expand into other markets, with listings on the Top Gunners website (www.topgunners.net) where visitors can also read DJ bios and entertainment news. 

Top Gunners puts it on record that Caribbean DJs are as critical to the music industry as the actual artists, with the DJs serving as entertainers, performers and hit-breakers as they continue to push Caribbean music and artists to the fore.

by Erin Straker

(Photo: Khalil Goodman; Background Art: Ahlena Greenidge)