CARIBANA FRIDAY: A Summer Story with Toronto Soul

It all started with a TikTok challenge. I jumped on Drake’s “Nice For What” because I loved the bounce and energy, it had that summertime spark. I posted the acapella and asked if any producers wanted to make it their own.  DJ Ritz picked up on it and sent me a flip of the beat that hit just right. He told me people were already reacting to it, including our mutual friend Celebrity Dru, and asked if I wanted to turn it into a full song.

I said bet.

That’s when I had the concept. Lets call it "Caribana Friday."

The beat and the lyrics reminded me of a specific era in Toronto.  A time that feels almost forgotten now. Back in the early 2000s, Caribana wasn’t just a weekend. It was a moment. People would drive up from New York and other cities in custom cars, luxury rides, just to be part of the scene. Yonge Street was bumper to bumper. No social media. No phones. Just energy. That Friday night was when it all started. That’s what this song feels like to me and I wanted to pay homage to that.

When it came time to record, I tapped Sunny Diamonds. He’s one of the best at understanding how to bring a record to life while keeping it honest. We booked a session, had a few drinks, lit up the hookah shared some laughs, and I laid it down.

Sunny also engineered and mixed the track, making sure every detail hit.

Then DJ Ritz added the finishing touch: a scratch at the end of the song which was a clip from a vintage news report about the origins of Caribana. It was the perfect exclamation point. A reminder that this festival isn’t just about music and parties. It’s about history, culture, and identity.

Some of my favortie bars:

"She gimme good vibes like the old days / She gotta sex drive it gimme road rage…"

"I call her 2 bad, because she 2 bad / She came with 2 bags, and now they 2 mad…"

The hook is simple but bold:

"I’m a real one / I’m a blessing / I’m from Toronto / Make a connection…"

For me, Caribana Friday isn’t just a summer song it’s a love letter to the city. A tribute to a time and energy we don’t talk about enough.

Caribana Friday is out now on all platforms.

Listen Here: https://fvr.fan/rochester/caribanafriday

I ❤️ U Toronto