Mr Killa, 2019 International Power Soca Monarch, will not compete in this year’s Soca Monarch final.
In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday evening the Grenadian soca artiste stated:
“It is with great regret that I, Hollis Mapp, professionally known as Mr Killa, announce my decision to withdraw from the 2020 International Soca Monarch (ISM) Competition. As the reigning Power Soca Monarch King, I was eager to defend my crown but I regret that my declaration was not met with the approval or acknowledgement of the officials staging the competition. Since arriving in Trinidad and Tobago over a month ago, my team and I have been deprived of the details and tools necessary for me to properly prepare for my performance. As it is commonly known, I give nothing less than 100% for each and every performance and my team and I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that it will not be possible to do so in this year’s competition.”
The International Soca Monarch competition is in a transitional period following the recent resignation of Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez. The former ISM chairperson explained her decision in a statement: “I have no tools or anything to do the event so rather than try to rush the Soca Monarch I want to give the people a Soca Monarch they deserve.”
Mr Killa added:
“My team and I have had a similar experience and we have chosen not to compromise my performance or the expectations of the fans.
“I will always cherish my historic 2019 competition, which resulted in me becoming the first non Trinibagonian to win the International Power Soca Monarch title. This was impactful, not just for me personally but for the genre, as it heralded that soca music had finally been embraced as an international product that had expanded beyond the shores of its birthplace of Trinidad and Tobago. I sincerely wish the best for the ISM, its new chairman and the remaining competitors, but I will refrain from this and future competitions and instead return my focus to continuing to record, release and perform quality soca music to the best of my ability.”
With Mr Killa bowing out, the race is wide open for a 2020 Power Soca Monarch winner. The finals will be held on Fantastic Friday, 21 February, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
