Extempo War Breaks Out in Brooklyn

Calypso, a style of Afro-Caribbean music, originated in Trinidad sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The roots of the Calypso can be traced to the arrival of African slaves who, being forbidden to speak among themselves, used music and song to communicate. Picong, a light comical banter, usually at someone else's expense, is part of the Trinidadian Calypso tradition. Currently, an "Extempo King" is crowned each year as part of the carnival in Trinidad. Picong or extempo is the way in which West Indians (particularly those in the Eastern Caribbean) tease, heckle and mock each other usually in a friendly manner. However, the line between humor and insult is thin and constantly shifting, and at times the convivial spirit may degenerate into more heated debate. The ability to engage in picong without crossing over into insult is highly valued in the culture of calypso music. Three-time Extempo King Black Sage (Phillip Murray) has performed in New York a number of times along with other calypso masters including Gypsy (Winston Peters). In this scene, filmed at the Tropical Paradise, a Trinidadian restaurant in Brooklyn, Black Sage duels against a relative newcomer to the scene, Fat Man George. The picong performances preserve an important part of Afro-Caribbean culture and heritage.

To read the full story and view the rest of the Trinidadian tour on the City of Memory website, see: http://www.cityofmemory.org/map/#/story/2183/

Credits:
Presented at Tropical Paradise Restaurant, 1250 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY. Sponsored by City Lore, the Trinidadian Folk Arts Institute, Bowery Poetry Club and the Institute for Studies in American Music at Brooklyn College, CUNY. Videographer: Linda Lewett. Story compiled by Anina Hewey. Consultant, Les Slater.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Extempo
• Trinidadian tour
• Calypso
• picong
• Black Sage
• Fat Man George
• Extempo King
• New York
• New York City
• nyc
• brooklyn
• City of Memory
• City Lore
• citylore

[marledebakkerunicorn]

I would like to see black stage against gypsy

[gallis92]

gypsy d extempo king

[Jamille85]

Black stage realllll wicked. Mash up