Two greats of Barbadian calypso are “set to clash” tonight (July 30, 2010) at Barbados’ Kensington Oval. Red Plastic Bag and Mighty Gabby will compete along with eight other calypsonians for Crop-Over’s most prestigious crown. [See previous posts on Barbados’s Crop Over celebrations: The Barbados Crop Over, Barbados’ Grand Kadooment and Crop Over Finale, and Barbados’ Crop-Over Concerns: Cultural Event or Tourism Product?.]

Stedson “Red Plastic Bag” Wiltshire, also known as RPB or merely Bag has won the Barbadian calypso monarch competition a record nine times. Hailing from the eastern, rural Barbadian parish of Saint Philip, Red Plastic Bag began performing in 1979. He combined the sounds of reggae and soca, and has become one of the most popular performers in Barbados and throughout the Caribbean. His biggest hit, “Ragga Ragga,” has been recorded in seven different languages.

Anthony “Mighty Gabby” Carter is another legendary Barbadian calypsonian; he has been hailed Cultural Ambassador for Barbados. The youngest calypsonian to win the calypso crown in Barbados at age 19 in 1968, Mighty Gabby is a seven-time king. He has penned over 700 songs and was awarded the Folk Singer of the Year Award in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

For full article, see http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/cool-kings/