Bunji Garlin

Ian Anthonio Alvarez (born July 14, 1978), better known by his stage name Bunji Garlin, is a Trinidadian ragga soca artist.

Career

Alvarez was born in Trinidad and is of Saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent.^[1] He married fellow soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of successful soca singer Superblue.^[2] He is also a second cousin of singer Patrice Roberts, who performs alongside the popular Machel Montano.^[3]

Bunji has won Trinidad's Soca Monarch/International Soca Monarch competition on several occasions: 2002 (tied with Iwer George) with "Down in the Ghetto",^[4] 2004 with "Warrior Cry",^[5] 2005 with "Blaze the Fire" Both songs were produced by then band member Shawn Noel (Da Ma$tamind)^[6] and 2008 with "Fiery" ^[7] He placed second in the International Soca Monarch 2009 with "Clear De Road", while his pregnant wife Fay-Ann Lyons placed first with "Meet Super Blue".^[8] She also won the Groovy Soca Monarch title that same night with "Heavy T Bumpa".

Bunji Garlin's "Brrt" is featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.^[9]

In 2013, Garlin won the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance for the song "Differentology", which features Nigel Rojas on guitar.^[10] An album of the same name was released by RCA Records and VP Records in August 2014.^[11][12]

Discography

Albums

• The Chronicles (1999)
• Revelation (2002)
• Black Spaniard (2003)
• Graceful Vengeance (2004)
• Flame Storm (2005)
• Next Direction (2006)
• Global (2007)
• Fiery (2008)
• "iSpaniard" (2012)
• The Viking (2013)
• Differentology (2014), VP/RCA #6 US Reggae Albums ^[13]

Singles

• "Differentology" (2013)^[14]
• "Truck On D Road" (2014) (featuring A$AP Ferg)
• "The Message" (2015) (featuring Damian Marley)
• "Television" (2016)

Collaborations

• "Carnival Tabanca" (featuring Tarrus Riley) 2014
• "Coofy Lie Lie" (featuring Singing Sandra) (2002)
• "Rags Don't Care" (featuring Chinese Laundry and Shurwayne Winchester) (2003)
• "Soca Bhangra" (featuring Shami) (2003)
• "Don’t Waste Water" (featuring Shurwayne Winchester) (2005)
• "The Islands" (featuring Patrice Roberts) (2005)
• "Lorraine" (featuring Explainer) (2005)
• "Move With Us" (TSTT jingle also featuring Shurwayne Winchester and Machel Montano) (2006)
• "Get Up Stand Up" (featuring T.O.K.) (2007)
• "Hardcore Loving" (featuring Rita Jones) (2007)
• "Swing it" (featuring Chris Black) (2007)
• "One Family" (featuring Freddie McGregor (2007)
• "Bring It" (featuring Lalchan Babwa (Hunter)) (2008)
• "Country Rum (featuring Neeshan Prabhoo) (2008)
• "Bring It Superstar Mix" Lalchan Babwa(Hunter) ft. Alison Hinds, Andy Singh, Bunji Garlin & Ziggy Rankin (2008)
• "That's How We Party" (featuring Busy Signal) (2005)
• "Big Blood" (featuring 3suns, Sir Skarz) [2011]
• "Sex, Love and Reggae" (Gyptian ft. Bunji Garlin and Angela Hunt) (2013)
• "All or Nothing" (Elliphant ft. Diplo and Bunji Garlin)
• "Jungle Bae" (Jack Ü ft. Bunji Garlin) (2015)
• "Baddest Things" (Party Favor & Nymz ft. Bunji Garlin) (2015)
• "Buss Head" (Machel Montano) (2017)
• "Ride it" (Sebastian Ingrosso & Salvatore Ganacci ft. Bunji Garlin) (2017)