King Hardknaxs Alleges Systemic Bias in Antigua’s Music and Carnival Scene
Joel “King Hardknaxs” Lewis, the 2011 Antigua Carnival Party Monarch and Road March champion with the hit Kentucky, has publicly criticised what he describes as systemic inequities in Antigua and Barbuda’s festival administration. The artist, renowned for his dynamic performances with group The Madtiguans, claims longstanding marginalisation by carnival authorities.
Allegations of Exclusion
Hardknaxs revealed that despite his 2011 victory, he received no bookings for subsequent Festivals Commission events in 2012 – nor was he allocated a carnival parade float. He particularly contests the judging of the 2012 competition, where his track Ibaba failed to place.
“The song rocked the Antigua Recreation Grounds and was considered one of the best performances in Party Monarch history,” he stated. “Everyone said I had won.”
When King Hardknaxs won the Party Monarch competition in 2011, the judging panel comprised both local and regional judges—a structure he believed contributed to a fairer and more balanced assessment of the performances.
Claims of Institutional Favouritism
The artist alleges the Festivals Commission prioritises established acts over emerging talent, citing 2013 when his group’s hits like Smile A Lot and Party Hard forced their inclusion due to public demand.
“Authorities show preference to artists who can guarantee crowds, stifling newcomers’ development,” Hardknaxs argued, appealing directly to Prime Minister Gaston Browne for intervention.
He is calling for the Festivals Commission to establish additional officially sanctioned events throughout the year exclusively showcasing Antiguan talent. The 2011 Party Monarch champion argues states that such initiatives would provide crucial developmental opportunities beyond the traditional Party Monarch and Calypso Monarch competitions.
The soca artist contends that “the unchanged composition of the Festivals Commission remains the root cause” of systemic issues affecting local performers. “When you see the same decision-makers from 2011 to 2025 resisting evolution, it confirms why equitable opportunities remain elusive,” Lewis stated.
Financial Disparities Highlighted
He further contrasted payment practices, noting: “Local artists struggle to receive fees, while foreign performers are paid promptly and in full.”
Cultural Impact
The performer denied self-pity, framing his outcry as advocacy: “‘Each endeavouring, all achieving’ – but here, only a connected few succeed. Everyone knows no Antiguan artist matches my energy.”
“The solution isn’t blacklisting – it’s building bridges,” Lewis asserted during an exclusive interview. “When we work cooperatively, every artist gets the platform to maximise their potential. That’s how we strengthen our cultural industries for the long term.”
Hardknaxs concluded by promoting his 2025 releases Power Man, Carnival Season and Like a River featuring Kenne Blessin.
King Hardknaxs’ booking information is as follows:
Telephone: 1-268-780-0241
Email: [email protected]
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Stop singing f*ckry then!! That KFC song was just because Antigaus love nonsense that song makes me cringe. Y’all need to get creative and make better music.
Burnings Flames best music was the 90s and early 2000s after that is bare nursey rhymes recycled rididms and nonsense. Kick een back door?
1. You are talking about an unchanged composition in the Commission from 2011 until now without acknowledging other changes in the industry.
We are living in modern, technological times and there are so many ways for an artist to be highlighted. If you are waiting on the government, that says a lot about YOU! Try and make your song go viral on TikTok, make a unique music video and do press tours. Take charge of your career.
2. You mentioned local and regional judges playing a role in you winning in 2011 but you failed to mention that when you went to compete in Trinidad, they said Antigua needs to do better and your song was a disgrace! You need to tell the full story.
Also, Antigua is a small developing country which is already saturated by fetes. The same government that is struggling to fix roads and took over 10 years to address something as basic as water is supposed to establish events throughout the year exclusively for Antiguan talent? The math ain’t mathing.
3. You said authorities prefer artists who can guarantee crowds. Ya think? Carnival cannot be sustainable if the financial elements aren’t considered. If you can’t bring in crowds, why should the Commission then spend thousands to host events for people who Antiguans do not want to see.
Another thing is, soca artists don’t usually produce albums. Maybe the do 2-3 songs a year and sometimes, only one of those songs may be good.
So it takes years for soca artists to build a good catalogue therefore making if difficult for people to faithfully go to events with new Antiguan artists with few good songs.
4. Your catalogue is not good and after Carnival, people don’t want to hear your whack songs. Your songs are in the moment and don’t have longevity.
5. As an artist, you should have also invested in your image. One thing, Tian Winter always looks clean and sorted out.
HardKnaxx is not lying with what he is saying, but he too needs to be more mature, respectful and Professional in person and on social media to open more doors of opportunities for him. Stop smoking all that cheap weed that makes you behave at times irrational and unprofessional.
Festival Commission too need to PROMINENT platforms and jobs to other artists too not named CP, Menace & Tian. Not sayin those don’t deserve to the big jobs, but Kimmy, Laurena, IP, Lyrical Reds, Soca Villan, Jukey, Leepee C, Kaution, Tizzy, and plenty plenty others DESERVED to get a piece of the pie too.
but HardKnax, dem say that Madtiguans say you badminded. From since you likkle “one hit wonder” in 2011, you start to leff Madtiguans behind and act like a you one mek ya self.
So mek sure u look in the mirror before u start point finger!
Man all you have to do just come out with a wicked tune that will mash up the Caribbean and you will be alright. As the other man say top the crying top the crying now and I see you calling on the World Boss to intervene while dressing to impress.
Wow! 2011 now is 2025 that’s a life time in this business so lets hope we’re not still in the Kentucky and Ibabba frame of mind. Yes you are most energetic, but nobody hab more energy than the guy Pumpa from the USVI and you see where he at and how large he has become in no time.
Lets make that move and mash up NY and Miami this year, stop focusing on the greatest summer festival for once and sell yourself to the rest of the world.
Hardknaxs just talkin wah plenty people fraid fi say! 🎤🔥
Mi nuh agree wid everything he say, but some tings hit true! 🎶
He bitter or he bold? Either way, the industry need fixing.
Some a dem promoters only push who dey close to—dat a facts!
Nuff young artists get overlooked while de same set eat every year.😤
Well after that embarrassment of a song “Kentucky” and making Antigua the laughing stock of the Caribbean when he went to Trinidad, I can imagine why he hasn’t been booked since.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
WHAT THE HELL…! …NAX AND …OUNGKU…?
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WELL, ‘…KNAX AND OUNGKU,’ GOOD COMBINATION.
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SPEAK YOUR ‘…TRUTHS.’
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WALK GOOD.
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Boi ur.music was trash bout ppl say u win lol kfc was trash only made it in antigua cause they love rubbish u didnt even place in trinity so stop capping baba was also shit that will only rock antigua crowd where u goin woth those rubbish music dude make ur self stop depending m listen to ppl bout ppl day u win win wat with ibaba lol u all crazy
I’m saying pure embarrassment for antigua n now he a complain dude please n 14 yrs later u coming n run ur mouth less we forget u embarrassing performance in trini
Nothing is wrong with having humour in music. If stupidness makes Antiguans interested in music, put it in
The funny thing is all these overseas artist yall pay hundreds of dollars to see sing the same f***ery yall bashing the young man for
Drop on de ground and roll
Shake ya panpana
I want to go down in ya suse
If ya name end wid one A bend right ova…
Just to name a few. It just goes to show yall Antiguans don’t love yall own chupzzzzz…
Carnivals songs have always been about nonsense so idk even know why yall getting yall panties in a bunch for🙄 yall may not like him but he has a point.
Bet if was Tian lazy entitled self yall would be singing a different tune but ah so eh go
I really do not care for the new calypso’s anymore because the classic Sings for CaCarnival has gone to
Pass. No more sweet Benna and Soca music. Just raw rude vulgar music. So I do not have nothing much yo say. All I ask is bring back Benna and Soca music and your songs will go world wide
I meant that I really do not care for the new calypso’s songs for Carnival.
@ Chup thanks for your comments I totally agree with you. Best reply of all the comments I have read, you clearly hit the Ball out of the Park.
He need to take a page from the Bouyon singer from Dominica.