CAPTION: Haitian music enthusiasts at Central Park’s Summerstage for the BAYO tour. Photo by Tequila Minsky for Haitian Time

NEW YORK—I vividly recall the first time I discovered there was Haitian music on Pandora back in the early 2000s. Growing up in Caribbean-heavy southeast Queens, I had been accustomed to hearing the likes of Sean Paul, Beanie Man and Elephant Man on the radio. By that time, reggae and dancehall had taken over pop culture with artists like Beyoncé and Gwen Stefani incorporating the island melodies in their latest singles.

But hearing konpa megastars T-Vice, Kreyol La, 5lan? No way would that happen. 


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