UPDATE: Young Blood wins Calypso crown with marijuana education

Marcus ‘Young Blood’ Mark has been crowned the 2024 Calypso Monarch, winning the competition by schooling the audience about the cannabis.

The Virgin Gorda-born calypsonian won the annual competition on Saturday night, July 27, at the festival grounds in Road Town.

Young Blood emerged victorious following his captivating performances of “The Antidote” in the first round and “The Miseducation of Marijuana” in the second round. In addition to the Calypso Monarch title, he also won awards for Best Lyrics and Best Performance, titles decided by the judges of the show.

Expressing his excitement following the win, Young Blood stated, “It’s really great. I was just anticipating to do well. I’m really relieved right now, I’m at a loss for words really.”

This was not Young Blood’s first time competing in the annual competition; he participated in 2015 and earned first runner-up. He was inspired to write his winning songs immediately after his first performance in 2015, aiming to create informative content. “As soon as the opportunity came, I was trying to write about a topic to inform people. I literally had to do my research to get my information on point,” he said.

Young Blood won an $8,000 cash prize, while the first runner-up, a former Calypso Monarch — Reynold ‘King Paido’ Phillips, won a $6,000 cash prize and also earned Best Music for his performance.

The Calypso Show initially had five contestants, but only four competed. Each competitor received participation trophies.

The 70th Emancipation Festival hosts a variety of festivities under the theme “Celebrate our Freedom and Live in Unity as BVI Festival Turns 70.” It also marks the 190th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Virgin Islands.