Eskimo Heats Up!
Trinidad Killa and producer Joseph “Pronto” Figueroa first released the track, Eskimo, using Full Blown’s Big Links Riddim—without proper authorization. The song, however, quickly gained traction, peaking at #13 on Apple Music (All Genres) in Trinidad & Tobago, despite the looming copyright controversy. The momentum was undeniable, but the track was eventually pulled from DSPs.
Rather than let the song fade, Trinidad Killa, Pronto, and the team returned on January 21 with The Bigger Links Riddim, a newly crafted instrumental to house Eskimo properly.
From its infectious hook—“When yuh cock up so, Dye zess dye zess, dye zess dye zess”— while clearly a nod to Zess Music, Pronto describes the sound as “Zess-Soca.” Trinidad Killa, when the video hit 400k views noted in an Instagram caption “Time for the TriniBad & Zess Movement to rise up and show the world what we’re made of.” Then, In the music video, he writes “Soca Eskimo” in the snow, signaling the track’s deeper ties the Soca Music. It’s a set of symbolic moments, showing that no matter what label you apply—Zess, TriniBad or Soca, or even Trinbagonian music—the song is perhaps a celebration of all those influences.
Adding to the hype, Eskimo opens with a co-sign from Nicki Minaj: “Aye yo, Trinidad Killa, wha going on? It’s ya girl Nicki Minaj representing for Trinidad & Tobago. Eskimo Season…” More than just a shoutout, Minaj amplified the track’s reach by pinning it to the top of her Instagram profile—home to over 226 million followers—on January 23. The result? A surge in visibility and credibility for the song.Eskim
Beyond the beat and the legalities, Eskimo resonates because of its lyrics. The song taps into the emotions of Caribbean nationals abroad, braving winter while longing for home: “You know ah out in d cold, miss d sun with the snow, and ah cya find d feeling, and ah wish ah could be dey fuh yuh.” It’s a love song to Trinidad, to Carnival, to the warmth that so many are missing this season.
In just eight days, Eskimo has amassed 50,000 streams on Spotify—an average of 6,500 per day. If this momentum holds, it places the track alongside some of recent huge Soca releases, such as Mical Teja’s DNA and Problem Child’s Holiday.
The revised release of Eskimo in Trinidad & Tobago has risen from #87 to #15 on Apple Music’s (All Genres) chart in just five days. Meanwhile, the track is gaining traction far beyond the Caribbean:
- #1 Apple Music (World) – Gambia (since Jan 26)
- #2 Apple Music (World) – Grenada (since Jan 27)
- #3 Apple Music (World) – St. Vincent & the Grenadines (Jan 29)
- #2 iTunes (World) – Netherlands (Jan 28), United States (Jan 25-26)
- #4 iTunes (World) – United Kingdom (Jan 27)
- #6 iTunes (World) – Canada (Jan 25-26)
Radio airplay is also expanding, with at least six stations across the U.S. and Jamaica adding Eskimo to rotation, further cementing its presence beyond the Caribbean.
The global interest in the song speaks to something deeper. For fans in places like Gambia, thousands of miles away from the Caribbean, it may be the song’s lyrics that hit regardless of where you are at or where you are from: “Now ah feelin loooooonly, cause ah miss all d zess and d party…” The notion of missing home is universal. It’s not just a Trinidadian sentiment; it’s a feeling that anyone, anywhere can relate to, whether they’re in the midst of a cold winter or simply longing for a different time and place. The magic of Eskimo lies in this shared experience—a love for culture, for home, and for the collective sense of belonging.
Without controversy fueling the conversation, the song is standing on its own. The people have spoken—the lyrics hit and the vibe is right.
Congratulations to Trinidad Killa, Pronto, Dori Cowan, Kyle Peters and the full team who put this piece together, and a special salute to Nicki Minaj for always amplifying Caribbean music and culture.
The full credits on the song are listed as: Trinidad Killa & Nicki Minaj Written by Joseph “Pronto” Figueroa, Kern “Trinidad Killa”, Onika “Nicki Minaj” Maraj-Petty Produced by Joseph “Pronto” Figueroa Co- Produced by Cowin “Dori Pro” Thorpe Guitars: Kyle Peters Masters: Trypp Records® Production Manager: Anthony “Mileage” Maingot 2025 © Trypp Records®, Dori Productions® THC Promotions® and TK Records®
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