From Trinidad to Boston, soca’s global reach keeps growing strong

Boston, MA — The streets of Boston were alive with color, rhythm, and Caribbean energy this weekend as the 52nd Annual Caribbean Carnival took over the city. But it wasn’t just masqueraders and music trucks that caught attention — even the Boston Police were spotted joining in the fun.

In a now-viral clip, several officers were seen enjoying snow cones while dancing to soca artist Young Brother’s hit track “Greatest Bend Over.” The moment unfolded during Saturday’s Carnival celebrations, where steelpan, mas bands, and booming soca beats brought a taste of the Caribbean to Massachusetts.

The lighthearted scene drew cheers from onlookers, who were quick to whip out their phones. “Boston Police really out here bending to Young Brother,” one spectator laughed, while another commented, “Only soca could break down barriers like this. That’s culture in action.”

The song, already a Carnival anthem across the Caribbean, added extra flavor to Boston’s festivities, proving how deeply soca’s infectious energy resonates beyond the islands. For many, seeing law enforcement let loose and celebrate alongside the community was a welcome reminder of music’s power to unite.

Boston’s Carnival — which features the early-morning J’Ouvert and a grand afternoon parade stretching through Warren Street and Blue Hill Avenue — is one of the largest cultural festivals in New England, drawing thousands each year.

For Young Brother, whose “Greatest Bend Over” continues to dominate Carnival roadways from Trinidad to Toronto, the viral Boston moment is another step in his growing international reach.

As one reveler put it: “If even the Boston Police can’t resist the rhythm, then you know soca has truly gone global.”