‘Obama’ found jammin’ in Carnival

Brown was part of soca artiste Asten Isaac’s performance of Rum Friend at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain. Videos posted on social media have gone viral garnering over eight million hits, according to Brown, who took in some of the Parade of the Bands in the capital yesterday.

The comedian, who in January walked the red carpet as Obama at the opening of businessman Derek Chin’s new MovieTowne cineplex in San Fernando, said he was thrilled to take his performance to the ISM stage alongside Isaac.

“I was excited to get invited to Carnival to appear at Soca Monarch,” Brown told Newsday yesterday.

“The artiste just asked me to walk on stage and bring him a bottle of rum and I told him I would feel it out.

Next thing you know, I’m hyping the crowd and jumping. Nothing was rehearsed but it seemed so. I went out on stage did my thing and the audience was loving it. My only regret is not busting a wine in stage!” The online buzz on his act was also a great compliment, said Brown.

“As of now, I have 1,000 views on the video I posted but other posts have over eight million views. People are saying it’s really Obama and as an actor and impersonator that’s the highest compliment I can get.” “Soca Monarch was an experience I will never forget, the energy was amazing and the online reaction to my appearance has been amazing.” Brown had a presidential meeting, of sorts, yesterday when he posed for a photograph with President Anthony Carmona who was playing mas in Brian Mac Farlane’s band, Cazabon The Art of Living, on Charlotte Street. As a spectator, Brown mingled with the public as himself and not in character.

“There’s such a high level of anonymity in social media posts these days. I just want people to know the man behind Obama. It’s important as an artist to get credit for your work. I love my job.” This was Brown’s third visit to Trinidad.

“I always wanted to be here at this time.

J’Ouvert and Carnival were too much fun. I was getting down doing my Chicago wine in the streets.”