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Between hit records and unforgettable live shows, T-Vice has kept fans hooked with their hot sounds for more than a decade. Ten years into their journey, the question remains: can they keep that fire burning? In this candid conversation, Roberto Martino sat down with Cheyna to talk about the band’s latest projects, their reconciliation with Sweet Micky, the challenges of piracy, and how they plan to stay ahead in a competitive music industry.
Cheyna: It’s been a while since we’ve talked. What’s going on with T-Vice?
Roberto Martino: First of all, I’d like to say what’s up and send a big shoutout to all the fans reading right now. What’s going on with T-Vice is the usual, playing all over, traveling, producing, and being in the studio. We have a new live CD coming out tomorrow or Monday. We’re also working on a single to be released in December. On top of that, we have a new video coming out. We’re just working, playing music, doing what we love.
Cheyna: I’m happy to hear that you’re friends with Sweet Micky now. How did that come about?
RM: It happened spontaneously. At a rehearsal for Haiti Twoubadou, both of us were there with other musicians, Jean-Marc Apollon, Gerald Kebreau, and Fabrice Rouzier. They told me, “It’s time for this to end, this is childish. You guys are cursing in songs and sending messages to one another. Confront each other like two grown-ups.” So I went up to him and said, “Michel, it’s time for this to end. Tell me whatever you want to say, I’ll tell you whatever I have to say, and if we have to fight, we’ll fight and finish it.” He said, “You know what, it’s already finished. Because you came up to me and spoke, I appreciate that. That’s all I was looking for.” We talked for about an hour, and later he even came to my house and apologized to my mom. That was the biggest moment for me.
In life, problems happen. It’s like a fight with your girl, you might be angry, but when you make up, the love is even stronger. After the party, everything was settled. Micky on one side, T-Vice on the other side, musically we put an end to it.
Cheyna: Many people think that was just a strategy to boost record sales. How do you respond?
RM: I don’t think so. It was spontaneous. A lot of artists were there and can confirm that. They were shocked, and everybody was emotional. We never planned it. Honestly, we don’t need that kind of strategy. Things are already going well. We just wanted to put old issues aside and focus on better things.
Cheyna: Despite the weather tonight, you filled up the entire room.
RM: Yeah, a lot of parties were canceled tonight because of the weather, but we still had a great crowd. I was amazed. Coming from Miami, our plane couldn’t land at first. It was a big headache, but thank God everything worked out.
Cheyna: As far as the new album, will you be working with Micky?
RM: Not on the new album, but we will work on something together. Wyclef is also supposed to collaborate with us. We have a lot of projects. Actually, we’re launching a T-Vice phone card, and Micky will be involved in that too. Just wait and see.
Cheyna: You did an incredible job on the Parkway this Labor Day weekend. How did you manage with the bad weather, and how did it feel to represent Haiti in front of such a crowd?
RM: We felt a lot of pride. Seeing Haiti represented that way, with thirty or forty thousand people waving flags, it was powerful. It’s one of the biggest moments for Haitians to come together for a cause. We forget everything else and just show the world our culture, our pride, and our good side. With our experience on the Parkway, we knew what to perform and when to perform. That’s what I call maturity in a band.
Cheyna: It really looked like a sea of red and blue.
RM: It was emotional. From where I stood, asking everyone to raise their flags, it gave me chills.
Cheyna: I’m hearing there’s something going on between T-Vice and Robert Charlot of Top Vice. How true is that?
RM: I can’t comment much because I haven’t seen Charlot in a while. I’ve heard rumors that we stole his songs, but honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t been to a Top Vice rehearsal in years. Personally, I have no problem with them. In fact, Top Vice recorded a new song at my Vice 2K studio. I even sang on it, and Reynaldo played the keyboard. I respect Charlot, he was the one who introduced the digital concept in our industry. I think the rumors are just publicity attempts.
Cheyna: If there’s a problem, it seems more with bootleggers than other artists.
RM: Exactly. That’s my biggest problem right now.
Cheyna: How are you dealing with it?
RM: I’m going public. I want the fans to know what’s happening. I tried handling it legally, but the costs were insane, five thousand dollars for a letter, ten thousand for a request, fifteen thousand for another process. By the end, I was paying thirty-five thousand dollars on top of what I was already losing to bootleggers. And still, nothing came of it. They say they can’t find them, no address. So I’m telling the fans directly, don’t support bootlegs. That’s the only way we can fight back.
Cheyna: In closing, how do you deal with competition? Do you think it’s gotten tougher in the industry?
RM: Competition is healthy. We always try to bring something new and give our best at every performance, whether it’s three hundred people or twenty thousand. We’re always on time and always give energy. We also stay flexible. If the market changes, we adjust. Right now, young people like R&B- and Rap-influenced Konpa, so we give them that. If hard Konpa comes back, we’ll play that too. It’s about giving the people what they like.
Cheyna: Thank you, Roberto, for this wonderful conversation.
RM: Thank you! Keep up the good work. I visit the site often, it’s really nice. Keep it going, and we’ll be there behind you.
Closing Note
Roberto Martino’s words reveal a band that has grown, matured, and adapted without losing its passion. From reconciling with rivals to proudly representing Haiti on international stages, T-Vice continues to push forward despite industry challenges like piracy. With flexibility, energy, and a commitment to their fans, T-Vice proves that even after a decade, their fire is far from burning out.
