Mark “Motivate” Merren hosts his Bashment party at Cantab Underground.

Cantab Underground is the place to be for Caribbean party vibes.

The Bashment party in full swing.

In 2010, Mark “Motivate” Merren began hosting live music events throughout the city under his entertainment party company, Dance Hall Lounge. He wanted to expand by creating a party series that celebrates Caribbean music and party vibes, an intersection of culture and music.

Fast forward to the present, the Bashment party series is going strong as Merren strives to bring these vibes to the entire city one party at a time. The series occurs every second Saturday in Cambridge at Cantab Underground on 738 Massachusetts Ave., from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

“The only place that you could get those type of vibes, mainly was in the inner city, you know, you would go to places … in the Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan area … and I wanted to do something that could bring that vibe and that energy to different spaces,” he said.

He says that while he is a firm believer in Black Boston, he also wants to take up space in different venues.

“Black Boston definitely exists within the inner city, but I feel like this whole entire city is our city, and we need to take up space in different spaces, and so that’s the energy that I was going for — trying to bring that same energy in different spaces and invite everybody else in to our world,” he said.

Merren also spoke about how he came up with the name of “Bashment” for this party series. It’s an ode to the classic basement house party. The party series originated at the Good Life restaurant and nightclub in the basement.

For those who may not have attended a Bashment party, he shares what party goers can expect.

“What you can always expect is 100% Caribbean party vibes. You are not going to get any filler. We don’t play any hiphop, we don’t play any R&B, we play strictly Caribbean party vibes, music of the diaspora. So, we definitely include Afro beats. We definitely include kompa, soca, but definitely heavy on the dancehall, heavy on the reggae music,” he said.

He added that attendees can expect inexpensive drinks and a diverse crowd of people dancing nonstop with full energy.

Merren’s passion for Caribbean music and culture began at a young age, fostered by his father who was an avid record collector and musician.

“We’re trying to be unapologetically Black, unapologetically Caribbean. My family is from Honduras, Central America, by way of the Caribbean, so I just appreciate and love that music,” Merren said.

Merren encourages community members who have not attended a Bashment party to give it a chance.

“Come as you are, and just enjoy the music, because that’s the most important part. That’s what we put first, the music, and we try to provide the best music possible...to [keep] the dance floor flowing. … It’s gonna feel like family.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at eventbrite.com/e/bashment-tickets-1778783973749