Ini Kamoze
| Ini Kamoze | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cecil Campbell |
| Born | 9 October 1957 |
| Origin | Saint Mary, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae, dancehall, reggaefusion |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | 9 SoundClik Columbia/SME Records EastWest Records Mango Records Island Records |
| Website | www.inikamoze.com |
Cecil Campbell (born 9 October 1957),[1] better known by his stage name Ini Kamoze (
/ˈaɪni kəˈmoʊzi/) is a Jamaican reggae singer. He is best known for his signature song, "Here Comes the Hotstepper", which was released in 1994, and subsequently topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number one in Australia and New Zealand, and number four in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Career
He made his first single, "World Affairs," in 1981.[1] Kamoze released a 12-inch single "Trouble You A Trouble Me / General",[1] released under the name Inai Kamosa.
His self-titled debut album was released in 1984 as a six track mini-LP on Island Records.[1] In the album notes he describes himself as a "pencil thin... disentangled... six-foot vegetarian".[3] The album includes the song "World a Reggae (Out In The Street They Call It Merther)" which was to be sampled by Damian Marley on his 2005 hit, "Welcome to Jamrock". The album was recorded with and produced by Sly and Robbie, with whom he also toured internationally along with Yellowman and Half Pint.[3] By 1988, however, Kamoze had effectively disappeared from the music scene following lukewarm reactions to his intermittent releases.[3]
Kamoze founded his own label, releasing a compilation album Selekta Showcase which featured a popular Kamoze single titled "Stress".[1] Four years later he released his next album, 16 Vibes of Ini Kamoze, which sold well.[1]
In 1994, Kamoze released the song which would become his signature, "Here Comes the Hotstepper". Adopting another nickname from the song title, Kamoze would become known as the "Hotstepper", from the patois for a man on the run from the law. The song was recorded with Philip "Fatis" Burrell and initially featured on a reggae music compilation Stir It Up, produced on the Epic label.[1] "Here Comes the Hotstepper" was not an entirely new composition, having roots in the song "Land of 1000 Dances", which was a #1 R&B hit for Wilson Pickett in 1966 and was first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962 and reprised in 1963 by Fats Domino.[1] The song appeared on the soundtrack to the fashion-industry satire feature film Prêt-à-Porter.[3] "Here Comes the Hotstepper" remains Kamoze's only US number one hit (see Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1994).[3]
Kamoze's career after this high-water mark featured the album Here Comes the Hotstepper which was released in 1995, and featured the production work of Salaam Remi.[1]
Both the riddim (known as "World Jam") and the hook of Damian Marley's 2005 hit, "Welcome to Jamrock" were sampled from Kamoze's 1984 track "World-A-Music", giving Kamoze co-writing credits.[4] The opening lyrics — "Out in the streets, they call it merther" — has been sampled in countless drum and bass and dubstep tracks. His dub version of "Here Comes the Hotstepper", otherwise known as "I'm Steppin' it Hotter This Year", released in 1993, remains a dancehall anthem.
In 2006, Kamoze recorded and released a double album, Debut, on which he re-recorded a number of his tracks. Debut was released on the 9 Sound Clik label, with which he was closely associated.
The artist's most recent album release is 2009's 51 50 Rule, an all-new studio release. The CD had tracks such as "Rapunzel" (feat. Maya Azucena) and "Hungry Daze." The album also had some guest features from Sizzla ("R.A.W"), and Busy Signal ("Ta Da Bang"). This was his second album released on the 9 Sound Clik label.
[edit] Album discography
- Pirate (1984) - Mango Records
- Statement (1984) - Mango Records
- Ini Kamoze (1984) - Island Records
- Shocking Out (1988) - RAS Records
- 16 Vibes of Ini Kamoze (1992) - Sonic Sounds
- Here Comes the Hotstepper (1995) - Columbia/SME Records
- Lyrical Gangsta (1995) - East West America/Elektra Records
- Shocking Hours (1995) - Greensleeves Records
- Debut (2006) - 9 Sound Clik
- 51 50 Rule (2009) - 9 Sound Clik[5]
[edit] See also
- Music of Jamaica
- List of Jamaicans
- List of reggae musicians
- List of roots reggae artists
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of 1990s one-hit wonders in the United States
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Biography by Michael Belfiore". Musicianguide.com. http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608004020/Ini-Kamoze.html. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 296. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b c d e Brennan, Sandra. "Biography". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p92360/biography. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ Allmusic.com article,[dead link] accessed May 2009
- ^ Allmusic.com discography
