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Born Windel Beneto Edwards in rural St. Andrew, Jamaica, north of Kingston, Gyptian grew up singing in church with his Adventist mom by day, and at dancehall sessions organized by his Rastafarian father by night. “I didn’t grow up in a way where I’m limited,” Gyptian says. “It’s all about two things at the table, take whichever you want.”
First taking
work as a butcher—yes, cutting meat—a young Gyptian
gained his entry into
the Jamaican music business after meeting up with talent scout and promoter Ravin Wong and Earl “Chinna” Smith, the legendary reggae guitarist known for his
work with Lee “Scratch” Perry and
Bob Marley.
Under Smith’s
guidance, Gyptian wrote “Serious Times,” a single that would instantly put him at the
forefront of the roots revival that was taking over Jamaican music when it was
released in 2005. No fluke, a second hit, “Beautiful Lady,” followed shortly thereafter, as did a
third, the heartfelt “Mama.” A
debut album, My Name is Gyptian,
landed in 2006, earning him comparisons to the great Gregory Isaacs for its mixture of conscious reggae and sultry
lovers rock. That year saw Gyptian
take home the “Most Promising Entertainer” title at the 2006 International
Reggae and World Music Awards
in New York City, an
honor he has certainly lived up to in the years since.
Gyptian’s second album, I Can Feel Your Pain, followed in 2008, which featured the
title track hit and smash single “Love Against The Wall.” Two years later “Hold You” would make Gyptian the toast of reggae
once again, providing a jolt of energy felt throughout the music world. The
track instantly took over airwaves across the Caribbean in early 2010 and by
summertime became the most played song on New York’s influential Hot 97 radio
station. It was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association
of America for sales of over 500,000, becoming the first reggae single to
attain that status since Damian Marley’s
“Welcome To Jamrock” in 2005. Gyptian’s third album, also called Hold You, followed later in 2010, spawning a second crossover
hit in the infectiously catchy “Nah Let Go.” Gyptian would take home a range of awards over the
following year, including a MOBO (Music Of Black
Origin) Award for Best Reggae Act and a Soul Train Music
Award for Best Reggae Artist.
Never one to
leave his fans hanging, Gyptian has stayed active in the three years since “Hold You” took the music world by storm. He kept his
voice ringing in the dancehalls during 2011 and 2012 with his hit single “Overtime” on JA
Productions and the RVSSIAN
produced single “Wine Slow,” which created viral
dance frenzy worldwide. The
lyrics video alone for “Wine Slow” has
received over 7.5 million YouTube views to date. During this time, Gyptian also recorded a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s
“True Colors” (produced by Shance C. Brown
and Stanley “Rellee” Hayden) for Chevrolet and MTV Iggy’s “Cover The World” showcase—highlighting his versatility
once again for the global audience.
All of these
songs are among the tracks that make Sex, Love and Reggae, Gyptian’s most diverse and biggest-sounding set
yet. The album is co-executive produced by Jerry
“Wonda” Duplessis, who is known for cranking out hits for superstars such
as Miguel, Mary J. Blige, Lupe Fiasco,
the Fugees and many more. Sex Love and Reggae features
guest appearances from R&B divas Estelle
and Melanie Fiona and soca stars Bunji Garlin and Kes the Band. Global dancehall ambassadors Major Lazer also lend a hand with co-production on the title track.
Singles include the dutty wine-inducing “Nonstop” and
“Vixen,” an anthem for independent women with a classic
dancehall sample (from legends Fuzzy Jones and Reggie Stepper), and a big-room
club feel.
“Vixen is a song for the really strong women, who like
to be in control,” Gyptian says. “It’s for all the boss ladies.”
Its latest music video is directed by Jamaica’s talented Ras Kassa of Damian Marley’s Welcome To Jamrock fame. The track,
co-written by and featuring Angela Hunte
(of Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” fame), is currently picking up steam on
radio stations across the U.S., bringing a much-needed dose of dancehall back
to the airwaves. “It’s all about
being versatile,” Gyptian says of the album, and his perspective on music
overall. “For me, there are no boundaries in music. Pick one—there is a Gyptian
song in that category for you.”
Copyright 2014 Caribbean E-Magazine All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without credit..
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