« DOH by Serani feat. Bugle still holding down the # 1 Spot | Main | Jamelody's "Love Crazy" a hit »
March 27, 2008
I Wayne's phenomenal rise
Roots and culture artists have long been a constant in Jamaica, from the influence of legends like Bob Marley to conscious roots dancehall singers like Garnet Silk. However, in the summer of 2004 a new and powerfully distinct voice emerged on the reggae music scene. With a fresh timbre, substantive lyrics and passionate performance, this artist has almost singlehandedly led the new wave of roots and culture reggae music that has swept the island of Jamaica.
I Wayne, born Cliffroy Taylor in Portmore, Jamaica, officially hit the international scene with the hit, "Cant Satisfy Her." The, 24 year old, singer has been the first cultural reggae artist to be added to Hot 97 in New York, a station notorious for its hip hop influence.
Since then the track caught on in several markets and entered the
Billboard Hip Hop/R&B Singles charts. The fiery tone of the track describes the desperate reality of prostitution, poverty, and sexually transmitted diseases in Jamaica. His follow-up single, "Living in Love," went atop the New York and Florida reggae charts for more than seven weeks.
Although it seems like he recently burst onto the scene, this young artist has been refining his craft since age seven. Coming from a musical family, I Wayne first made his venture into performance as a student at Greater Portmore High School, joining a local group Vibes Machine. The group, consisting of singers and DJs who used to perform
for after work parties at popular clubs like Cactus and Asylum.
One night, the artist was forced to perform alone due to the fact that the rest of his bandmates were running extremely late. The response was tremendous, and I Wayne was motivated to perfect his solo act. He later moved on to chant with local sound systems like Diamond Cruise and The Legend, and has contributed significantly to the annual event in his hometown, Garveymeade, held on December 24th for the past 10 years.
With an admitted affinity for love songs that highlight his ethnicity, I Wayne has a unique ability to compose and commit to memory all material without ever writing down a word for the recording session.
In November of 2004, I Wayne signed a record deal with VP Records to release his debut album "Lava Ground." The album included the two hit singles "Can't Satisfy Her" and "Living in Love," as well as the title track "Lava Ground." He has since released another album, "Book Of Life," in November 2007.
I Wayne's rapid rise to the top of the reggae world is unprecedented, and has sparked a wave of enthusiasm within the industry for the next generation of roots and culture singers and songwriters.