Gyptian
Windel Beneto Edwards (born 25 October 1983), better known by his stage name Gyptian (/ˈdʒɪpʃən/), is a Jamaican reggae singer. He often appears with roots reggae songs within the reggae subgenre dancehall.
Gyptian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Windel Beneto Edwards |
| Born | 25 October 1983 |
| Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae, roots reggae, lovers rock, dancehall |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | VP Records |
| Website | www |
Early life
Born to a Seventh-day Adventist mother Pauline McCaulsky and Rastafarian father, Edwards received his musical calling at the age of seven, when he began singing in the church. He grew up in a small community in Rural St. Andrew, Jamaica called King Weston District. Recognizing his talent, his parents introduced him to Mr. Wong, a record producer from Portmore, St. Catherine. "I did not take it seriously," said Edwards "My family members have always been carrying me to Portmore to see him, but I usually disappear. One day, they dropped me off at his studio and left me and it all began there."[1]
Career
Career beginnings
Under the guidance of Mr. Wong and Earl Chinna Smith, Gyptian honed his sound, winning the 2004 Star Search talent competition at Kens Wild Flower Lounge in Portmore, earning him a spot at Sting 2004, dubbed the 'greatest one night reggae show on earth'.
The singer earned his nickname from his habit of tying a shirt around his head and twisting his chin hair like an Egyptian pharaoh.[2] In 2005, he scored two hits, "Is There A Place" on the Seasons Riddim and "Serious Times".
Nominated for Best New Entertainer at the 2006 International Reggae and World Music Awards, the singer has been dominating the Jamaican charts with hits including "Is There a Place", "Beautiful Lady", and the chart-topping ballad, "Mama, Don't Cry".
On 12 September 2006, Gyptian released his first album My Name Is Gyptian on VP Records. On 12 December 2007, Gyptian, while in New York City, shot the music video, directed by Rhona Fox, for his new single, "I Can Feel Your Pain" (Cloud Nine Riddim) Produced by JonFX. The song was the first to be confirmed to appear on his second album I Can Feel Your Pain, which was released in 2008.
2010 and crossover success
As of the end of May 2010, his single "Hold Yuh" had peaked at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 33 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart, number 6[3] on the Billboard Heatseekers Songs Chart and had been at the top of the Reggae Digital Songs chart for nine consecutive weeks.[4]
In June, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually reached a new peak of 77 on that chart, number 3 on the Heatseekers Songs chart, 31 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart, 63 on the Radio Songs chart and an astonishing peak of 28 on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40, capitalizing it crossover success. The song also peaked at number 1 on the Dancehall/Reggae fusion Charts of the Jamaica Weekly Music Charts for two consecutive weeks.[5] In Canada it peaked at No. 69 on the Canadian Hot 100.[6] The official remix for the song features rapper Nicki Minaj.[7] It spent 29 weeks on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. (Despite it sounding similar to Alison Hinds' Roll it gyal)
Gyptian had further chart success with his third album Hold You, which reached number 2 on Billboard's Reggae Albums Chart. The title track, "Hold Yuh", became a multi-chart hit worldwide. According to Billboard magazine, "not since Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go" has an underground reggae artist garnered as much attention in the United States as Jamaica's own Gyptian."
The song also became popular in the UK, and was released there on 7 November by Ministry of Sound Recordings, in an EP which will include remixes by Shy FX, Major Lazer and Toddla T.
In October 2012, he released the SLR EP, which included three tracks from his forthcoming album.[8] His fourth album Sex, Love & Reggae was released in October 2013 and entered the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart at number one.[9]
His latest album, Nothing to Lose, was set for release in April 2015, but never got released.[10]
Artistry
His style of reggae music is considered lovers rock and roots reggae, with songs about political issues and love.[11] His musical and lyrical style has been compared to established Jamaican artists, such as Sizzla, Luciano and Beres Hammond.[1]
Personal life
Gyptian is currently single and is living in Jamaica. In June 2006 his twin sons died after being born prematurely.[12][13]
On 8 June 2010, he crashed his motorbike and sustained minor head and shoulder injuries.[14]
He is Rastafarian, and this is supported by lyrics in some of his songs, including "Leave Us Alone", where chants about Selassie I can be heard.[15]
Discography
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [16] |
US R&B [16] |
US Heat [16] |
US Reggae [16] | ||
| My Name Is Gyptian | — | — | — | 13 | |
| I Can Feel Your Pain |
|
— | — | — | 4 |
| Hold You |
|
186 | 34 | 6 | 2 |
| Sex, Love & Reggae |
|
— | — | — | 1 |
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| SLR |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (FL) |
CAN [16] |
FRA [19] |
UK | US [16] |
US R&B [16] | ||||
| 2010 | "Hold You" | 31 | 69 | 45 | 16 | 77 | 31 | Hold You | |
| 2011 | "Nah Let Go" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Wine Slow" | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
Sex, Love & Reggae |
| "Non Stop" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Vixen" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2014 | "Wet Fete" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015 | "All on Me" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Nothing to Lose | |
| 2017 | "Belong to You" (featuring Lisa Hyper) | — | — | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
Featured singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (FL) |
CAN [16] |
FRA [19] |
UK | US [16] |
US R&B [16] | ||||
| 2011 | "Pum Pum Shorts" (Mr Vegas featuring Teairra Mari & Gyptian) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| 2012 | "Destiny" (Junior X and Gyptian) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012 | "Ma'Gyptian" (Magician Remix) (Ice Prince featuring Gyptian) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | Everybody Loves Prince | |
| 2015 | "My Number 1" (Stylo G featuring Gyptian) |
— | — | — | 45 | — | — | Non-album single | |
| 2015 | "Wherever You Go" (Karl Wolf featuring Gyptian) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020 | "Move It That Way" (Gisto, featuring Gyptian) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | "Relief" | |
| 2023 | "Gotta" (featuring De La Ghetto & Oryane) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | Single | |
References
- "VP Records / Gyptian Bio". VP Records. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- "VP Records / Gyptian Bio". VP Records. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- Heatseekers Songs. Billboard.com (5 June 2010). Retrieved on 24 November 2010.
- "Usher's 'OMG' Stands Pat Atop Hot 100, Miley Tames Top 10". Billboard. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- Reggae Vibes presents Jamaica's Weekly Music Countdown Charts Archived 17 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Reggae-vibes.com (19 November 2010). Retrieved on 24 November 2010.
- Canada Singles Top 100 – Music Charts. Acharts.us. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
- Broadcast Yourself. YouTube. Retrieved on 24 November 2010.
- Campbell, Howard (2012) "Gyptian: Ready to go", Jamaica Observer, 26 October 2012, retrieved 27 October 2012
- Jackson, Kevin (2013) "Gyptian tops Billboard chart on his debut", Jamaica Observer, 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013
- Morgan, Simone (2015) "Nothing to Lose", Jamaica Observer, 24 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015
- "VP History: A Reggae Music Journey / VP Today". VP Records. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- Yardflex
- "Interview: Gyptian | United Reggae". unitedreggae.com.
- Entertainment :: Gyptian in bike crash – Singer sustains cuts, bruises: 8 June 2010 Archived 12 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Jamaica Star (8 June 2010). Retrieved 24 November 2010.
- "VP Records / Gyptian Bio". VP Records. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- "Billboard Charts > Gyptian". Billboard.com.
- "My Name is Gyptian by Gyptian". iTunes. 26 September 2006.
- "Sex, Love & Reggae by Gyptian". iTunes. 25 October 2013.
- Steffen Hung. "Discographie Gyptian". lescharts.com. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- "British certifications – Gyptian". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 April 2023. Type Gyptian in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.