Ini Kamoze Shocking Out – 1988 Reggae

stock photo

Label:RAS Records Inc. RAS 3036Format:Vinyl, LP, AlbumCountry:USReleased:1988Genre:ReggaeStyle:Reggae

Tracklist

Cover Condition (Out of 10) ~9 slight slight taerback cover
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~10
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
Side # 1 – 10
Side # 2 – 10

# 26

He made his firstsingle, “World Affairs”, in 1981. Kamoze then released a 12-inch single “Trouble You A Trouble Me”/”General” in 1983. His self-titled debut album was released in 1984 as a six trackmini-LPonIsland Records.

The album was recorded with and produced bySly and Robbie, with whom he toured internationally along withYellowmanandHalf Pint.Kamoze was known for his “commanding presence” and “sinuous vocal style”. By 1988, however, he had effectively disappeared from the music scene.

Kamoze founded his own label, releasing acompilation albumSelekta Showcasewhich featured a popular Kamoze single titled “Stress”Four years later he released his next album,16 Vibes of Ini Kamoze, which sold well.

In 1994, Kamoze released the song which would become his signature, “Here Comes the Hotstepper”. Kamoze would become known as the “Hotstepper”, from thepatoisfor a man on the run from the law. The song was originally recorded withPhilip “Fatis” Burrelland later remixed bySalaam Remi, and initially featured on a reggae music compilationStir It Up, released on theEpiclabel.[1][9]”Here Comes the Hotstepper” was not an entirely new composition, having roots in the song “Land of 1000 Dances”, which was a number oneR&Bhit forWilson Pickettin 1966 and was first recorded byChris Kennerin 1962 and reprised in 1963 byFats Domino.[1][9]The remixed version of the track also incorporates the bass line fromTaana Gardner’s 1981 single “Heartbeat”.[10]The song appeared on thesoundtrackto the fashion-industrysatirefeature filmPrt–Porter. “Here Comes the Hotstepper” remains Kamoze’s onlyUSnumber onehit (seeHot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1994)

The success of the single sparked an intense bidding war with several major labels hoping to sign him.Kamoze signed a seven album deal withElektra Recordsin November 1994.

Kamoze’s career after this high-water mark featured the compilation albumHere Comes the Hotstepperwhich was released in 1995 byColumbia Records(against Kamoze’s wishes), around the same time as his first album for Elektra,Lyrical Gangsta.

Both theriddim(known as “World Jam”) and the hook ofDamian Marley’s 2005 hit “Welcome to Jamrock” were sampled from Kamoze’s 1984 track “World-A-Music”.The opening line “Out in the streets, they call it merther” has been sampled in countlessdrum and bassanddubsteptracks. 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 2005, Kamoze recorded and released adouble album,Debut, on which he re-recorded a number of tracks from earlier in his career.Debutwas released on his own 9 Sound Clik label

The artist’s most recent album release is 2009’s51 50 Rule. The album includes tracks such as “Rapunzel” (feat.Maya Azucena) and “Hungry Daze”. The album also had some guest features fromSizzla(“R.A.W”), andBusy Signal(“Ta Da Bang”). This was his second album released on the 9 Sound Clik label.

Kamoze has also written a book on the history ofPort Royal, and a play,Runnings.

His name means “mountain of the true God”