Mavado

Influenced from an early age by gospel, Mavado began singing in church at the age of 4, motivated and encouraged by his grandmother, who even accompanied him to his first studio session. Known for his catchphrases "anyway" and "gangsta for life", David Constantine Brooks, to use his real name, was born in the Cuba ghetto of Kingston, in the Cassava Piece community (a neighbourhood made famous by Augustus Pablo's song of the same name).

Influenced in his childhood by the crystalline voices of Sanchez and Wayne Wonder, the self-proclaimed "Gully God" also holds an unwavering admiration for Bounty Killer. Although he was originally brought into the business by Buccaneer, his early idol would ultimately become his true mentor. The Alliance selector Foota Hype arranged their meeting, and Bounty Killer immediately decided to take him under his wing. He soon put him in touch with three young Kingston producers, brought together under the Daseca label.

In 2004, the label released its Anger Management riddim, and Mavado's tune Real McKoy boosted his popularity and laid the foundations of his success. But it was with Weh dem a do, on the Red Bull and Guiness riddim from Delly Ranks' Pure Music label, that he finally reached the top of the charts. First in Jamaica, where he sat at number one in 2005, then very quickly in the rest of the world, with his track in heavy rotation on radio stations such as Hot 97 in New York and the BBC in Britain. His reputation rested on an innovative concept: a blend of angelic melodies and lyrics that could hardly be more hardcore. The new young Jamaican star began his ascent.

2006 was the year of consecration for Mavado. He turned out one hit single after another without faltering and established himself as an essential artist. Everything seemed to be going his way, but a few personal incidents tarnished the picture. First he lost his father, murdered in Switzerland, then a police custody that went badly wrong saw his head go through a window at Constant Spring police station. Finally, he entered a lyrical war with his former Alliance companion Vybz Kartel, which repeatedly sparked rather violent turmoil between the two deejays' camps.

Despite all this turbulence, he signed an exclusive contract with VP Records for the release of his first album, "Gansta For Life : The Symphony Of David Brooks". Dedicated to his father and built around his personal life, the record plays like a crime thriller with dark overtones and varied, shifting moods. This well-rounded album swings between melancholy (Born and raised, Don't cry, Sadness), redemption (Amazing grace) and a sense of honour (They fear me, Gully side), not forgetting, of course, a little touch of sex (Squeeze breast, Heartbeat). Above all it left its mark with the song Dying, in which he adapts a few Tupac lines to his own reality. In doing so he showed the world his full ability as a writer.

Regarded by many specialist media as the best dancehall album of 2007, this first effort made him the new icon of the dancehall world for good. Today he is one of the most in-demand and best-loved artists of the young Jamaican generation. Multiplying collaborations with international artists such as Foxy Brown (We on fire), Wyclef (Informer) and Jay Z. (On the rock remix), he is putting the finishing touches to his eagerly awaited second album, due out before summer 2008, again on VP Records.