Ini Kamoze
| Ini Kamoze | |
|---|---|
Ini Kamoze in 1998
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cecil Campbell |
| Born | 9 October 1957 |
| Origin | Saint Mary, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae, dancehall, reggaefusion |
| Occupation(s) | Reggae artist |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels |
9 SoundClik Columbia/SME Records EastWest Records Mango Records Island Records |
| Website | www |
Ini Kamoze (/ˈaɪni kəˈmoʊzi/), born Cecil Campbell; 9 October 1957, is a Jamaican reggae artist who began his career in the early 1980s and returned to prominence in 1994 with the signature song "Here Comes the Hotstepper". The single topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 as well as record charts in Denmark and New Zealand, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart.
He made his first single, "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 track mini-LP on Island Records.
The album was recorded with and produced by Sly and Robbie, with whom he toured internationally along with Yellowman and Half 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 a compilation album Selekta Showcase which 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, he released "Here Comes the Hotstepper". Kamoze would become known as the "Hotstepper", from the patois for a man on the run from the law. The song was originally recorded with Philip "Fatis" Burrell and later remixed by Salaam Remi, and initially featured on a reggae music compilation Stir It Up, released on the Epic label. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" was not an entirely new composition, having roots in the song "Land of 1000 Dances", which was a number one R&B hit for Wilson Pickett in 1966 and was first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1962 and reprised in 1963 by Fats Domino. The remixed version of the track also incorporates the bass line from Taana Gardner's 1981 single "Heartbeat". The song appeared on the soundtrack to the fashion-industry satire feature film Prêt-à-Porter. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" remains Kamoze's only U.S. number one hit (see Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1994).
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