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Musical Youth: Sean Kingston

If the name Sean Kingston doesn’t ring a bell at first mention it soon will. I think it’s safe to say that you should take a hint from Clinton Sparks and “get familiar”. The seventeen year old Kingston, Jamaica native is making waves in the US and abroad. His catalogue of accomplishments boasts hits for heavyweights such as Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and The Game. His unique style of Reggae chatting and rapping has the radio airwaves lit up like the Fourth of July.

Now residing in Miami, Kingston has strong family ties of successful artistry and is the premier artist on production savant J.R. Rotem’s new label, Beluga Heights. Mecca Donna caught up with the barely legal Sean Kingston to discuss club life, Jamaica, hard times, the highly anticipated debut album and the success of his first single “Colors”.

Sean Kingston: Hello, Mecca Donna?

Mecca Donna: Sean?! What a gwon on yout?

Sean Kingston: *Perks up* Whah gwon star!!

*Laughing*

Sean Kingston: WOW…I was kinda getting tired. I’ve been doing back to back interviews all day. But you came in and jump started me! Your energy is craaaazy and real positive. I like that. People should all be like you. *Laughing*

Mecca Donna: Well, some writers do have a little bit of personality. I used to do Radio so…you know…

Sean Kingston: Oh, I see now. That’s what’s up. I hear that!

Mecca Donna: Seventeen years old huh?

Sean Kingston: Yeah man.

Mecca Donna: So how’s the Industry experience been for you so far?

Sean Kingston: The Industry is good man…been treating me really good. I’m working on a new album right now and we are just riding the single right now. It’s getting real big.

Mecca Donna: Yeah. I heard the single. How’s it doing in the Clubs?

Sean Kingston: It’s doing good in the Clubs.

Mecca Donna; Wait..how do you know? You aren’t even old enough to be in the clubs.

Sean Kingston: Well you know I’m a little older now. So I’m allowed to be around now.

Mecca Donna: You’re barely legal now! So tell me was it worth the wait and the hype?

Sean Kingston: Man! The Clubs are great man! Yeeeeah, partying has been real good.

Mecca Donna: I heard the first single “Colors”. You released two versions of the single, right?

Sean Kingston: Yeah. I did the first version with Rick Ross and The Game. I did the Remix or the Jamaican version with Vybez Cartel and Kardinal Offishall.

Mecca Donna: Wow. What heavyweights. Kardinal, Vybez, Ross, The Game? Paint the scenario out on how that type of thing happens for an artist on his first run out?

Sean Kingston: Real talk. With Game the idea was “Colors”. You know like wherever you from you should be proud of that and rep that to the fullest. “Colors” is a street record. I’m asking people what colors you bleed. And with that concept being an Ice T thing we decided we needed a West Coast rapper to get in on the project. So that’s how The Game came in. And we decided to do Rick Ross too. With me living in Miami, how could I do anything without the Mayor Rick Ross. He is so major right now down here. Everybody loves Ross. How can you possibly go wrong with Rick Ross? So we got him to come in on the project and he ripped it.

Mecca Donna: And the Remix/ The Jamaican version. You hooked up with Reggae artists like Vybez Cartel and Kardinal Offishall. These cats are like royalty over in Jamaica, is that right?

Sean Kingston: Oh yeah. Definitely. Well Kardi is Canadian.

Mecca Donna: I heard about your Grandfather and Uncle, Jack Ruby and Buju Banton respectively. So you’re kind of already heavy in Jamaica because of your strong family ties?

Sean Kingston: Yeah! I’m heavy! My Grandfather, Jack Ruby, has a lot of business connections over there. And my Uncle Buju he is well known so that kind of makes me well off. You know all ghettos respect me. I can go to any hood and shoot a video of whatever. I get a lot of respect over there but still there are a couple of things that you have to be. I still have to stay humble, focused, and persistence is a must. I have to stay hungry if I want to follow in their footsteps.

Mecca Donna: Life was kind of difficult for you in Jamaica growing up. Hard knocks…are your Mother and Sister still incarcerated? Are you allowed to talk about it?

Sean Kingston: Yeah. A little bit. Well, my Mother is not out yet. My Sister is home and doing good. She has been out for about two months now.

Mecca Donna: What were they incarcerated for?

Sean Kingston: I’d rather not put that out there.

Mecca Donna: Your music is influenced by some of your hard times. Re-direct us to your album. Have you titled it yet?

Sean Kingston: Yeah. It’s called "Musical Youth". My management came up with the name. And when they suggested it I loved it because it like defines me so much. It describes me to the fullest because of my style now and you know coming from a family of artists too.

Mecca Donna: When does "Musical Youth" drop?

Sean Kingston: Fourth Quarter '07.

Mecca Donna: How many tracks?

Sean Kingston: 15...

Mecca Donna: Dang. You took it all the way back to when an album was 15 to 17 tracks.

Sean Kingston: Yeah. I had to.

Mecca Donna: Can we expect the same gritty/party anthem vibe as “Colors” on the album?

Sean Kingston: “Colors” is our buzz record. That is something to kinda pull things together for us. But the album has all different types of music on it. It has something for everybody. Something for every person, every type of fan who may enjoy good music. I can’t wait for it to drop. I worked hard on it.

Mecca Donna; your style is definitely distinct and I think people will move on the project because of its sound. Do you still produce for other artists? You record is pretty impressive youngin.

Sean Kingston: *Laughing* Aw, why you gotta say youngin? Yeah. I enjoy doing that so I plan to.

Mecca Donna: Who are you looking to work with in the near future?

Sean Kingston: I got something coming with 3-6 Mafia so look for that.

Mecca Donna: How did you decide on J.R. Rotem’s label Beluga Heights as opposed to some other spot?

Sean Kingston: I just felt like J.R was the best person to team up with. I felt like he covered everything and we already had a relationship. I mean he’s talented and he is somebody that I know I can trust. That’s very important in this Industry. You have to have people on your team that you can trust.

Mecca Donna: Definitely. The producers on your album boost the anticipation. You got Khaled, Cool and Dre, and Felli Fell.

Sean Kingston: Well, JR did most of the album. Me and JR just got chemistry. I mean the chemistry is crazy. And Cool and Dre they’re coming with a whole new sound! They are trying some new stuff out on my album. They are using it as an opportunity to break a new sound. It’s going to be nice. For real.

Mecca Donna: What was it like working with The Game?

Sean Kingston: People think he’s all serious all the time. But he’ll just crack on his homeboy or you out the blue. He’ll be talking about how busted your shoes are and stuff. He’s real funny.

Mecca Donna: I’m about to wrap this up. I’m the last on your list of interviews, right?

Sean Kingston: Right. They saved the best for last.

Mecca Donna: *Laughing* Thanks. Remember to personally read it at HHNLive.Com. And tell your friends too.

Sean Kingston: Ok. I’m gonna remember that too. Your name isn’t easy to forget so I’m definitely gonna pass it along.

Mecca Donna: Real quick. I know you have a Myspace page and who is the most famous person in your cell phone that you actually talk to on a regular basis?

Sean Kingston: Yeah. It’s Well...I talk to Jibbs a lot.

Mecca Donna; oh, Mr. Chain hang low?

Sean Kingston: Yeah. He’s cool.

Source-hnnlive

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