In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for time, plural: tempi) is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece. 's Sonata K. 331, which indicates the tempo as "Andante grazioso" and a modern editor's metronome marking: " = 120".]]

Measuring tempo

The tempo of a piece will typically be written at the start of a piece of music, and in modern music is usually indicated in beats per minute (BPM). This means that a particular note value (for example, a quarter note or crotchet) is specified as the beat, and the marking indicates that a certain number of these beats must be played per minute. The greater the tempo, the larger the number of beats that must be played in a minute is, and, therefore, the faster a piece must be played. Mathematical tempo markings of this kind became increasingly popular during the first half of the 19th century, after the metronome had been invented by Johann Nepomuk Mälzel, although early metronomes were somewhat inconsistent. Beethoven was the first composer to use the metronome, and in 1817 he published metronomic indications for his (then) eight symphonies. Some of these markings are today contentious, such as those on his "Hammerklavier" Sonata and Ninth Symphony, seeming to many to be almost impossibly fast, as is also the case for many of the works of Schumann.

With the advent of modern electronics, BPM became an extremely precise measure. Music sequencers use the BPM system to denote tempo.

As an alternative to metronome markings, some 20th century composers (such as Béla Bartók and John Cage) would give the total execution time of a piece, from which the proper tempo can be roughly derived.

Tempo is as crucial in contemporary music as it is in classical. In electronic dance music, accurate knowledge of a tune's BPM is important to DJs for the purposes of beatmatching. A database of BPMs for thousands of popular songs played by DJs is available in printed or downloadable formats at bpmlist.com.

Musical vocabulary for tempo

Whether a music piece has a mathematical time indication or not, in classical music it is customary to describe the tempo of a piece by one or more words. Most of these words are Italian, because many of the most important composers of the 17th century were Italian, and this period was when tempo indications were first used extensively.

Before the metronome, words were the only way to describe the tempo of a composition. Yet after the metronome's invention, these words continued to be used, often additionally indicating the mood of the piece, thus blurring the traditional distinction between tempo and mood indicators. For example, presto and allegro both indicate a speedy execution (presto being faster), but allegro also connotes joy (from its original meaning in Italian). Presto, on the other hand, indicates speed as such.

Additional Italian words also indicate tempo and mood. For example, the "agitato" in the Allegro agitato of the last movement of George Gershwin's piano concerto in F has both a tempo indication (undoubtedly faster than a usual Allegro) and a mood indication ("agitated").

Understood tempo

In some cases (quite often up to the end of the Baroque period), conventions governing musical composition were so strong that no tempo had to be indicated. For example, the first movement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 has no tempo or mood indication whatsoever. To provide movement names, publishers of recordings resort to ad hoc measures, for instance marking the Brandenburg movement "Allegro", "(Allegro)", "(Without indication)", and so on.

In Renaissance music most music was understood to flow at a tempo defined by the tactus, roughly the rate of the human heartbeat. Which note value corresponded to the tactus was indicated by the mensural time signature.

Often a particular musical form or genre implies its own tempo, so no further explanation is placed in the score. Thus musicians expect a minuet to be performed at a fairly stately tempo, slower than a Viennese waltz; a Perpetuum Mobile to be quite fast, and so on. Genres can be used to imply tempos; thus Ludwig van Beethoven wrote "In tempo d'un Menuetto" over the first movement of his Piano Sonata Op. 54, although that movement is not a minuet. Popular music charts use terms such as "bossa nova", "ballad", and "Latin rock" in much the same way.

It is important to remember when interpreting these words that not only have tempos changed over historical time, and even in different places, but sometimes even the ordering of terms has changed. Thus a modern largo is slower than an adagio, but in the Baroque period it was faster.

Beats per minute

Beats per minute (BPM) is a unit typically used as a measure of tempo in music.

The BPM tempo of a piece of music is conventionally shown in its score as a metronome mark, as illustrated to the right. This indicates that there should be 120 crotchet beats (quarter notes) per minute. In simple time signatures it is conventional to show the tempo in terms of the note duration on the bottom. So a 4/4 would show a crotchet (or quarter note), as above, while a 2/2 would show a minim (or half note).

In compound time signatures the beat consists of three note durations (so there are 3 quavers (eighth notes) per beat in a 6/8 time signature), so a dotted form of the next note duration up is used. The most common compound signatures: 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8, therefore use a dotted crotchet (dotted quarter note) to indicate their BPM.

Exotic time and particularly slow time signatures may indicate their BPM tempo using other note durations.

Beats per minute became common terminology in disco because of its usefulness to DJs, and remain important in the same genre and other dance music.

In this context the beats measured are either crotchets (quarter notes) in the time signature (sometimes called down-beats, although the term is ambiguous), or drum beats (typically bass-drum or another functionally similar synthesized sound), whichever is more frequent. Higher BPM values are therefore achievable by increasing the number of drum beats, without increasing the tempo of the music. House music is faster around 120-128 bpm (from regular house music to UK Garage), and Jungle music generally ranges between 150-180 bpm. Psytrance is almost exclusively produced at 145 BPM, whereas Speedcore and Gabber music both frequently exceed 180 bpm.

Extreme BPM

More extreme BPMs are achievable at the same underlying tempo with very fast drum patterns, often expressed as drum rolls. Such compositions often exhibit a much slower underlying tempo, but may increase the BPM by adding additional percussive beats. Extreme music subgenres such as speedcore and cybergrind often strive to reach excessively high BPM rates. The use of extreme tempo was very common in the fast bebop jazz from the 1940s and 1950s. A common jazz tune such as "Cherokee" was often performed at quarter note equal to or sometimes exceeding 368 BPM. Some of Charlie Parker's famous tunes (Bebop, Sha Nuff, Donna Lee) have been performed at 380 BPM plus. John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" was performed at a BPM of quarter note equal to 374.

Beatmatching

Beatmatching, a tool amongst DJs, concerns the speeding up or down of a record in order to match the BPM of a previous track so both can be seamlessly mixed.

DJs often beatmatch the underlying tempos of recordings, rather than their strict BPM, particularly when dealing with high BPM tracks. A 240 BPM track, for example, will normally match the beat of a 120 BPM track without slowing down or speeding up, because both are likely to have an underlying tempo of 120 crotchets (quarter notes) per minute. Thus, some soul music (around 75-90 beats per minute) can be mixed well with a drum and bass beat (from 150-185 beats per minute).

Normally, the pitch and BPM of a track are linked: spin a disc 10% faster and both pitch and tempo will be 10% higher. Software processing to change the pitch without changing the tempo, or vice-versa, is called time-stretching or pitch-shifting. While it works fairly well for small adjustments (± 20%), the result can be noisy and unmusical for larger changes.

Measures per minute

Measures per Minute (MPM) or bars per minute is another way to measure the speed of music: the number of measures in one minute. It is commonly used in ballroom dance music.

Italian tempo markings

The definitions of the Italian tempo markings mentioned in this section can be found in the Harvard Dictionary of Music and/or the online Italian-English dictionary, both of which are listed in Sources.

Basic tempo markings

All of these markings are based on a few root words. By adding an -issimo ending the word is amplified/made louder, by adding an -ino ending the word is diminished/made softer, and by adding an -etto ending the word is endeared.

Larghissimo — very, very slow (20 bpm and below)

Lento — very slow (40–60 bpm)

Largo — very slow (40–60 bpm), like lento

Larghetto — rather broadly (60–66 bpm)

Grave — slow and solemn

Adagio — slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66–76 bpm)

Adagietto — rather slow (70–80 bpm)

Andante — at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)

''Andante Moderato — a bit faster than andante

Andantino – slightly faster than andante

Moderato — moderately (101-110 bpm)

Allegretto — moderately fast (but less so than allegro)

Allegro moderato — moderately quick (112–124 bpm)

Allegro — fast, quickly and bright or "march tempo" (120–139 bpm)

Vivace — lively and fast (˜140 bpm) (quicker than allegro)

Vivacissimo — very fast and lively

Allegrissimo — very fast

Presto — very fast (168–200 bpm)

Prestissimo — extremely fast (more than 200bpm)

"Please note that there are more terms but these are just the basic ones"

Additional Terms: A piacere — the performer may use his own discretion with regard to tempo and rhythm; literally "at pleasure"

L'istesso tempo — at the same speed

Tempo comodo — at a comfortable (normal) speed

Tempo di... — the speed of a ... (such as Tempo di valse (speed of a waltz), Tempo di marcia (speed of a march))

Tempo giusto — at a consistent speed, at the 'right' speed, in strict tempo

Tempo semplice — simple, regular speed, plainly

Note: Metronome markings are a guide only and depending on the time signature and the piece itself, these figures may not be appropriate in every circumstance.

Common qualifiers

alla — in the manner or style of, as in:

*alla breve — in short style, i.e., duple time, with the half note (minim) rather than the quarter note (crotchet) as the beat; cut time; 2/2 instead of 4/4; often marked as a semicircle with a vertical line through it (see Time signature)

alla marcia — in the manner of a march (e.g., Beethoven, op. 101)

*all' ongarese — in Hungarian style

alla (danza) tedesca — in the style of the Ländler (ca. 1800), and similar dances in rather quick triple meter (see Beethoven, op. 79, op. 130)

*alla turca — in the Turkish style, that is, in imitation of Turkish military music (Janizary music), which became popular in Europe in the late 18th century (e.g., Mozart, K. 331, K. 384)

*alla zingarese — in the style of Gypsy music

assai — much, as in allegro assai, quite fast

ben — well, as in ben marcato (well marked or accented)

con bravura— with skill con brio — with vigor and spirit

con fuoco — with fire

con moto — with motion

deciso — decidedly, decisively

fugato — in fugal style, usually part of a non-fugal composition; such passages often occur in the development sections of symphonies, sonatas, and quartets

in modo — in the manner of, in the style of: in modo napolitano (in Neapolitan style), in modo di marcia funebre (in the manner of a funeral march)

meno — less, as in meno mosso (less quickly)

mena — almost none, as in mena forte (almost not at all loud)

misterioso — mysterious

molto — much, very, as in molto allegro (very quick) or molto adagio (very slow)

non troppo — not too much, e.g. allegro non troppo (or allegro ma non troppo) means "fast, but not too much"

non tanto — not so much

più — more, as in più allegro (more quickly); used as a relative indication when the tempo changes

piuttosto — rather, as in piuttosto allegro (rather quick)

poco — slightly, little, as in Poco adagio

poco a poco — little by little

polacca — generic name for Polish dances, usually the polonaise, as in tempo di polacca; note, however, that the "Polacca" in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 shows little resemblance to the polonaise

primo — principal or early, as in tempo primo, the same tempo as at the beginning

quasi — almost, nearly, as if (such as Più allegro quasi presto, "faster, as if presto")

senza — without, as in senza interruzione (without interruption or pause), senza tempo or senza misura (without strict measure)

sostenuto – sustained, prolonged

subito — suddenly

Note: In addition to the common allegretto, composers freely apply Italian diminutive and superlative suffixes to various tempo indications: andantino, larghetto, adagietto, and larghissimo.

Mood markings with a tempo connotation

Some markings that primarily mark a mood (or character) also have a tempo connotation:

Affettuoso — with feeling/emotion

Agitato — agitated, with implied quickness

Appassionato — to play passionately

Animato — animatedly, lively

Brillante — sparkling, glittering, as in Allegro brillante, Rondo brillante, or Variations brillantes; became fashionable in titles for virtuoso pieces

Cantabile — in singing style (lyrical and flowing)

Dolce — sweetly

Energico — energetic, strong, forceful

Eroico — heroically

Espressivo — expressively

Furioso — to play in an angry or furious manner

Giocoso — merrily, funny

Gioioso — joyfully

Lacrimoso — tearfully, sadly

Grandioso — magnificently, grandly

Grazioso — gracefully

Leggiero — to play lightly, or with light touch

Maestoso — majestic or stately (which generally indicates a solemn, slow march-like movement)

Malincònico — melancholic

Marcato — marching tempo, marked with emphasis

Marziale — in a march style, usually in simple, strongly marked rhythm and regular phrases

Mèsto — sad, mournful

Morendo — dying

Nobilmente — nobly (in a noble way)

Patètico — with great emotion

Pesante — heavily

Sautillé/ Saltando — jumpy, fast, and short

Scherzando — playfully

Sostenuto — sustained, sometimes with a slackening of tempo

Spiccato — slow sautillé, with a bouncy manner

Teneroso — tenderness

Tranquillamente — adverb of tranquillo, "calmly"

Trionfante — triumphantly

Vivace — lively and fast, over 140 bpm (which generally indicates a fast movement)

===Terms for change in tempo===

Composers may use expressive marks to adjust the tempo:

Accelerando — speeding up (abbreviation: accel.)

Allargando — growing broader; decreasing tempo, usually near the end of a piece

Calando — going slower (and usually also softer)

Doppio movimento — double speed

Meno mosso — less movement or slower

Mosso — movement, more lively, or quicker, much like più mosso, but not as extreme

Più mosso — more movement or faster

Precipitando — hurrying, going faster/forward

Rallentando — gradual slowing down (abbreviation: rall.)

Ritardando — less gradual slowing down (more sudden decrease in tempo than rallentando)(abbreviation: rit. or more specifically, ritard.)

Ritenuto — slightly slower; temporarily holding back. (Note that the abbreviation for ritenuto can also be rit. Thus a more specific abbreviation is riten. Also sometimes ritenuto does not reflect a tempo change but a character change instead.)

Rubato — free adjustment of tempo for expressive purposes

Stretto — in faster tempo, often near the conclusion of a section. (Note that in fugal compositions, the term stretto refers to the imitation of the subject in close succession, before the subject is completed, and as such, suitable for the close of the fugue. Used in this context, the term is not necessarily related to tempo.)

Stringendo — pressing on faster

While the base tempo indication (such as allegro) appears in large type above the staff, these adjustments typically appear below the staff or (in the case of keyboard instruments) in the middle of the grand staff.

They generally designate a gradual change in tempo; for immediate tempo shifts, composers normally just provide the designation for the new tempo. (Note, however, that when Più Mosso or Meno Mosso appears in large type above the staff, it functions as a new tempo, and thus implies an immediate change.) Several terms, e.g., assai, molto, poco, subito, control how large and how gradual a change should be (see Common qualifiers).

After a tempo change, a composer may return to a previous tempo in two different ways:

a tempo - returns to the base tempo after an adjustment (e.g. "ritardando ... a tempo" undoes the effect of the ritardando).

Tempo primo or Tempo I - denotes an immediate return to the piece's original base tempo after a section in a different tempo (e.g. "Allegro ... Lento ... Moderato .... Tempo I" indicates a return to the Allegro). This indication often functions as a structural marker in pieces in binary form.

These terms also indicate an immediate, not a gradual, tempo change. Although they are Italian, composers typically use them even if they have written their initial tempo marking in some other language.

Tempo markings in other languages

Although Italian has been the prevalent language for tempo markings throughout most of classical music history, many composers have written tempo indications in their own language. The definitions of the tempo markings mentioned in this section can be found in the Harvard Dictionary of Music and/or the online foreign language dictionaries which are listed in Sources.

French tempo markings

Several composers have written markings in French, among them baroque composers François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau as well as Claude Debussy, Olivier Messiaen, Maurice Ravel and Alexander Scriabin. Common tempo markings in French are:

Au mouvement — play the (first or main) tempo.

Grave — slowly and solemnly

Lent — slowly

Modéré — at a moderate tempo

Moins — less, as in Moins vite (less fast)

Rapide — fast

Très — very, as in Très vif (very lively)

Vif — lively

Vite — fast

Erik Satie was known to write extense tempo (and character) markings by defining them in a poetical and literal way, as in his Gnossiennes.

German tempo markings

Many composers have used German tempo markings. Typical German tempo markings are:

Langsam — slowly

Lebhaft — lively (mood)

Mäßig — moderately

Rasch — quickly

Schnell — fast

Bewegt — animated, with motion One of the first German composers to use tempo markings in his native language was Ludwig van Beethoven. The one using the most elaborate combined tempo and mood markings was probably Gustav Mahler. For example, the second movement of his Symphony No. 9 is marked Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers, etwas täppisch und sehr derb, indicating a slowish folk-dance–like movement, with some awkwardness and much vulgarity in the execution. Mahler would also sometimes combine German tempo markings with traditional Italian markings, as in the first movement of his sixth symphony, marked Allegro energico, ma non troppo. Heftig, aber markig (Energetically quick, but not too much. Violent, but vigorous).

Tempo markings in English

English indications, for example quickly, have also been used, by Benjamin Britten and Percy Grainger, among many others. In jazz and popular music charts, terms like "fast", "laid back", "steady rock", "medium", "medium-up", "ballad", and similar style indications may appear.

Tempo markings as movement names and compositions with a tempo indicator name

Often, composers (or music publishers) will name movements of compositions after their tempo (and/or mood) marking. For instance the second movement of Samuel Barber's first String Quartet is an "Adagio".

Some such movements may start to lead a life of their own, and become known with the tempo/mood marker name, for instance the string orchestra version of the second movement of Barber's first string quartet became known as Adagio for Strings. A similar example is Mahler's most famous work - the Adagietto from his Symphony No. 5. Another is Mozart's Alla Turca (here indicating the Janissary music type of mood of the final movement of Mozart's 11th Piano Sonata, K. 331)

Sometimes the link between a musical composition with a "tempo" name and a separate movement of a composition is less clear. For instance Albinoni's Adagio, a 20th century creative "reconstruction" based on an incomplete manuscript.

Some composers chose to include tempo indicators in the name of a separate composition, for instance Bartók in Allegro barbaro ("barbaric Allegro"), a single movement composition.

Rushing and dragging

When performers unintentionally speed up, they are said to rush. The similar term for unintentionally slowing down is drag. Musicians generally consider unintentional tempo drift undesirable, and these terms thus carry a negative connotation. Therefore neither rush nor drag (nor their equivalents in other languages) are often used as tempo indications in scores. Mahler is a notable exception. For example, he used schleppend (dragging) as part of a tempo indication in the first movement of his Symphony No. 1.

See also

Alla breve

As Slow As Possible

Half time (music)

Multitemporal music

Stop-time

References

Sources

Books on tempo in music:

Music Dictionaries:

Apel, Willi, ed., Harvard Dictionary of Music, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1969. ISBN 9780674375017

Sadie, Stanley; John Tyrrell, eds. (2001). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition. NewYork: Grove's Dictionaries. ISBN 1561592390.

External links

Research group specializing in rhythm, timing, and tempo, University of Amsterdam

Tempo indications in Mozart's music

Tempo Terminology, Virginia Tech department of music

Tempo variation among and within 300+ recorded performances of Beethoven's 'Eroica' Symphony

Dolmetsch article on tempo

All8.com's - Beats Per Minute counter Tap computer key to the beat

Category:Units of frequency Category:Rhythm Category:Italian loanwords Category:Musical terminology

Name	Norman Cook
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Quentin Leo Cook
Alias	Fatboy Slim, and others. See pseudonym section
Born	July 31, 1963
Origin	Reigate, Surrey, England
Spouse	Zoe Ball (1999-present)
Genre	Big beatTrip hopDanceRave
Occupation	musician, producer, disc jockey
Instrument	Turntables, keyboard, bass guitar, guitar, drums
Years active	1981–present
Label	Skint, Astralwerks, Southern Fried,
Associated acts	The Housemartins, Beats International, Freak Power, Brighton Port Authority, David Byrne
Url	FatboySlim.net

Norman Quentin Cook (born Quentin Leo Cook, 31 July 1963), also known by the stage name Fatboy Slim, is an English DJ, big beat musician, record producer and pioneer of the electronic dance genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Cook has achieved considerable success in the UK charts, performing as Fatboy Slim and with The Housemartins, Beats International and Freak Power. He currently performs as the Brighton Port Authority.

History

Quentin Leo Cook was raised in Reigate, Surrey, England, and was educated at Reigate Grammar School. He played drums in Disque Attack (a British new-wave-influenced rock band). When singer Charlie Alcock was told by his parents that he had to give up the band to concentrate on his O levels, Quentin took over as lead vocalist. At Reigate College he also met Paul Heaton with whom he formed the Stomping Pondfrogs. At 18, he went to the Brighton Polytechnic to study a BA in English, politics and sociology. Although he had begun DJing some years before, it was at this time that he began to develop his skills on the thriving Brighton club scene.

Known as DJ Quentox (The OX that Rocks) Cook and DJ Baptiste started putting on Youth Club Hip Hop jams in Brighton, sowing the seeds of the City's flourishing Hip Hop scene today. These primitive 80's block parties are recalled in the music documentary 'South Coast' which documents Brighton's cult Hip Hop scene from its grass roots to the present day.

In 1985 Cook's friend Paul Heaton had formed a guitar band called The Housemartins. Their bassist quit on the eve of their first national tour, so Cook agreed to move to Hull to join them. The band soon had a hit single with "Happy Hour". They also reached number one just before Christmas 1986 with a version of "Caravan of Love" originally a hit the year before for Isley-Jasper-Isley. However, by 1988 they had split up. Heaton and the band's drummer Dave Hemingway went on to form The Beautiful South, while Cook moved back to Brighton to pursue his interest in the style of music he preferred. It was at this time that he first started working with young studio engineer Simon Thornton, with whom he continues to make records. All Cook's records released from that point onwards have involved both of them to varying degrees (Thornton is credited in 2004 as "Executive Producer" for example).

Cook achieved his first solo hit in 1989, featuring his future Beats International member MC Wildski called "Blame It on the Bassline". Credited to "Norman Cook feat. MC Wildski", the song followed the basic template of what was to come in the style of the music of Beats International. It became a modest hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching #29.

Cook formed Beats International, a loose confederation of studio musicians including vocalists Lindy Layton, Lester Noel, D.J. Baptiste, rapper MC Wildski, and keyboardist Andy Boucher. Their first album Let Them Eat Bingo included the number one single "Dub Be Good to Me", which caused a legal dispute revolving around allegations of infringement of copyright through the liberal use of unauthorised samples: the bassline was a note-for-note lift from "The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash and the lyrics borrowed heavily from "Just Be Good to Me" by The S.O.S. Band. The 1991 follow-up album Excursion on the Version, an exploration of dub and reggae rhythms, failed to repeat the success of its predecessor, as it did not chart.

Cook then formed Freak Power with horn player Ashley Slater and singer Jesse Graham. They released their debut album Drive Thru Booty in 1994, which contained the single "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out". The cut was picked up by the Levi's company for use in a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign. In 1996, Cook re-joined Freak Power for their second album More of Everything for Everybody.

Cook enlisted help from producer friends Tim Jeffery and JC Reid to create a solo house music album under the Pizzaman pseudonym. The 1995 Pizzamania album spawned 3 UK Top 40 hits in "Trippin' on Sunshine", "Sex on the Streets" and "Happiness". "Happiness" was picked up by the Del Monte Foods corporation for use in a UK fruit juice ad. The music videos for "Trippin' on Sunshine", "Sex on the Streets" and "Happiness" were all directed by Michael Dominic.

Cook also formed the group The Mighty Dub Katz along with Gareth Hansome (aka GMoney), Cook's former flatmate. Together they started the Boutique Nightclub in Brighton, formerly known as the Big Beat Boutique. Their biggest song together was "Magic Carpet Ride".

Recordings, 1997–2008

Cook adopted the new pseudonym Fatboy Slim in 1996. The Fatboy Slim album and Cook's second solo album Better Living Through Chemistry (released through Skint Records) contained the Top 40 UK hit, "Everybody Needs a 303".

Fatboy Slim's next work was the single "The Rockafeller Skank", released prior to the album You've Come a Long Way, Baby, both of which were released in 1998. "Praise You", also from this album, was Cook's first UK solo number one. Its music video, directed by Spike Jonze, won numerous awards.

In 2003, he produced the Blur album Think Tank, and in 2004, Palookaville was Cook's first studio album for four years.

Fatboy Slim's greatest hits album Why Try Harder was released on 19 June 2006. It comprises eighteen tracks, including ten Top 40 singles, a couple of Number Ones and two exclusive new tracks – "Champion Sound" and "That Old Pair of Jeans". Most of the songs were shortened and heavily edited, resulting in almost fifteen minutes of unused space on the compact disc release.

In 2006 Cook travelled to Cuba, and wrote and produced two original Cuban crossover tracks for the album The Revolution Presents: Revolution, which was released by Studio !K7 and Rapster Records in 2009. The tracks were called "Shelter" (which featured long time collaborator Lateef); and "Siente Mi Ritmo", featuring Cuba's top female vocal group "Sexto Sentido". The recordings took place in Cuba's legendary EGREM Studios, home of the Buena Vista Social Club, and featured a band made up of Cuba's top young musicians, including Harold Lopez Nussa. Another track recorded during these sessions entitled "Guaguanco" was released separately under the Mighty Dub Katz moniker in 2006.

Cook has also been responsible for successful remixes for Cornershop, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest and Wildchild. In 2008 he did a remix of the track "Amazonas" for the charity Bottletop.

Cook released a mix album in 2010 titled The Legend Returns as a covermount album in the June 2010 issue of Mixmag.

Performances

On 13 July 2002, Fatboy Slim performed the second of his free, open air concerts on Brighton beach. Although organisers expected a crowd of around 60,000 people, the event instead attracted an estimated 250,000 who crammed the promenade and beach between Brighton's piers. Local police forced the event to end early amid safety concerns, overcrowding, and one death. After the music had finished and the crowd began to dissipate, traffic ensued throughout the Brighton area with many caught in traffic jams until the morning.

In June 2005 Fatboy Slim filled the Friday night headline slot on the 'Other Stage' at the Glastonbury Festival, a booking which actually generated a financial loss for Cook.

In 2006, Fatboy Slim filled the Saturday headline slot at the Global Gathering festival, Long Marston Airfield in the English Midlands. He played a two hour set, appearing in front of a visual stage set comprising video screens and 3D lighting. A firework display rounded off the show.

After being banned by police from playing in Brighton since 2002, Fatboy Slim was given permission in 2006 to play again in his home town. On 1 January 2007 he played to an audience of more than 20,000 fans along Brighton's seafront. Tickets to the event, titled 'Fatboy Slim's Big Beach Boutique 3', were made available only to Brighton residents. The concert was deemed a stunning success by Sussex Police, Fatboy Slim, and the crowd. The Cuban Brothers and David Guetta opened the concert. The next similar event, 'Big Beach Boutique 4', was held on 27 September 2008.

In 2008, Fatboy Slim played at the Glastonbury Festival again, and headlined the O2 Wireless Festival and Rockness Festival. According to an NME interview, this may have been one of the last times he performed as Fatboy Slim, as he may now focus on his new album, Brighton Port Authority (The BPA).

In 2009, Fatboy Slim toured Australia in the Good Vibrations festival. Also in 2009, Fatboy Slim played in Marlay Park, Ireland, alongside David Guetta, Dizzee Rascal & Calvin Harris; as well as one huge performance at the Sziget Festival in Budapest. He also has performed at V Festival 2009.

At Glastonbury 2009, Fatboy Slim played an unadvertised concert in the "pinball-machine" stage at trash city.

In 2010 Fatboy Slim headlined the east dance at Glastonbury Festival on Friday.

He performed on June 18 in Cape Town, South Africa as part of the Cool Britannia World Cup music festival at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

He will return to Ireland at Oxegen 2010 in July, following that he will perform at South West Four on Clapham Common on 29 August 2010.

Biography

Cook was awarded a star on the city of Brighton's Walk of Fame, next to that of Winston Churchill.

He married TV personality Zoë Ball in 1999 at Babington House in Somerset; in January 2003, Cook broke up with Zoe but three months later, they reconciled. They have a son named Woody (born 15 December 2000) and a daughter named Nelly May Lois (born 14 January 2010). Cook is a 12% shareholder of the football club he has supported since moving to Brighton in the late 1980s, Brighton & Hove Albion.

Q magazine named Fatboy Slim in their 50 Bands To See Before You Die list.

On 4 March 2009, Cook checked into a rehabilitation centre in Bournemouth to fight a "booze addiction" that he has been battling "for some time".

Because of an extended stay in rehab his performance at Snowbombing (week-long winter sports and music festival held in the Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen) was canceled – with the slot being filled by 2ManyDJs. Cook then left the clinic at the end of March.

Cook completed the inaugural Brighton Marathon on 18 April 2010 in a time of 4:53:10.

Awards

In 1999, the video to "Praise You" won three MTV awards, for best direction (Spike Jonze), best choreography (Richard Koufey) and best breakthrough video.

Cook's single The Rockafeller Skank topped the 1999 Pazz & Jop singles poll.

In September, 2001, Fatboy Slim's video for "Weapon of Choice" (also directed by Spike Jonze) received six prizes at the MTV Video Awards, the most given to a single winner that year. Cook was also a judge for the 6th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

Three Brit awards: 1987 (British breakthrough act: The Housemartins), 1999 (British dance act: Fatboy Slim), 2001 (British dance act: Fatboy Slim)

Bands and pseudonyms

Norman Cook — now his real name |align="center"| — |- | 2000 | "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" |align="center"|9 | rowspan="8"|Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars |- |rowspan="5"| 2001 | "Demons" (featuring Macy Gray) |align="center"|16 |- | "Star 69 / Weapon of Choice" |align="center"|10 |- | "Song for Shelter / Ya Mama" |align="center"|30 |- | "Song for Shelter (Remix)" (featuring Roland Clarke) (12-inch Only) |align="center"|90 |- | "Drop the Hate" (12-inch Only) |align="center"|101 |- |rowspan="2"| 2002 | "Retox" (12-inch Only) |align="center"|73 |- | "Talkin' Bout My Baby" / "Drop the Hate (Remix)" (12-inch Only) |align="center"|92 |- |rowspan="2"| 2004 | "Slash Dot Dash" |align="center"|12 | rowspan="4"|Palookaville |- | "Wonderful Night" |align="center"|51 |- |rowspan="2"| 2005 | "The Joker" |align="center"|32 |- | "Don't Let the Man Get You Down" |align="center"|153 |- |rowspan="3"| 2006 | "That Old Pair of Jeans" |align="center"|39 | rowspan="3"|The Greatest Hits - Why Try Harder |- | "Weapon of Choice (Remix)" (featuring Bootsy Collins) (12-inch Only) |align="center"|137 |- | "Champion Sound" |align="center"|88 |- | 2007 | "Radioactivity" (7-inch Only) |align="center"| — | |- |rowspan="2"| 2008 | "Toe Jam" (featuring Dizzee Rascal & David Byrne) |align="center"|198 | rowspan="4"|I Think We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat |- | "Seattle" (featuring Emmy The Great) |align="center"| — |- |rowspan="2"| 2009 | "He's Frank (Slight Return)" (featuring Iggy Pop) |align="center"| — |- | "Should I Stay Or Should I Blow" (featuring Ashley Beedle) |align="center"| — |- |rowspan="1"| 2010 | "Please Don't" |align="center"| — | rowspan="1"|Here Lies Love (with David Byrne) |- |rowspan="1"| 2010 | "Machines Can Do The Work" |align="center"| — | rowspan="1"|(with Hervé (DJ)) |- |}

Other songs

See also

The Chemical Brothers

The Prodigy

The Crystal Method

Notes

External links

A Conversation with Norman Cook

Fatboy Slim (Discography) – beatbuggy.com

Norman Cook's Cuban Tracks on The Revolution Presents: Revolution

Video: Norman Cook In Cuba (Interview)

Category:Electronica musicians Category:English electronic musicians Category:Music from Brighton, England Category:English football chairmen and investors Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:Old Reigatians Category:Alumni of the University of Brighton Category:Breakbeat musicians Category:BRIT Award winners Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:Grammy Award winners Category:The Housemartins members

Category:Remixers Category:People from Hove

Name	Tego Calderón
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Tegui Calderón Rosario
Origin	Santurce,Puerto Rico
Born	January 01, 1972
Genre	Reggaeton, reggae, hip-hop, Latin, salsa
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, actor, rapper
Years active	1998–present
Label	Jiggiri Records (2000–present)Sony BMG (2001–2005)Atlantic Records (2006–present) White Lion Records (2002-present) WY Records (2010-present)
Associated acts	Voltio, Don Omar, Aventura, The Game
Url	Official Website

Tegui Calderón Rosario (born February 1, 1972) is a Puerto Rican rapper.

Rundown

He is better known to his fans around the world as Tego Calderón, or by the nickname "El Abayarde" (given by his grandmother), which refers to a tiny, slow-moving species of fire ant found in Puerto Rico. The name is in reference to his behavior as a child, which was mischievous and troublesome. In addition to rap music, Tego is considered part of the alternative-reggaeton wave. He has also made songs that are considered "pure" reggae (e.g. "Chillin'" from the 2006 album The Underdog/El Subestimado). Tego believes that the roots of reggaeton include Jamaican dancehall reggae and hip hop as well as salsa. His album El Abayarde made him a major Latin star. Calderón has received awards for his work, including a Source Award from The Source Magazine for "International Artist of the Year" and a Tu Música Award. He has also received nomination in several ceremonies, including the Latin Grammy, Billboard Award, Premios Lo Nuestro and Premios La Gente. Tego Calderón has also broke records of attendance of audience at a concert in El Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Early life

Calderón was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Moving at a young age from his native Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida, Tego attended Miami Beach Senior High. Here he was exposed to several different cultures, eventually studying percussion and working as a drummer in a rock band. The band would cover songs produced by artists including Ozzy Osbourne and Led Zeppelin. Following the release of this album, reggaeton gained more influence with several hip-hop producers in New York. Calderón continued working on several mixtapes, being featured in remixes of Usher's "Yeah", Fat Joe's "Lean Back", N.O.R.E.'s "Oye Mi Canto" and Akon's "I Wanna Love You" and also Tego featured Aventura's "We Got The Crown".

2005-Present

Calderón participated on the 2004 and 2005 editions of New York's Puerto Rican Day parade. During this timeframe he became the first Latin American artist to be included on New York's Power-105. Calderón's influence among Latin American youth was noted in a featured published by the Village Voice. The publication claimed that he had "almost single-handedly. .. steered his country’s dominant youth culture out of the island and Latino neighborhoods, and into the American stream of pop consciousness.”

In the summer of 2005, Calderón signed a deal between Atlantic Records and his own independent label, Jiggiri Records, making him the first reggaeton artist to have a deal with a major record company.

In 2006, Calderón and both companies published The Underdog/El Subestimado. He noted that the production includes influence from several Afro-Caribbean rhythms including Reggae, Salsa, Bomba and Rumba. This production featured the guests appearances of Buju Banton, Voltio, Bataklán, Eddie Dee, Luis Cabán, Yandel, Zion, Chyno Nyno, Don Omar and Oscar D'León. Several producers were involved in the album, including Cookee, Major League, Salaam Remi, Eric Figueroa, Luny Tunes, DJ Nelson, Danny Fornaris, DJ Nesty, Naldo, DJ Joe, DJ Fat and Echo & Diesel. At the presentation party for the album, Calderón explained that he no longer considers himself as a reggaeton artist because this genre of music has become too commercial. Noting that reggaeton is becoming too similar to pop music and that he does not let his children listen to it at home unless it is on the radio.

Musical styles and themes

Although Calderón is a reggaeton artist, he claims to like "all types of music". Evidence of this is seen both in his biography (he began his career in music in a metal band and attended a school for music as a drummer) as well as in his music, which incorporates "'several musical tendencies'", including sounds and rhythms from places like Africa, Colombia, and the Caribbean. He obtains the sound for his popular reggaeton music through "fusing an experimental reggaeton style strongly rooted in the working-class Caribbean aesthetics of classic salsa with a strong dose of hip-hop". On The Underdog/El Subestimado, he collaborated with rap duo Anónimo Consejo to create a song entitled "Son Dos Alas" which eventually was shortened to an interdule without Calderón.

Calderón has also been praised for his lyrics, which are much more substantive and uplifting than the misogynist materialistic words that have come to define reggaeton as well as the majority of hip-hop music. Calderón has been described as "the reggaeton champion of an Afro-Caribbean working-class aesthetic" and is known for lyrics that are equal parts poetry and politics.

Film and other career projects

Calderón made his acting debut in the film "Illegal Tender" produced by John Singleton. Calderon played the role of Choco, a Puerto Rican gangster whose character was written specifically for him by director Franc Reyes.

Calderón turned down roles in both "Feel the Noise" and "El Cantante" and instead chose to appear in Illegal Tender out of respect for its producer. After convincing John Singleton that he wanted to appear in a comedy, Calderón is slated to appear in an upcoming Singleton film which casts him as the coach of a baseball team.

Calderon and Don Omar are featured in Fast & Furious, The fourth movie of The Fast and the Furious franchise.

Tego will appear in the fifth installment of the series, entitled Fast Five.

Personal life

Tego's father, Esteban Calderón Ilarraza, who died in May 2004, was a government worker for Puerto Rico's Department of Health. Tego's mother, Pilar Rosario Parrilla, is an elementary school teacher.

Tego is married to Michelle Peterbauer; they have a son, Malcolm X, and a daughter, Ebony Nairobi.

Discography

El Abayarde (2003)

El Enemy de los Guasíbiri (2004)

The Underdog/El Subestimado (2006)

El Abayarde Contraataca (2007)

El Que Sabe, Sabe (2011)

Filmography

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2007 | |Himself |Video game, voice only |- |2007 |Ilegal Tender |Choco |Film Debut |- |2007 |Bling: A Planet Rock |Himself |Documentary film / DVD |- |2009 |Fast & Furious |Tego |Cameo |- |2009 |Los Bandoleros |Leo |Lead Role / Short Film, Part of Fast & Furious |- |2011 |Fast Five |Tego | |}

References

External links

Official website

Tego Calderon, Artistas Destacado - Billboard En Español

Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Puerto Rican people of African descent Category:Puerto Rican musicians Category:Puerto Rican reggaeton artists Category:Reggaeton musicians Category:Puerto Rican rappers

Name	Nicki Minaj
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Onika Tanya Maraj
Born	December 08, 1984St James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genre	Hip hop, R&B;
Occupation	Rapper, singer-songwriter
Years active	2004–present
Label	Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money, Universal Motown
Associated acts	Young Money, Lil Wayne, Drake
Url

Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1984), better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-American rapper and R&B; singer-songwriter. In August 2009, Minaj signed to Young Money Entertainment with distribution from Universal Motown. Minaj was dicovered by fellow American rapper, Lil Wayne and after the three mixtapes, Minaj signed a deal with Young Money Entertainment.

After signing the deal, Minaj began working on her debut album, titled Pink Friday, which charted at number-two on the US Billboard 200, with Susan Boyle holding her off the top spot. Minaj became the first artist ever to have seven songs within the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Her second single, "Your Love" reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, making Minaj became the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List One month after the release of Pink Friday, Minaj's album gained a Platinum certification in the United States. Minaj is also known for collaborating with other artists, performing guest raps on many popular singles.

Early life

Minaj was born on December 8, 1984 in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago to parents of Indian and Afro Trinidadian descent. She lived in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago with her grandmother until age five, because her parents were looking for a place to live in the Queens borough of New York City at the time. Her mother would occasionally visit, and one day, when Minaj was five, her mother picked her up to move to Queens. According to Minaj, her father drank alcohol, took drugs, and once tried to kill her mother by setting the house on fire.

She attended Elizabeth Blackwell Middle School 210, where she played the clarinet. She graduated from LaGuardia High School. At LaGuardia, a school specializing in music and the visual and performing arts, Minaj participated in the drama program.

Music career

2007–09: Career beginnings and mixtapes

Minaj released her first mixtape in 2007, after releasing, Playtime Is Over with an unknown label. She later released another mixtape on July 7, 2008, titled Sucka Free, under the label of Be. On April 18, 2009, Minaj released a third mixtape and appeared in XXL magazine. Under the label of Trapaholics Records. In 2008 she won the Female Artist of the Year award at the Underground Music Awards. Minaj released Beam Me Up Scotty, another mixtape, in April 2009 which received positive coverage on both BET and MTV.

2010–present: Pink Friday

After a major record label bidding war, Young Money Entertainment announced on August 31, 2009 that Minaj had been released a 360 deal with the label in which she retains and owns all of her 360 rights – including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing. In an interview with 95.8 Capital FM, Rihanna stated that after the two collaborated on "Raining Men" from her album Loud that the duo would be teaming up together for a possible second collaboration on Minaj's Pink Friday. Hip-hop rap artist and producer Kanye West was also confirmed for the album.

On August 3, 2010 Minaj revealed on a Ustream.tv channel for her fans that the albums name would be Pink Friday stating, “To carry on a great tradition of Black Friday, we are going to switch it up this year in honor of the Nicki Minaj album and call that day Pink Friday, and call my album Pink Friday,!” A deluxe edition of the album was also released after the standard addition. Nicki Minaj released the artwork for her album cover on Friday, October 15, 2010.

Minaj's debut album, Pink Friday was released on November 19, 2010. A buzz single, "Massive Attack", was released in April. In August, Minaj released "Your Love" as the first official single from her debut album. The single peaked at 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, 7 on the Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart and topped the Rap Songs chart. Minaj became the first female artist to be included on MTV's Annual Hottest MC List and the first female artist to top the chart unaccompanied since 2002. In October 2010, Minaj became the first artist to have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously. Minaj released a joint single with The Black Eyed Peas front man, will.i.am titled, "Check It Out", which is Minajs most successful single to-date around Europe. "Right thru Me" was released September 24, 2010. Written by Stephen Hacker, Joe Satriani, Andrew Thielk, B.Evans and Minaj herself. The music video was released in late October, which featured Minaj a boy-and-girl relationship drama. "Moment 4 Life" followed "Right thru Me" and was released as the fourth overall single. The track featured Canadian rapper, Drake, which was released on December 7, 2010, which failed to chart as succesfully in the Billboard Hot 100, where it placed itself at number 63. However the single charted at number 10 on the Hot Rap Songs. Minaj's album gained a Platinum certification in the United States a month after the release.

Musical style and image

Image

In an interview with Vibe Minaj discussed her sexual image stating, "[w]hen I grew up I saw females doing certain things, and I thought I had to do that exactly. The female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot... and I thought that to have the success they got, I would have to represent the same thing. When in fact I didn’t have to represent the same thing." In an interview with Interview, Minaj commented on her sexual image again stating, "I made a conscious decision to try to tone down the sexiness, I want people—especially young girls—to know that in life, nothing is going to be based on sex appeal. You’ve got to have something else to go with that.”

Alter egos

While growing up Nicki was surrounded by constant trouble and fighting between her parents. To escape her real life problems she would create characters and live her life through them. She stated that in songs like "Bottoms Up" with Trey Songz it is not Nicki rapping, but instead Roman Zolanski, and claims that Roman is her "twin sister". Roman has been compared to Eminem's alter ego Slim Shady, and on the song "Roman's Revenge" from Pink Friday, Minaj and Eminem collaborate, using these alter egos. In songs such as "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" it is Nicki rapping. Wearing a colorful scarf around her head, she went around as the "healer to her fans" as she visited them at The Garden of Dreams Foundation at Fuse studios in New York City. Minaj made an appearance on Lopez Tonight on December 6, 2010 and presented a different alter-ego for the Spanish-inspired occasion, named "Rosa" (pronounced Rrrrrosa).

Influences

Minaj has stated that artists who have influenced her musical style include Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Natasha Bedingfield, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott.

Personal life

While some songs and interviews have implied that Minaj is bisexual, she has said that she does not date nor have sex with women, but added in an interview with Out magazine, "I don’t date men either". In an interview with Vibe she commented, "I just embrace all people of all lifestyles and I don’t tell them they are bad people. And I say girls are beautiful and girls are sexy and they need to be told that, and if they don’t have anyone to tell them that and mean it, I’m gonna tell them that. But I feel like people always wanna define me and I don’t wanna be defined." She reiterated her dislike of being labeled in an interview with OUT, saying: "The point is, everyone is not black and white. There are so many shades in the middle, and you’ve got to let people feel comfortable with saying what they want to say when they want to say it."

*Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (Won)

*Best New Artist (Won)

*Best Group (Young Money) - (Won)

*Best New Artist (Young Money) - (Nominated)

*Viewer's Choice: "BedRock" (Young Money feat. Lloyd) (Nominated)

2010 Teen Choice Awards

*Choice Breakout Artist – Female (Nominated)

2010 MTV Video Music Awards

*Best New Artist: "Massive Attack" (feat. Sean Garrett) (Nominated)

2010 BET Hip Hop Awards

*Rookie of the Year (Won)

*Made You Look (Won)

*People's Champ (Won)

*Hustler of the Year (Nominated)

*Lyricist of the Year (Nominated)

2010 MOBO Awards

Best International Act (Nominated)

2011 Grammy Awards

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "My Chick Bad" (Ludacris feat. Nicki Minaj) (Pending)

2011 NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding New Artist (Pending)

References

External links

Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:2000s rappers Category:2010s rappers Category:African American female singers Category:African American rappers Category:American musicians of Indian descent Category:American people of Trinidad and Tobago descent Category:Female rappers Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts alumni Category:People from Queens Category:People from Port of Spain Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Singers from New York City Category:Trinidad and Tobago immigrants to the United States Category:Universal Records artists

Name	Hugh Dancy
Birth date	June 19, 1975
Birth place	Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK
Occupation	Actor/Model
Years active	1998–present
Spouse	Claire Danes (2009–present)

Hugh Dancy (born 19 June 1975) is an English Emmy Award nominated actor and model.

Early life and career

Dancy was born in Stoke-on-Trent, the son of eminent British philosopher Jonathan Dancy, a professor at the University of Reading at the University of Texas at Austin. His mother, Sarah, is a publisher. He has a brother, Jack, a co-director of the travel company, Trufflepig Travel, and a sister, Kate, who works for Save the Children. Dancy was educated at the Dragon School in Oxford, Winchester College, and St Peter's College, Oxford. At the age of 18, he acted in the Winchester College Players production of Twelfth Night which was performed in both Winchester and at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall.

In 2007, Dancy had a starring role on Broadway as Captain Dennis Stanhope in Journey's End (Belasco Theatre). He also played Aiden in the 2007 film Blood and Chocolate. He portrayed the character of Adam in the 2009 independent film Adam, a man with Asperger syndrome. Dancy also appeared in the film adaptation of the novel Savage Grace by Natalie Robins and Steven M. L. Aronson.

Hugh Dancy appeared in MCC Theater's The Pride, written by Alexi Kaye Campbell, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City. This off-Broadway production was directed by Joe Mantello and co-starred Ben Whishaw and Andrea Riseborough.

Personal life

Dancy met Claire Danes on the set of Evening and they began dating after filming concluded. In February 2009, they announced their engagement. It was reported that the couple were secretly married in France in early September 2009.

His previous long-term girlfriend was UK artist Annie Morris.

Filmography

Television

References

External links

Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of St Peter's College, Oxford Category:English film actors Category:English male models Category:English stage actors Category:English television actors Category:Old Dragons Category:Old Wykehamists Category:People from Stoke-on-Trent

Name	Fat Joe
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Joseph Cartagena
Born	August 19, 1970 Around the release of All or Nothing, Fat Joe became involved in a highly publicized feud with another New York City-based rapper 50 Cent, who attacked Fat Joe in his song "Piggy Bank". His most popular song in which he performed was his Remy Ma duet "Lean Back" with Terror Squad. The song was a number-one hit in the summer of 2004.
Name	Fat Joe
Date of birth	August 19, 1970

Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:1990s rappers Category:2000s rappers Category:2010s rappers Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:D.I.T.C. members Category:Hispanic and Latino American rappers Category:Imperial Records artists Category:Rappers from New York City Category:People from the Bronx Category:Terror Squad members Category:Virgin Records artists

Name	Barrington Levy
Background	solo_singer
Born	April 30, 1964
Origin	Clarendon, Jamaica
Genre	Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion
Years active	1976–present
Label	MCA Records
Url	www.barringtonlevy.net

Barrington Levy (born 30 April 1964, Clarendon, Jamaica) Levy established his solo career the next year with "A Long Time Since We Don't Have No Love"; In 1979, Levy met Henry "Junjo" Lawes and Hyman Wright, both record producers, and recorded several singles with the Roots Radics, including "Al Yah We Deh", "Looking My Love", "Englishman", "Skylarking", "Wedding Ring Aside" and "Collie Weed", all of which became hits and established Levy's career. Levy's next few singles were similarly successful, including "Shine Eye Girl", "Wicked Intention", "Jumpy Girl", "Disco Music", "Reggae Music", "Never Tear My Love Apart", "Jah", "You Made Me So Happy" and "When You're Young and in Love". Levy then recorded several duets with Toyan, Jah Thomas and Trinity, and appeared at Reggae Sunsplash in 1980 and 1981.

By the time his 1980 album Robin Hood was released, Levy was one of the biggest Jamaican stars, and saw his international fame growing as well, especially in the United Kingdom. Taking a break from albums, Levy then released a series of hit singles, including "Mary Long Tongue", "In the Dark", "Too Poor", "I Have a Problem", "Even Tide Fire a Disaster", "I'm Not in Love", "You Have It", "Love of Jah", "Under Mi Sensi", "Tomorrow Is Another Day", "Robberman", "Black Roses", "My Woman" and "Money Move". He returned to LPs with Lifestyle and Money Move, followed by a British hit album called Here I Come; Levy received the Best Vocalist prize at the British Reggae Awards in 1984.

In 2004, he contributed to a track on the album White People by Handsome Boy Modeling School, a project by Prince Paul and Dan the Automator. He also did some collaborations with Slightly Stoopid on their 2005 album Closer To The Sun. Most recently, Levy made a guest appearance on the single "No Fuss" by Red-1 of the Rascalz, from his 2007 album Beg For Nothing.

"Here I Come" is also featured in Saints Row 2 and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

He also appeared on a demo for Jadakiss' latest album The Last Kiss called Hard Times

Discography

Albums

Bounty Hunter (1979) Jah Life

Shine Eye Gal (1979), Burning Sounds

Englishman (1979), Greensleeves

Robin Hood (1980), Greensleeves

Doh Ray Me (1980), JB

Run Come Ya! (1981), Jah Life

21 Girls Salute (1982), Jah Life

Poor Man Style (1983), Trojan

Lifestyle (1983), GG's

Teach Me Culture (1983), Live & Learn

Money Move (1983), Powerhouse

Here I Come (1984), Greensleeves

Barrington Levy Meets Frankie Paul (1984), Ariwa - with Frankie Paul

Barrington Levy (1984), Clocktower

Prison Oval Rock (1985), Volcano

Open Book (1985), Tuff Gong

Clash Of The 80s (1986), Cornerstone - with Cocoa Tea

Love the Life You Live (1988), Time

Live and Learn Presents Beres Hammond and Barrington Levy (1990), Live & Learn - with Beres Hammond

Divine (1991), Island/Mango

Turning Point (1992), Greensleeves

Barrington (1993), MCA

Duets (1995), RAS - also released as DJ Counteraction (1995), Greensleeves

Time Capsule (1996), RAS - recorded 1982

Living Dangerously (1998), Breakaway

Wanted (2005), 2B1 - CD+DVD

Working Title TBA

References

External links

Official website

Discography

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Dancehall musicians Category:Jamaican songwriters Category:Jamaican reggae singers Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:Jamaican male singers Category:People from Clarendon Parish