Gyptian

Gyptian is a Jamaican reggae singer from Jamaica, born in 1983. He works across dancehall, reggae and roots reggae, and his music also sits within lovers rock and roots reggae traditions. His songs often deal with love and political subjects, and his style is compared with artists such as Sizzla, Luciano and Beres Hammond.

Background

Born Windel Beneto Edwards, he grows up in a religious household with a Seventh-day Adventist mother and a Rastafarian father. He begins singing in church at the age of seven, which becomes the start of his musical path. His parents introduce him to Mr. Wong, a record producer from Portmore, St. Catherine, and he later develops his sound under Mr. Wong and Earl Chinna Smith.

He gets the nickname Gyptian from the way he wraps a shirt around his head and twists his chin hair in a style associated with an Egyptian pharaoh.

Early career and recognition

Gyptian wins the 2004 Star Search talent competition at Kens Wild Flower Lounge in Portmore, which earns him a place at Sting 2004, billed as a major one-night reggae show. In 2005 he scores two hits, including Is There a Place and Serious Times. He is nominated for Best New Entertainer at the 2006 International Reggae and World Music Awards.

Albums and key songs

He releases his first album on VP Records in 2006. His single I Can Feel Your Pain appears in 2007 and later gives its name to an album released in 2008. Other well-known songs include Mama, Beautiful Lady, Love Against the Wall, Hold You and She’s My Lady.

Hold Yuh becomes his biggest crossover hit, reaching the Billboard Hot 100, the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, the Heatseekers Songs chart and the Rhythmic Top 40, while also topping the Reggae Digital Songs chart for nine consecutive weeks. It also reaches number one on the Dancehall/Reggae fusion chart in Jamaica and charts in Canada. The official remix features Nicki Minaj. The song later appears on his album Hold Yuh.

Style and impact

Gyptian is known for roots-reggae-inflected dancehall and for combining devotional, social and romantic themes. His work gains attention in Jamaica, the United States, the United Kingdom and other markets, and Hold Yuh becomes one of the most visible reggae crossover singles of its period.