Sunday, January 15, 2012

SPOTLIGHT: SAMPALOO


SAMPALOO (meaning discipline, honesty and loyalty) was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Seeing as he grew to become a professional athlete in Jamaica, he always thought that running would be his life long career. However, his fate had taken change after getting involved in a farm aid program which brought him to Canada.

Upon his arrival, he developed a passionate interest in music. Taking cues from conscious artistes like Josey Whales and Charlie Chaplin and dancehall stars like Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, Sampaloo forged his own style and began his music career. Sampaloo describes his music as “hardcore dancehall reggae” and addresses issues such as black on black crime and violence as well as family values and encouraging the youths to stay in school. He has opened for such prominent Reggae artistes as Sean Paul, Anthony B and Glen Washington.

Sampaloo cites his family as his main source of pride and encouragement and has gotten his children strongly involved in his music career. They have showcased their talents at many stage shows around Montreal such as Barbados Day, and Black History Month Celebrations, as well as travelled to Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton and Quebec to perform. Sampaloo made his radio debut in back in 1995, with a tribute to the Late Great Garnett Silk. His radio debut prompted invitations to appear at many other events such as Jamaica Day and Prymtym’s Birthday Bash where he performed to an audience in excess of 2,000, being so well received, he earned the title of Montreal’s DJ of the Year in 1995!

He appeared on Montreal’s very first International Reggae Festival as well as Calgary’s International Reggae Festival. He was also nominated for a Canadian Reggae Music Award in 2004 for his song “Immigration” which addresses the struggles he had encountered in Canada. His EP “Landed”, debuted in 2004, is an answer to his struggles being overcome! Since then he has created many more hit songs such as “Welcome to Montreal” (2007), “Black and Proud”, “Rumors” - Zero Tolerance Riddim (2010),“300lbs” - Badda Don Riddim (2010), “Baby Mama Drama” - StarBwoy Riddim (2011) – “Ova Gyal” Break the Bread (Chiney K Production/2011) and many more.

In 2010 Sampaloo released the hit song “I Got a Ceiling” the“I got a feeling – Black Eye Peas Remix” is a musical parody revealing the truths of the hardships that people living in the low income areas have to deal with. This hit took the internet by storm, making top ranking on sites suchas WorldHipHop.com, OuttaRoad.com and more. With the song’s success an official music video was made.

The artist doesn’t stop getting support from his community, with Radio DJ’s like Johnny Black, Don Smoothe, DJ Foot, Little Thunder Sound, Exile One, Mad Vibez Radio, Sebastian Olscap, Singing P, Dru, Fluxxy, Junior Vibes, Star Q, Kya Kindu, Kenn Dogg, Mike Mission, Stretch and of course his own official DJ; James Bond.  Sampaloo hasn’t stopped yet, and doesn’t plan to anytime soon.

The DJ just recently started to market his home; Jamaica harder than ever before. Recently releasing the already hit single “Nah Run, Nuh Hide” on Kimichi Records World Quake Riddim that featured the best of Jamaica’s upcoming artists, aswell as established artists Gappy Ranks and Teflon. He will soon release his 3rd official music video “Nah Run Nuh Hide/How Dem Suh Badmind” also a Viral music video for the recently recorded single “Roll Out” on the yet to be released riddim “Paparazzi”. The artist is currently working with labels such as Shastri Music, Kimichi Records, Jus Pure , and Canada’s own Indie Rootz Records.

With all this artiste constant success we plan to see much, much more from SAMPALOO.

By Miss Reeva Ann Proctor
For more info log on to Yuhseeyou



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