Gyptian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gyptian
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Gyptian in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Windel Beneto Edwards |
| Born | 25 October 1983 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | VP |
Windel Beneto Edwards (born 25 October 1983) is a famous Jamaican reggae singer. Most people know him by his stage name, Gyptian. He is known for his unique style of reggae music. This often includes roots reggae and dancehall sounds.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Windel Edwards was born in Jamaica. His mother was a Seventh-day Adventist. His father followed the Rastafarian faith. From a young age, Gyptian loved music. He started singing in church when he was just seven years old.
He grew up in a small place called King Weston District. His parents saw his talent. They introduced him to a music producer named Mr. Wong. Mr. Wong was from Portmore. At first, Gyptian did not take music seriously. But his family kept taking him to Mr. Wong's studio. One day, they left him there, and his music journey truly began.
Building a Music Career
How Gyptian Got His Name
Gyptian worked with Mr. Wong and Earl Chinna Smith. They helped him improve his singing style. In 2004, he won a talent show called Star Search. This win helped him perform at Sting 2004. Sting is a very big reggae music show in Jamaica.
He got the name "Gyptian" because of his style. He used to tie a shirt around his head. He also twisted his chin hair. This made him look like an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
Early Hit Songs
In 2005, Gyptian had two popular songs. These were "Is There A Place" and "Serious Times". His music quickly became popular in Jamaica. In 2006, he was nominated for an award. It was for Best New Entertainer. This was at the International Reggae and World Music Awards.
He had many hits on the Jamaican music charts. These included "Is There a Place" and "Beautiful Lady". His song "Mama, Don't Cry" was also a big hit.
On September 12, 2006, Gyptian released his first album. It was called My Name Is Gyptian. VP Records released this album. His second album, I Can Feel Your Pain, came out in 2008.
Worldwide Success with "Hold Yuh"
In 2010, Gyptian's song "Hold Yuh" became a huge hit. It was popular all over the world. The song reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It also did well on other Billboard charts. These included the R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. "Hold Yuh" stayed at the top of the Reggae Digital Songs chart for nine weeks.
The song also became popular in Canada. It reached number 69 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. A famous rapper, Nicki Minaj, even made an official remix of "Hold Yuh". This song spent many weeks on the Billboard charts.
Gyptian's third album was also called Hold You. It reached number 2 on Billboard's Reggae Albums Chart. Music experts said that Gyptian was getting a lot of attention. This was the most attention an underground reggae artist had received in the U.S. since Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go".
"Hold Yuh" also became very popular in the United Kingdom. It was released there with special remixes. These remixes were made by artists like Shy FX and Major Lazer.
In 2012, Gyptian released an EP called SLR. An EP is like a mini-album. His fourth album came out in October 2013. It quickly became number one on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.
Music Style
Gyptian's music style is often called lovers rock and roots reggae. He sings about important topics. These include political issues and love. People compare his musical style to other famous Jamaican singers. These include Sizzla, Luciano, and Beres Hammond.
Personal Life
Gyptian lives in Jamaica. He is a Rastafarian. You can hear his faith in some of his songs. For example, in "Leave Us Alone," he sings about Selassie I.
In June 2006, Gyptian faced a sad time. His twin sons passed away after being born too early. In June 2010, he had a motorbike accident. He had some minor injuries but recovered.
Images for kids
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Gyptian in 2010
