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Sean Kingston music biography continued...

in Miami, Florida on February 3, 1990, Kingston was predominantly raised in Kingston, Jamaica, after moving there at the age of six. (Hence his stage name.) Kingston and his family then moved backed to Miami, where the young man brought his talent for writing rhymes and hooks to the talent show and showcase circuit, eventually sharing the stage with such luminaries as Pitbull, Ludacris, and Trick Daddy. Producer Jonathan "J.R." Rotem (Britney Spears, 50 Cent, Rihanna) caught his demo and signed the young rapper to his Beluga Heights record label right before the major-label bidding wars were to begin. The Sony imprint Epic won and introduced their new artist in the spring of 2007 with the single "Colors 2007" featuring the Game and Rick Ross. A second single, "Beautiful Girls," was released in summer 2007. The single, based on the bass line and lyrical "association" of the 1961 hit "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and topped the UK Singles Chart. The next release, "Me Love," was a loose derivative work of Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er", off of their 1973 album, 'Houses of the Holy.



Kingston's self-titled debut album was released on July 31, 2007, winning raves from fans and critics alike. In October 2007, Kingston became the opening act for Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape Tour, solidifying his status as a power player in the mainstream pop music scene. As one observer said, "He's accomplished the rare task of creating a new genre where rap, reggae, pop, doo-wop and remarkable songwriting all combine into something totally refreshing. Add in Sean's family roots, which cite Jamaican legendary producer Jack Ruby as his grandfather, and you have one of the most exciting debuts this year." And while controversial hip-hop lyrics have sparked the biggest debate in years, Kingston clearly prefers to show his creativity without using profanity—a feat that both fans and industry veterans admire.