Capleton
Encyclopedia
Capleton is a Jamaican reggae
and dancehall
artist. He is also referred to as King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet. His record label is called David House Productions. He is known for his Rastafari movement
views expressed in his songs.
Capleton rejects the name given to him at birth, given its European origin. He now prefers "King Shango", given its roots in the Yoruba language
.
As a teenager, he snuck out of his home to catch local dancehall acts, eventually leaving St. Mary for Kingston at the age of 18 to work on his career as a dancehall deejay.
-based sound called African Star, gave the untested artist his first break, flying him to Canada
for a stage show alongside like Ninjaman
and Flourgan.
When Capleton first arrived on the scene in the late 1980s, slackness
and gun talk were the dominant lyrics in the dancehalls. The pre-Rasta Capleton had a string of hit songs from "Bumbo Red" to "Number One on the Look Good Chart" and "No Lotion Man".
He recorded the song that began to establish his significant place in Dancehall, "Alms House" in 1992. The tune became a big hit in the dancehall, followed up immediately by "Music is a Mission" and the massive hit "Tour". By 1993, he was voicing tunes which became increasingly conscious, such as "Prophet" and "Cold Blooded Murderer".
Tunes such as "Tour" and "Wings of the Morning" earned him a deal with Russell Simmons' Def Jam Recordings
, which culminated in the Prophecy and I-Testament
albums of the mid-1990s.
's dancehall night, to much fanfare. The performance, which led to a subsequent headliner placement the following year, is credited with "re-bussing", or creating a comeback for, his career.
The 1999-2000 period elicited a string of hits, many of which can be found on the album More Fire
.
By 2004, some argued the quality of Capleton's music had been downgraded by over-proliferation on numerous riddim
s, while Capleton himself argued his continued recording over both dancehall
and roots reggae
riddims created balance in his musical output. Nonetheless, he scored hit singles over the two most popular riddims of 2004, "That Day Will Come" over the Hard Times riddim, and "Small World" over the Drop Leaf.
After a hiatus from the label, Capleton returned to VP Records
in 2010 with the release of I-Ternal Fire
.
After headlining a U.S. tour which included Romain Virgo
, Munga Honorable, and Kulcha Knox in the fall of 2010, Capleton embarked upon a tour of the African continent for late 2010 and early 2011. Stops included Gambia, Senegal, South Africa and multiple dates in Zimbabwe.
of the Rastafari movement
. Yet he frequently mentions there's no separation between the mansions of Rastafari as he see it, also concluding in the same interview on TraceTV where he admitted he doesn't eat meat of any kind, consume dairy in any form, or even eat anything from soya. "Not an ordinary vegetarian
.." he stated, "I'm vegan
." He also touches on the subject of his lyrics regarding fire, claiming they are metaphoric references of purification, not violence or murder.
lyrics in some of his songs. His manager has argued that some of the controversial lyrics have been mistranslated and do not actually refer to gays. Capleton himself has admitted that through his Rastafari faith he believes that a homosexual lifestyle is not right, but has insisted that terms such as "burn" and "fire" are not to be understood in the literal sense "to go out and burn and kill people", but as a metaphor for "purification" and cleansing. As part of an agreement to end the Stop Murder Music campaign, Capleton and other artists allegedly signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) in 2007.
However, Capleton has continued to sing songs that some claim violate the RCA, causing the cancellation of a concert in Switzerland in 2008 and a United States tour in 2010, and as of late 2010 the Stop the Murder Music campaign is continuing to have some success in canceling Capleton gigs.
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
artist. He is also referred to as King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet. His record label is called David House Productions. He is known for his Rastafari movement
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
views expressed in his songs.
Biography
As a youth, he was given the surname of a popular St. Mary lawyer and friend of the family, Capleton, as a nickname by his relatives and friends.Capleton rejects the name given to him at birth, given its European origin. He now prefers "King Shango", given its roots in the Yoruba language
Yoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
.
As a teenager, he snuck out of his home to catch local dancehall acts, eventually leaving St. Mary for Kingston at the age of 18 to work on his career as a dancehall deejay.
Early career
In 1989, he got his first big international exposure. Stewart Brown, owner of a TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based sound called African Star, gave the untested artist his first break, flying him to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for a stage show alongside like Ninjaman
Ninjaman
Ninjaman, alias Don Gorgon, is a popular dancehall deejay / Actor, known for his controversial and pro-gun lyrics and his stuttering and melodramatic style...
and Flourgan.
When Capleton first arrived on the scene in the late 1980s, slackness
Slackness
Slackness refers to vulgarity in West Indian culture, behavior and the music. It also refers to a subgenre of dancehall music with straightforward sexual lyrics performed live or recorded. Its form and pronunciation varies throughout the Caribbean....
and gun talk were the dominant lyrics in the dancehalls. The pre-Rasta Capleton had a string of hit songs from "Bumbo Red" to "Number One on the Look Good Chart" and "No Lotion Man".
He recorded the song that began to establish his significant place in Dancehall, "Alms House" in 1992. The tune became a big hit in the dancehall, followed up immediately by "Music is a Mission" and the massive hit "Tour". By 1993, he was voicing tunes which became increasingly conscious, such as "Prophet" and "Cold Blooded Murderer".
Tunes such as "Tour" and "Wings of the Morning" earned him a deal with Russell Simmons' Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
, which culminated in the Prophecy and I-Testament
I-Testament
I-Testament is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's sixth studio album.It was released on November 7, 1995. The album features guest appearances from rapper Q-Tip, Big Youth and D.V. Alias Khrist.-Track listing:...
albums of the mid-1990s.
Later career
In 1999, Capleton headlined Reggae SumfestReggae Sumfest
Reggae Sumfest is the largest concert festival in Jamaica, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay. Sumfest, started in 1993, is officially sponsored by Red Stripe....
's dancehall night, to much fanfare. The performance, which led to a subsequent headliner placement the following year, is credited with "re-bussing", or creating a comeback for, his career.
The 1999-2000 period elicited a string of hits, many of which can be found on the album More Fire
More Fire
More Fire is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's seventh studio album.It was released on May 16, 2000. The album is a mix of dancehall and reggae, with hit singles such as "Who Dem" and "Jah Jah City".-Track listing:...
.
By 2004, some argued the quality of Capleton's music had been downgraded by over-proliferation on numerous riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
s, while Capleton himself argued his continued recording over both dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
and roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
riddims created balance in his musical output. Nonetheless, he scored hit singles over the two most popular riddims of 2004, "That Day Will Come" over the Hard Times riddim, and "Small World" over the Drop Leaf.
After a hiatus from the label, Capleton returned to VP Records
VP Records
VP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
in 2010 with the release of I-Ternal Fire
I-Ternal Fire
I-Ternal Fire is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's twentieth studio album. It was released on July 6, 2010. The album is a mix of dancehall and reggae.-Track listing:...
.
After headlining a U.S. tour which included Romain Virgo
Romain Virgo
Romain Virgo is a singer from Jamaica, specializing in the lovers rock style of reggae music.He rose to prominence upon winning the Digicel Rising Stars competition in 2007, two months before his graduation from high school in St. Ann, Jamaica...
, Munga Honorable, and Kulcha Knox in the fall of 2010, Capleton embarked upon a tour of the African continent for late 2010 and early 2011. Stops included Gambia, Senegal, South Africa and multiple dates in Zimbabwe.
Religious views
Capleton makes reference to Bobo Ashanti, one of the various mansionsMansions of Rastafari
Mansions of Rastafari are branches of the Rastafari movement. Mansions include the Bobo Shanti, the Niyabinghi, the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and others. The term is taken from the Biblical verse in John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions."-Bobo Shanti:Prince Emanuel Charles Edwards...
of the Rastafari movement
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
. Yet he frequently mentions there's no separation between the mansions of Rastafari as he see it, also concluding in the same interview on TraceTV where he admitted he doesn't eat meat of any kind, consume dairy in any form, or even eat anything from soya. "Not an ordinary vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
.." he stated, "I'm vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
." He also touches on the subject of his lyrics regarding fire, claiming they are metaphoric references of purification, not violence or murder.
Criticisms
Capleton has faced criticism for anti-gayHeterosexism
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm and therefore superior...
lyrics in some of his songs. His manager has argued that some of the controversial lyrics have been mistranslated and do not actually refer to gays. Capleton himself has admitted that through his Rastafari faith he believes that a homosexual lifestyle is not right, but has insisted that terms such as "burn" and "fire" are not to be understood in the literal sense "to go out and burn and kill people", but as a metaphor for "purification" and cleansing. As part of an agreement to end the Stop Murder Music campaign, Capleton and other artists allegedly signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) in 2007.
However, Capleton has continued to sing songs that some claim violate the RCA, causing the cancellation of a concert in Switzerland in 2008 and a United States tour in 2010, and as of late 2010 the Stop the Murder Music campaign is continuing to have some success in canceling Capleton gigs.
Discography
- Gold - 2000
- Lotion Man - 1991
- Alms House - 1993
- Good So - 1994
- Prophecy - 1995
- I-TestamentI-TestamentI-Testament is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's sixth studio album.It was released on November 7, 1995. The album features guest appearances from rapper Q-Tip, Big Youth and D.V. Alias Khrist.-Track listing:...
- 1997 - One MissionOne Mission (Capleton album)One Mission is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's seventh studio album.It was released on October 18, 1999. The album features fellow reggae, singer Anthony B.-Track listing:# "I Am "- 0:47# "Who I Am" - 4:02# "Things Are Happening" - 2:53...
(compilation) - 1999 - More FireMore FireMore Fire is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's seventh studio album.It was released on May 16, 2000. The album is a mix of dancehall and reggae, with hit singles such as "Who Dem" and "Jah Jah City".-Track listing:...
- 2000 - Still BlazinStill BlazinStill Blazin is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's eighth studio album.It was released on February 26, 2002. The album is a mix of dancehall and reggae.-Track listing:...
- 2002 - Voice of Jamaica, Vol.3Voice of Jamaica, Vol.3Voice of Jamaica, Vol.3 is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's tenth studio album.It was released on August 5, 2003. The album features guest appearances from Pinchers and Uplifters.-Track listing:...
- 2003 - Praises to the KingPraises to the KingPraises to the King is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's eleventh studio album. It was released on January 1, 2003. The album features guest appearances from Gentleman, Luciano, Bobbi Zarro and Josie Mel.-Track listing:...
- 2003
- Reign of FireReign of Fire (album)Reign of Fire is the 13th studio album from reggae and dancehall artist Capleton. The album was released on August 26, 2004. The album is said to have production from Bobby Dixon, Khabir Bonner, Ian Forrester, Stephen Gibbs, Ryon Kerr, Richard Fisher and Stephen Marley-Track listing:...
- 2004 - The People DemThe People DemThe People Dem is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's twelfith studio album.It was released on November 23, 2004. The album features guest appearances from Military Man.-Track listing:...
- 2004 - Duppy Man (featured with Chase & StatusChase & StatusChase & Status are an electronic music production duo from London consisting of Saul Milton and Will Kennard. MC Rage & Andy Gangadeen also make up the live band.-2003-2005:...
) - Free UpFree UpFree Up is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's fifthteenth studio album.It was released on June 27, 2006.-Track listing:...
- 2006 - Hit Wit Da 44 Rounds - 2007
- Rise Them UpRise Them Up (album)Rise Them Up is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's fifteenth studio album, released on May 15, 2007.-Track listing:...
- 2007 - Bun FriendBun Friend (album)Bun Friend is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's sixteenth studio album. It was released on June 10, 2008. The album is a mix of dancehall and reggae, with hit singles such as "Yo Betta Than" and "Bun Friend". -Track listing:...
- 2008 - Yaniko Roots - 2008
- Jah Youth Elevation - 2008
- Liberation Time (featured with AZAD) (2009)
- I-Ternal FireI-Ternal FireI-Ternal Fire is reggae, dancehall artist Capleton's twentieth studio album. It was released on July 6, 2010. The album is a mix of dancehall and reggae.-Track listing:...
- 2010
External links
- Official website
- Capleton's profile at VP RecordsVP RecordsVP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
' website - History of Capleton
- Capleton Biography