Deemi
Encyclopedia
Tahu Jessica Aponte better known by her stage name, Deemi, is an American
singer-songwriter
and record producer
.
, Brooklyn, New York. She had started singing at an early age. In 1988, when Deemi was at the age of 7, she won a neighborhood talent show. Her song of choice was Whitney Houston
's "Greatest Love of All." She was accepted into Manhattan
's Talent Unlimited High School
to perfect her craft. At the age of 17, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan. She transferred to a new school and a year later, she had her second child, Felicity. She would later drop out of the school but returned to receive her GED
. Things from that point fell apart. She relocated with the father of her children to Richmond
, Virginia
. She stated that at first it was verbal abuse but physical abuse soon followed. It got to the point she could not cover the bruises on her face. In 2000, she moved back to New York with her children. January 2004, her children's father was shot after being released from prison on drug charges 2 years.
Deemi openly talks about her life and the struggle. She talks about her relationship with her mom and that she was in an abusive relationship with the father of her two kids. In the song "Wasn't Surprised" she talks about his death.
.
Her first single is called "Soundtrack of My Life." Her debut album titled the same name, "Soundtrack of My Life" was supposed to be released on July 10, 2007. In "Soundtrack of My Life", she talks about her life story from the relationship with her mother, cutting crack
for her boyfriend, and drug and alcohol consumption.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Biography
Touching singer-songwriter Deemi was raised and grew up in Bed-StuyBedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Formed in 1930, the neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 3, Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Brooklyn Community Board 16. The neighborhood is patrolled by the NYPD's 79th and 81st...
, Brooklyn, New York. She had started singing at an early age. In 1988, when Deemi was at the age of 7, she won a neighborhood talent show. Her song of choice was Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's "Greatest Love of All." She was accepted into Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Talent Unlimited High School
Talent Unlimited High School
Talent Unlimited High School is a public high school of the performing arts located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is the smallest performing arts high school in New York City and has a family-like environment.-History:...
to perfect her craft. At the age of 17, she gave birth to her first child, Nathan. She transferred to a new school and a year later, she had her second child, Felicity. She would later drop out of the school but returned to receive her GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
. Things from that point fell apart. She relocated with the father of her children to Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. She stated that at first it was verbal abuse but physical abuse soon followed. It got to the point she could not cover the bruises on her face. In 2000, she moved back to New York with her children. January 2004, her children's father was shot after being released from prison on drug charges 2 years.
Deemi openly talks about her life and the struggle. She talks about her relationship with her mom and that she was in an abusive relationship with the father of her two kids. In the song "Wasn't Surprised" she talks about his death.
Career
In 1998, she met producers Chris Styles and Bruce Waynne. The two helped her create a demo. They encouraged her to sing more about her own life (including physical abuse at the hands of her father, as well as being the mother of two children prior to turning 21) instead of than merely interpret common relationship themes. Eventually she signed to Atlantic through a partnership between organizations run by Styles (Family Ties) and Waynne (the latter is one half of Midi MafiaMidi Mafia
Midi Mafia is a hip hop/R&B production duo consisting of American Bruce Waynne from Brooklyn, New York and Canadian Dirty Swift from Ottawa, Ontario...
.
Her first single is called "Soundtrack of My Life." Her debut album titled the same name, "Soundtrack of My Life" was supposed to be released on July 10, 2007. In "Soundtrack of My Life", she talks about her life story from the relationship with her mother, cutting crack
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
for her boyfriend, and drug and alcohol consumption.
Solo singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B | UK singles UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Soundtrack of My Life" produced by Tone Mason Inc. Tone Mason Tone Mason is a Grammy-nominated Canadian hip-hop and R&B production team from Toronto, Ontario. The group is composed of Aloysius Brown, Don D., and Mellenius... |
- | - | - | "Soundtrack of My Life" |
| "On the Radio | - | 113 | - | ||
| 2010 | "Jump" featuring NORE Nore The Nore is a sandbank at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, England. It marks the point where the River Thames meets the North Sea, roughly halfway between Havengore Creek in Essex and Warden Point in Kent.... |
- | - | - | "Deemi" |