Serocee
Encyclopedia
Jerome "Serocee" Thompson is a Hip Hop
/Reggae
Artist and businessman. Serocee was born in Small Heath, Birmingham
UK. Both Serocee's Mother and Father were revered sound system DJ's and Selectors during the British Reggae movement of the 70's. His father most notably was in the National Champion "Cosmic" sound.
Serocee is an accomplished DJ in his own right and has played at many clubs, house parties and even blues' (Jamaican all night dances). He has also been involved in many Sound clash
es as a DJ. He feels equally comfortable, be it on stage performing a rehearsed show, making up freestyle rap
(off the top of his head where the crowd has provided subjects) or behind the decks. Serocee has been described as the epitome of the consummate professional.
, where he was schooled.
Young Serocee lived with his extended family while he was in Jamaica and this was where he had his first real exposure to Reggae music. From this point on, his lasting love affair with music was born.
Due to a strict Christian
upbringing (by his aunt and uncle), reggae music was not allowed in the home, but it could be heard almost everywhere else. He recalls seeing a lot of big Reggae
artists in their younger years, when they were freestyling on the corner. Regularly Sero would join in. As he was only young and had not yet honed his talent, he would merely recite lyrics that had already been recorded by established artists. All of this formed part of Serocee's performance schooling.
Serocee showed signs of his musical talent at an early age and his native roots still resonate through his work. Over the years, many have commented that his exposure and acceptance of different genres of music has helped to elevate him both as a performer and lyricist - thus setting him apart from his rivals.
Serocee penned his first melody at the age of eight and has gone on to write songs for himself and other notable artists. As a teenager he returned to Birmingham
, England
. Serocee found the transition tricky and often got into altercations with his new counterparts. He quickly became known for having clever/witty responses to any quips from his adversaries and soon his foes were suffering from a more verbal punishment. "We'd spend hours cussing/blazing at lunchtimes, during class, break times then after school - basically at any opportunity. I guess that was all part of my training". By the age of 14 Serocee and long-time friend DLT created a rap group called "Crossfire" and they achieved local success working with British Reggae Icons such as Pato Banton.
Being part of the Birmingham Hip Hop scene during the "Golden Years" of rap meant there were many battles going on whether it was in a club, on a sound system or on the street corner with somebody beat-boxing. Over those years battling, not only did Serocee gain plaudits from his peers, but he was also widely renowned as one of the best and most versatile freestyle rappers in Birmingham and won many competitions. It was from this point on, that Serocee became known for his ability to switch between Reggae and Rap with ease! Not only was Serocee able to cross genres but his lyrical prowess demonstrated finesse as he always made a conscious effort to refrain from excessive profanity and derogatory lyrics.
Serocee's major musical influences span across a number of musical genres from Reggae to Jazz. The most notable artists to influence his music range from the likes of Bob Marley
and Ninjaman
to Nas
, Redman, Stevie Wonder
and Ray Charles
. "The list goes on I suppose I have an eclectic musical pallet" Serocee said nonchalantly in an interview once.
in 1999, he has been extremely busy with various aspects of life both musically and day to day living, "People sometimes don't realise that music is like a relationship, one minute you’re in love the next minute you can't stand it but for a musician you always end up making back up with it".
He is currently polishing his debut solo project and preparing for his imminent global tour.
Serocee's debut single "Life" was released in 2006 and received critical acclaim since then he has released further singles and been involved on projects with the likes of Basement Jaxx
, MJ Cole, Zed Bias
, and Toddla T
, Reggae heavy hitters such as Shaggy
collaborators Brian and Tony Gold, General Levy
South Rakkas Crew and Lloyd Brown not to mention British Hip Hop veterans Karl Hinds
, Seanie T, Roots Manuva
and Super group Moorish Delta!
In addition to his extensive recording, Serocee has also been very busy on the road touring both as a solo artist and also with other groups namely, Basement Jaxx, Public Enemy, The Roots
, Busta Rhymes
and many more. Serocee has also been involved with the "Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway" shows - this is where a completely improvised stageshow is created with full input from the audience pulling objects out a hat, creating characters for the performers or scenarios. The show is only as good as the crowd's participation.
Compilations Appeared on
Music videos
You'll Never Find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0WkfH-FbE8
Life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAsOfojrDwg
Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXt6lU_3rfQ
The Heard "Bigger Than Us"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTjwr41Yw0A
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
/Reggae
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...
Artist and businessman. Serocee was born in Small Heath, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
UK. Both Serocee's Mother and Father were revered sound system DJ's and Selectors during the British Reggae movement of the 70's. His father most notably was in the National Champion "Cosmic" sound.
Serocee is an accomplished DJ in his own right and has played at many clubs, house parties and even blues' (Jamaican all night dances). He has also been involved in many Sound clash
Sound clash
A Sound clash is a musical competition where crew members from opposing reggae sound systems pit their skills against each other. Sound clashes take place in a variety of venues, both indoors and outdoors...
es as a DJ. He feels equally comfortable, be it on stage performing a rehearsed show, making up freestyle rap
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
(off the top of his head where the crowd has provided subjects) or behind the decks. Serocee has been described as the epitome of the consummate professional.
Younger Years
As a baby, Serocee was sent to his family's home town of Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, where he was schooled.
Young Serocee lived with his extended family while he was in Jamaica and this was where he had his first real exposure to Reggae music. From this point on, his lasting love affair with music was born.
Due to a strict Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
upbringing (by his aunt and uncle), reggae music was not allowed in the home, but it could be heard almost everywhere else. He recalls seeing a lot of big Reggae
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...
artists in their younger years, when they were freestyling on the corner. Regularly Sero would join in. As he was only young and had not yet honed his talent, he would merely recite lyrics that had already been recorded by established artists. All of this formed part of Serocee's performance schooling.
Serocee showed signs of his musical talent at an early age and his native roots still resonate through his work. Over the years, many have commented that his exposure and acceptance of different genres of music has helped to elevate him both as a performer and lyricist - thus setting him apart from his rivals.
Serocee penned his first melody at the age of eight and has gone on to write songs for himself and other notable artists. As a teenager he returned to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Serocee found the transition tricky and often got into altercations with his new counterparts. He quickly became known for having clever/witty responses to any quips from his adversaries and soon his foes were suffering from a more verbal punishment. "We'd spend hours cussing/blazing at lunchtimes, during class, break times then after school - basically at any opportunity. I guess that was all part of my training". By the age of 14 Serocee and long-time friend DLT created a rap group called "Crossfire" and they achieved local success working with British Reggae Icons such as Pato Banton.
Being part of the Birmingham Hip Hop scene during the "Golden Years" of rap meant there were many battles going on whether it was in a club, on a sound system or on the street corner with somebody beat-boxing. Over those years battling, not only did Serocee gain plaudits from his peers, but he was also widely renowned as one of the best and most versatile freestyle rappers in Birmingham and won many competitions. It was from this point on, that Serocee became known for his ability to switch between Reggae and Rap with ease! Not only was Serocee able to cross genres but his lyrical prowess demonstrated finesse as he always made a conscious effort to refrain from excessive profanity and derogatory lyrics.
Serocee's major musical influences span across a number of musical genres from Reggae to Jazz. The most notable artists to influence his music range from the likes of Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
and 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...
to Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, Redman, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. "The list goes on I suppose I have an eclectic musical pallet" Serocee said nonchalantly in an interview once.
Current
Since moving to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1999, he has been extremely busy with various aspects of life both musically and day to day living, "People sometimes don't realise that music is like a relationship, one minute you’re in love the next minute you can't stand it but for a musician you always end up making back up with it".
He is currently polishing his debut solo project and preparing for his imminent global tour.
Serocee's debut single "Life" was released in 2006 and received critical acclaim since then he has released further singles and been involved on projects with the likes of Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
, MJ Cole, Zed Bias
Zed Bias
Zed Bias is an English electronic musician who operates within the UK garage and broken beat genres, both as a producer and a DJ. Jones has also released material under the pseudonym Maddslinky, and is half of the Phuturistix duo, as well as other side projects.Zed Bias is best known for his...
, and Toddla T
Toddla T
Toddla T is the stage name of Thomas Mackenzie Bell – a DJ, record producer, re-mixer and composer from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.- Biography :Toddla T, born 22 February 1985, was raised in Sheffield where he attended King Edward VII School...
, Reggae heavy hitters such as Shaggy
Shaggy (musician)
Orville Richard Burrell , better known by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 1995 single "Boombastic" and 2000 single "It Wasn't Me"...
collaborators Brian and Tony Gold, General Levy
General Levy
General Levy is a London born ragga vocalist, regularly employed on studio tracks by drum and bass DJs. He is best known for the track "Incredible" which he recorded with M-Beat.-Biography:...
South Rakkas Crew and Lloyd Brown not to mention British Hip Hop veterans Karl Hinds
Karl Hinds
Karl Hinds is a British rapper and producer within the British Hip Hop scene. He has pursued his musical interest since he was 15, Karl had and still remains with his sights set high and began his venture by setting up his own label, Assassin Records...
, Seanie T, Roots Manuva
Roots Manuva
Rodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
and Super group Moorish Delta!
In addition to his extensive recording, Serocee has also been very busy on the road touring both as a solo artist and also with other groups namely, Basement Jaxx, Public Enemy, The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
and many more. Serocee has also been involved with the "Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway" shows - this is where a completely improvised stageshow is created with full input from the audience pulling objects out a hat, creating characters for the performers or scenarios. The show is only as good as the crowd's participation.
Business Ventures
In December 2008 Serocee founded the Windrushpickney brand, which is not only a reflection of his roots but it is also a way of life for many ethnic minorities living in Britain today. Windrushpickney consists of a Caribbean Car Rental company, a Music Publishing company and a Record Label. Serocee's entrepreneurial activities don't end there... his business ventures also stretch to a music production firm "No Long Ting Ltd" and a social magazine.Most recent work
Serocee still continues to record with his old production compadre Urban Monk and recently (August 2009) released the single Bandeng however due to the major response it received it has been remixed for re-release In March 2010.Singles
- Life/War, Illflava (2006)
- Mr Government
- Work Featuring Brian Gold Jambrum (2008)
- You'll Never Find, Jambrum (2008)
- Badeng, Jambrum (2010)
Collaborations
- Sero & Seanie (Seanie T) Muzic Ed Productions (2006)
- Godbless (Moorish Delta 7) Seven (2006)
- Murderer (Small Arms Fiya) 1965 Records (2007)
- Inna Di Dancehall (Toddla T) 1965 Records (2007)
- Give it to mi (Small Arms Fiya)
- Jump Up Jump Down / Come Rest Up (Det Boi), Skint Records (2008)
- Manabadman (Toddla T) 1965 Records (2008)
- Badman, Machines Don't Care (2008)
- Soundtape Killin (Toddla T) 1965 Records (2008)
- AO (MJ Cole) Prolific Records (2009)
- Wheel 'N' Stop (Basement Jaxx) XL (2009)
- An Ting (Wio-k & Ty) White (2009)
- I've Tried Ways (Sola Rosa) Way Up Records (2009)
- Shake It (Toddla T) 1965 Records (2009)
- Be With You (Lobster Boy) Run Music (2009)
- So It Go (South Rakkas Crew) Mad Decent (2010)
- Champion Sound (South Rakkas Crew) Mad Decent (2010)
- Rise (South Rakkas Crew) Mad Decent (2010)
- Dance Wid We (South Rakkas rew) Mad Decent (2010)
Compilations Appeared on
- Top Class of 2006 (Suspect Packages)
- The Heard 2007 (Stronghorn Records)
- Fabric Mix Live 47 2009 (Fabric, London)
- Fact Mix 67 2009 (Fact Music)
Music videosYou'll Never Find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0WkfH-FbE8
Life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAsOfojrDwg
Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXt6lU_3rfQ
The Heard "Bigger Than Us"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTjwr41Yw0A