Mavado (singer)

Mavado
Background information
Birth name David Constantine Brooks
Also known as Singing Blacks, Gully Gawd
Born (1981-11-30) 30 November 1981[1]
Origin Kingston, Jamaica
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Deejay
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active 2004–present
Labels
Associated acts

Alkaline

David Constantine Brooks, (born 30 November 1981), better known by his stage name Mavado, is a Jamaican deejay, singer and songwriter, signed to We the Best Music Group and Cash Money Records.

Biography

David Constantine Brooks was raised in Kingston, Jamaica's Cassava Piece community. His grandmother gave him his first musical experience at a young age, bringing him to church to sing.[2]

He cites the music of Bounty Killer as an early influence.[2] The boyhood idol became his mentor when at the age of 15, Bounty took him under his wing to show him the ropes of the music industry and introduced him to his manager, dancehall music business legend Julian Jones-Griffith, who would go on to manage Mavado's illustrious career.[3] He decided to name himself "Mavado" after the Swiss watch company Movado, with his manager altering the spelling.[4]

His debut single, "Real McKoy" on the Anger Management riddim in 2004, provided him instant success.[2] He further established himself with the follow-up record "Weh Dem a Do", on the Red Bull & Guinness riddim, that had the distinction of hitting Billboard. After a string of hits in 2005 and 2006, Mavado released the album Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks 10 July 2007 on VP Records.[5] "Weh Dem A Do" and "Dying", two singles from the album, were featured heavily on R&B/hip-hop radio in the US and around the world.[3]

That same year brought Mavado off-stage controversy, as he was unlawfully detained by Jamaican police.[3][4] While in police custody, the singer claims he was thrown through a glass window, slicing three fingers in the process, which were sewn up at a local hospital. Police claimed Mavado escaped from custody, even though they let him walk out of the police station and go to the hospital with his manager.[3][4] He was later arrested and charged with shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm in relation to an event occurring 27 July 2007.[6] He was later freed of all charges.

In March 2008, Mavado was featured performing a rendition of his song "Real McKoy" for Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer #4 "Everyone's a Rat". "Real McKoy", along with "Last Night" (both from the album Gangsta for Life), were also featured in the game on the radio station "Massive B Radio".[7]

Mavado was also featured on the G-Unit track 'Let It Go' along with Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks for the album: T.O.S: Terminate on Sight in 2008. He was the only non G-Unit feature on the album.

In 2008 Mavado was given the prestigious UK MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act.

In April 2010, Mavado starred as a gangster in Drake's song Find Your Love for Drake's album Thank Me Later

He has also collaborated with Busta Rhymes, Wyclef, Ludacris, Birdman, Fabolous, Ace Hood, Akon, Snoop Dogg and JAY Z.

Mavado formed his own label, Mansion Records, in 2011, which debuted with the single "Delilah" that was given mainstream US radio rotation.[8] Along with Bounty Killer, he has cited 2Pac as a childhood idol, comparing the late rapper's life to his own.[3]

In 2011, Mavado recorded with U.K. grime artist Chipmunk on the track "Every Gyal".[9]

On 1 September 2011, Mavado appeared on the Angie Martinez show on New York's Hot 97 radio station to announce that he had signed a deal with DJ Khaled's record label We the Best Music Group. Mavado released three singles "Emergency" featuring Ace Hood, Soulja girl and "Survivor" featuring Akon on We the Best Music Group.

In May 2012 he was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and malicious destruction of property after a driving incident, and was fined a total of $100,000.[10] An appeal against the sentence was unsuccessful.[10]

Discography

Albums

Singles

As lead artist

Year Single Peak positions Album
FR
[11]
2008 "Caribbean Connection"
(Lil' Kim featuring Wyclef Jean and Mavado)		 — Non-album singles
2012 "One by One"
(Laza Morgan featuring Mavado)		 34
2012 "Who Wan Test"
(Nino Brown featuring Mavado and Junior Reid)		 — We Don't See Em 3
2013 "Lighters Up"
(Snoop Lion featuring Popcaan and Mavado)		 — Reincarnated
2014 "Lady Patra"
(Iggy Azalea featuring Mavado)		 — The New Classic
2016 "Progress"
(DJ Khaled featuring Mavado)		 — Major Key

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mavado-mn0000475682
  2. 1 2 3 Mavado biography. Reggae Sumfest. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 2011-3-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mavado: Life After Death. Billboard. Retrieved 2011-3-8.
  4. 1 2 3 Cooke, Mel. Mavado: dancehall lovers/haters' fantasy. Jamaica Gleaner. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 2011-3-8.
  5. ↑ Cole, Debra. Mavado - "Gangsta For Life: The Symphony of David Brooks". YardFlex. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 2011-3-8.
  6. ↑ Cops seek Mavado, Kartel. Jamaica Star. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 2011-3-8.
  7. ↑ Is Mavado Richer Than Vybz Kartel?. Hype Life Magazine, October 27, 2016 . Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ Brooks, Sadeke (17 May 2011). "Mavado forms own label - Set to release new single soon". Jamaica Star. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  9. ↑ Sparks, Marvin (13 April 2011). "Chipmunk feat. Mavado – "Every Gyal"". Soul Culture. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  10. 1 2 "Mavado loses conviction appeal", Jamaica Observer, 19 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013
  11. ↑ LesCharts.com: Mavado page
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