Cham (singer)

For the Sparkling Perry, see Babycham.
Cham
Birth name Damian Beckett
Also known as Baby Cham
Born (1979-02-24) 24 February 1979
Origin Saint Andrew Parish
Genres Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion
Occupation(s) Deejay, singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active 1999 – present
Labels Atlantic, Madhouse
Website www.cham-music.com

Cham (born Damian Beckett on 24 February 1979) is a Jamaica born rapper, singer-songwriter and actor, most well known for his 2006 single "Ghetto Story" from his major label debut album of the same name, a song which led to multiple "story" songs by other artists in a similar vein.[1] He is currently signed to Atlantic Records, and was known as Baby Cham until 2005. He is still called Baby Cham by his Jamaican fans and fans from around the world.

Biography

Originally from Sherlock Crescent in Saint Andrew Parish, Cham's career began in the early 1990s.[2] The Miami New Times referred to his debut album Wow... The Story, released in 2000, as "the most anticipated album in years from any reggae artist", and a Washington Post review of a live Cham concert in 2006 described him as "the man who may be the next Sean Paul -- a dancehall artist who crosses over to the U.S. hip-hop market."[3][4]

Throughout his career, Cham has collaborated with many hip hop and R&B artists such as Foxy Brown, Alicia Keys, Carl Thomas, Shawn Mims, Mis-Teeq, Rihanna, Che'Nelle, Jentina, Akon, and T-Pain, Keke Palmer and many others.

Cham has for a long time worked with producer Dave Kelly.[2] In 2012, he recorded with his wife, O, on the singles "Wine" and "Tun Up".[2] In 2013 he released the Kelly-produced single "Fighter", featuring Damian "Junior Gong" Marley.[5]

Cham's third album, the Kelly-produced Lawless is due to be released in June 2015.[6] Featuring the single "I Am Hot", the album was recorded in Florida apart from a collaboration with Mykal Rose and Bounty Killer, which was recorded in Jamaica.[6]

Discography

Albums

Album information
Wow... The Story
  • Released: 24 October 2000
  • Label: Artists Only Records/Madhouse/So So Def
  • Worldwide sales: N/A
  • Singles: "The Mass", "Funny Man", "Ghetto Pledge', "Boom/Can I Get A".
Ghetto Story
  • Released: 15 August 2006
  • Label: Atlantic Records/Madhouse/Asylum Records
  • Chart positions: #53 US[7]
  • Worldwide sales: 200,000
  • Singles: "Ghetto Story", "Vitamin S", "Rude Boy Pledge", "Tic Toc"

Singles

Year Song Chart positions Album
US Hot 100
[8]
US R&B
[9]
US Rap
[10]
UK Singles
[11]
2000 "The Mass" Wow... The Story
"Funny Man"
"Ghetto Pledge"
"Boom/Can I Get A"
2006 "Ghetto Story" 99 Ghetto Story
"Ghetto Story Chapter 2" (featuring Alicia Keys) 77 22 13 62
"Vitamin S" 56
"Rude Boy Pledge"
"Tic Toc"
2013 "Fighter" My Life

Guest appearances

References

  1. Anglin-Christie, Kavelle (12 July 2006). "Cham responds to the other 'stories'". The Jamaican Online Star. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Johnson, Richard (2012) "Keeping apace with Cham", Jamaica Observer, 29 June 2012, retrieved 1 July 2012
  3. Gessling, Cheryl (21 December 2000). "Baby Cham". Miami New Times. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  4. Porter, Christopher (17 July 2006). "Baby Cham at Crossroads". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  5. Jackson, Kevin (2013) "Cham's a FIGHTER", Jamaica Observer, 25 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013
  6. 1 2 Jackson, Kevin (2015) "Cham's New Album for June", Jamaica Observer, 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015
  7. "Cham - Billboard 200 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. "Cham - The Hot 100 chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  9. "Cham - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  10. "Cham - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  11. "Chart Log UK (1994–2010): Chris C. – CZR". zobbel.de. Retrieved 26 January 2015.

External links

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