Sean Kingston

Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston, performing at a concert.
Background information
Birth name	Kisean Anderson
Also known as	Sean Kingston
Born	February 3 1990 (1990-02-03) (age 18) Miami, Florida, USA
Origin	Kingston, Jamaica Miami, Florida, USA
Genre(s)	Reggae, pop, pop rap
Occupation(s)	Singer, rapper
Years active	2007–present
Label(s)	Beluga Heights, Epic, Koch
Associated acts	Buju Banton, J. R. Rotem, Paula DeAnda
Website	www.seankingston.com

Kisean Anderson (born February 3 1990 in Miami, Florida^[1]) better known by his stage name Sean Kingston, is a Jamaican American reggae singer and rapper. Although he was born in the United States, he was predominantly raised in Kingston, Jamaica, after moving there at the age of six ^[1]. His stage name "Sean Kingston" pays homage to a type of palm tree which grows in Jamaica. Reggae superstar, Buju Banton is a close friend of Sean Kingston's family and gave him advice upon entering the music industry.

Career

Sean Kingston, through a venture between Epic Records and Koch Records, released the single "Beautiful Girls" in Summer 2007 ^[2]. The single, based on the bass line and lyrical "association" of the 1961 hit "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and topped the UK Singles Chart. Similarly, the song "Me Love" is a loose derivative work of Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er", off of their 1973 album, 'Houses of the Holy. The song also debuted at number one in Australia; where it knocked off Fergie who had been number one for nine weeks. The song stayed on the Canadian Hot 100 number one spot for over six weeks before getting knocked down to third place by the Plain White T's. "Beautiful Girls" was the longest a song has ever stayed at the number one spot in 2007, in Canada. In October 2007 Kingston was the opening act for Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape Tour. In 2007 he appeared in an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba.

Discography

Main article: Sean Kingston discography

• 2007: "Sean Kingston"

Solo singles

• 2007: "Beautiful Girls"
• 2007: "Me Love"
• 2007: "Take You There"
• 2007: "There's Nothin'" (featuring Paula DeAnda)

Featured singles

• 2007: "Love Like This" (Natasha Bedingfield featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007: "Big Girls Don't Cry (Remix)" (Fergie featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007: "What Is It" (Baby Bash featuring Sean Kingston)

Guest appearances

• 2007 "Love Like This" (Natasha Bedingfield featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Big Girls Don't Cry (Remix)" (Fergie featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Too Young" (Lil Fizz featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Shorty Got Back" (Eric Jay featuring Francisco & Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Doin' Dat" (Clyde Carson featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Like This (remix)" (MIMS featuring She Dirty, Sean Kingston, Red Cafe, & N.O.R.E.)
• 2007 "Real D-Boy" (Triple C feauring. Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Welcome two My Hood" (Ya Boy featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2007 "Dollar Bill (Remix)" (Red Cafe featuring Jermaine Dupri, Juelz Santana, Sean Kingston & Busta Rhymes)
• 2007 "Smile" (Lil Wayne featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2008 "Gangster" (Bun B featuring Sean Kingston)
• 2008 "Roll" (Flo-Rida featuring Sean Kingston)

Covers

A few months after "Beautiful Girls" was released 2007, a new online video service called Votigo began a cover contest in which fans could submit covers of the song for a chance to get a call from Sean Kingston. After an online vote user Mallory Robbins won with an a cappella version of the song. Top honors also went to a rock cover of the song performed by the Ailan Christopher Project. Shortly afterwards, recording artist JoJo released a cover response version of the track which was released on MySpace, however will not be featured on her upcoming album. British DJ Chris Moyles also released a cover version however it was about the song describing how bad it was in his opinion.

Awards/Nominations

• MOBO Awards
  • 2007: Best Reggae Acts
• Teen Choice Awards
  • 2007: Choice R&B Track "Beautiful Girls"
  • 2007: Choice Summer Track "Beautiful Girls" (nominated)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Biography - Sean Kingston Billboard. Accessed September 28 2007.
2. ^ Garrity, Briran (12 Aug 07No Rap Turf War Here. New York Post. Accessed September 24 2007.

External links

• Official website
• Official UK website
• Sean Kingston's Koch Records page
• Sean Kingston at MySpace
• Officiella SonyBMG sidan på Svenska
• DJBooth.net Interview
• Exclusive Music Interview