With a voice thatโs at once throaty and velvety, Rayvon is a major figure i… Read Full Bio ↴With a voice thatโs at once throaty and velvety, Rayvon is a major figure in the world of reggae, and one of the biggest musical draws around the globe. Having toured almost constantly since the late โ90s, dazzling crowds in such far-flung locales as the Caribbean, Japan, Australia, Europe and the United States, the charismatic crossover star has systematically cultivated a diverse, devoted and frenzied fan base. Now Rayvon is preparing to release a new solo single and CD, as well as debut a new record label, GTC Entertainment.
Performing besides his Grammy-winning partner-in-crime, Shaggy, Rayvon kept the planet partying with international hits like โSummertime,โ โBig Upโ( which coined a popular phrase), and โAngelโ (which rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 100). His own singles โ including โNo Guns, No Murder,โ โStallion Rideโ and โHear My Cryโโ helped to further reinforce his steadily-burgeoning stardom.
Indeed, while Shaggy kicked doors open for Rayvon, only real talent could have kept them from closing. And as a new decade dawns, Rayvon is gearing up to make another massive impact on the game with the launch GTC Entertainment. Leading the new assault is โBack it Up,โ a hard-edged pulsating groove that will have guys jumping and ladies gyrating.
โMy intention was to hit my fans with a real party anthem ,โ says Rayvon. โโBack It Upโโ is a song that, when youโre in the club, youโre gonna want to get up and dance when it comes on. Itโs something people who want to have a good time will automatically latch on to.โ
Rayvonโs new as-yet-untitled full-length, due later this year, will include โBack it Upโ and feature production from Salaam Remi, White Bread and others. Rayvon promises that the album will feed his universal appeal as it maintains his deep dancehall roots.
โIt will be a combination of reggae, hip-hop and pop music,โ he explains. โIโm singing on it and Iโm chatting too. Itโs party music, music to drive to, sounds to chill with: Itโs happy and feel-good with social consciousness and a good sense of fun.โ
Born Bruce Brewster, Rayvon moved from Barbados to the Flatbush section of Brooklyn when he was 12. In New York he almost immediately delved into the worlds of dancehall and rap. โDespite being from Barbados, I've always gravitated to reggae and hip hop,โ he recalls.
Rayvon spent his high school years as a turntablist and emcee, before working at perfecting his dancehall style. A chance meeting with another aspiring reggae artist, Orville โShaggyโ Burrell, occurred in 1988, at a Flatbush recording studio โ and the rest, as they say, was history. โWe were there to record separately, but we started talking and things clicked, so the producer asked us to record one track as a combination, Rayvon remembers. โThe vibe was there immediately, so we just took that and ran with it.โ
Later, the pair linked up with beat master Sting Int'l, who produced "Big Up," which propelled the duo to ever higher levels of exposure while coining a popular phrase. More strong songs followed, and Rayvon and Shaggy took the opportunity to tour. "At that time I was working for UPS," Rayvon remembers. "One day I got an offer to do a two-week tour and I'd used up all my sick leave and vacation days. So I took a formal leave of absence from the job and I still haven't returned.โ
Rayvon first solo, "No Guns No Murder," produced by Frankie Cutlass and Funkmaster Flex, was a summer smash. The cut caught the ear of Virgin Records (who at the time listed Shaggy on their roster) and Rayvon landed his own solo recording contract. His debut album, Hear My Cry introduced listeners to Rayvon's versatility, blending hip-hop, dancehall and traditional reggae styles. Fans embraced such songs as "Stallion Ride" and "Pretty."
A second solo set, My Bad, followed. It included the tracks "Playboy Bunny," "In the Wintertime" and "Do You Wanna Ride."
Though Rayvon will still be rocking with โMr. Boombasticโ, itโs time now for him to showcase what heโs learned from his extensive career and catalogue. โA lot of people might know the songs with Shaggy but they might not know my history and all that Iโm about,โ he says. โIโm ready and show and prove!โ
# # #
Performing besides his Grammy-winning partner-in-crime, Shaggy, Rayvon kept the planet partying with international hits like โSummertime,โ โBig Upโ( which coined a popular phrase), and โAngelโ (which rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 100). His own singles โ including โNo Guns, No Murder,โ โStallion Rideโ and โHear My Cryโโ helped to further reinforce his steadily-burgeoning stardom.
Indeed, while Shaggy kicked doors open for Rayvon, only real talent could have kept them from closing. And as a new decade dawns, Rayvon is gearing up to make another massive impact on the game with the launch GTC Entertainment. Leading the new assault is โBack it Up,โ a hard-edged pulsating groove that will have guys jumping and ladies gyrating.
โMy intention was to hit my fans with a real party anthem ,โ says Rayvon. โโBack It Upโโ is a song that, when youโre in the club, youโre gonna want to get up and dance when it comes on. Itโs something people who want to have a good time will automatically latch on to.โ
Rayvonโs new as-yet-untitled full-length, due later this year, will include โBack it Upโ and feature production from Salaam Remi, White Bread and others. Rayvon promises that the album will feed his universal appeal as it maintains his deep dancehall roots.
โIt will be a combination of reggae, hip-hop and pop music,โ he explains. โIโm singing on it and Iโm chatting too. Itโs party music, music to drive to, sounds to chill with: Itโs happy and feel-good with social consciousness and a good sense of fun.โ
Born Bruce Brewster, Rayvon moved from Barbados to the Flatbush section of Brooklyn when he was 12. In New York he almost immediately delved into the worlds of dancehall and rap. โDespite being from Barbados, I've always gravitated to reggae and hip hop,โ he recalls.
Rayvon spent his high school years as a turntablist and emcee, before working at perfecting his dancehall style. A chance meeting with another aspiring reggae artist, Orville โShaggyโ Burrell, occurred in 1988, at a Flatbush recording studio โ and the rest, as they say, was history. โWe were there to record separately, but we started talking and things clicked, so the producer asked us to record one track as a combination, Rayvon remembers. โThe vibe was there immediately, so we just took that and ran with it.โ
Later, the pair linked up with beat master Sting Int'l, who produced "Big Up," which propelled the duo to ever higher levels of exposure while coining a popular phrase. More strong songs followed, and Rayvon and Shaggy took the opportunity to tour. "At that time I was working for UPS," Rayvon remembers. "One day I got an offer to do a two-week tour and I'd used up all my sick leave and vacation days. So I took a formal leave of absence from the job and I still haven't returned.โ
Rayvon first solo, "No Guns No Murder," produced by Frankie Cutlass and Funkmaster Flex, was a summer smash. The cut caught the ear of Virgin Records (who at the time listed Shaggy on their roster) and Rayvon landed his own solo recording contract. His debut album, Hear My Cry introduced listeners to Rayvon's versatility, blending hip-hop, dancehall and traditional reggae styles. Fans embraced such songs as "Stallion Ride" and "Pretty."
A second solo set, My Bad, followed. It included the tracks "Playboy Bunny," "In the Wintertime" and "Do You Wanna Ride."
Though Rayvon will still be rocking with โMr. Boombasticโ, itโs time now for him to showcase what heโs learned from his extensive career and catalogue. โA lot of people might know the songs with Shaggy but they might not know my history and all that Iโm about,โ he says. โIโm ready and show and prove!โ
# # #
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@christisamust7
Canโt believe I was 14 when this dropped and itโs still Timeless with a great message
@DickFisher
Thank you.
@keenap8312
I was like 8 doin the pepperseed hard asf๐๐๐
@BrooklynRival7718
How can u watch this and not feel sad and happy at the same time? NYC in the 1990s was gold.
@chrisischannel
1994 all day with this
@AvenueD417
New York City needs this track more than ever. Too many shootings lately, too many lost lives
@fitzjount
Excited to find this! Great memories hearing this on the radio in NYC in summer of 94!
@keenap8312
It was a good summer in nycโคโค
@landomartini2003
I been searching for this song for 20 years and I finally found it !! Thanks you tube !!!I owe you one!!I didn't new it was rayvon!!!
@christophermoody6840
This song used at least 4 Classic samples that had already been used way before this song came out... that's why it was fire! The piano sample that Mary J used a later. Then rhythm guitar sample and the kick drum sample Mary J also used on "Real Love". But that's how it was back then..everybody was using the same samples... it was all about how you flipped em.