Rupee (musician)
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Rupee | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Rupert Clarke |
Also known as | Rupee |
Born | Germany | September 10, 1975
Origin | Barbados |
Genres | Soca |
Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1997–2000 (group) 2000–present (solo) |
Labels | Independent |
Rupert Clarke (born September 10, 1975), best known by his
Early life
By the age of nine, Rupee had lived in three different countries - Germany, England, and Barbados.
Spending his first years in England, he was exposed to a contrast of sounds which reflected his parents' diverse backgrounds: calypso on the side of his West Indian father, pop and rock and roll from his mother. He and his siblings would often perform on stage, coming up with all sorts of chants, rhymes and antics to tease the audience. Rupee eventually moved to Barbados in 1985. He had his first major break after winning the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition in 1993, when he was a schoolboy at Harrison College.
Career
1997–2000: Coalishun
Rupee emerged on the local soca scene after being invited to join the then popular Bajan band, Coalishun, along with singers like Terencia Coward and Adrian Clarke in 1997. Though initially more dancehall oriented, Rupee would find himself settling into the soca genre, a genre indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. This was marked by the release of his first hit single, "Ice Cream".
2000–present: Solo
"Ice Cream" was followed by a string of hit songs from three self-released solo albums. "Jump", from his first album, won Rupee repeated
Before deciding to pursue music full-time, Rupee explored other careers. After completing an associate degree in Graphic Arts from the Barbados Community College, he remained in that field for some time, working with two public relations/advertising agencies in Barbados.
Discography
Albums
- 2001: Blame On It de Music
- 2002: Leave a Message
- 2003: Thisisrupee.com
- 2004: 1 on 1
Singles
- 2004: "Tempted to Touch"
- 2004: "What Happens in de Party"
- 2005: "Hands Up"
- 2006: "Massage"
- 2006: "Frenzy"
- 2007: "Slow Motion"
- 2008: "Magnet to Steel"
- 2008: "Living Lies"
- 2008: "Feet Don't Fail Me Now"
- 2009: "Standing Up Against the Law"
- 2009: "Single Ladies"
- 2010: "All Night Long"
- 2010: "Everybody"
- 2011: "I Am a Bajan"
- 2011: "How High"
- 2012: "Snake in the Grass"
- 2013: "My Day"
- 2013: "Nothing Sweeter"
- 2014: "Ah Playin Mas"
- 2015: "Footprints"
- 2015: "M.I.A (Missing in Action)"
- 2016: "Counting My Blessings"
- 2016: "I'll Be OK"
- 2016: "Tipsy"
- 2018: "Dip Down"
- 2018: "I've Got You Girl"
- 2018: "Perfect Fit"
- 2019: "Think Twice"
- 2019: "Most Wanted"
Collaborations
- 2003: "Enjoy Yourself" feat. Red Rat
- 2003: "If You Only Knew" feat. Destra Garcia
- 2004: "Tempted to Touch" feat. Daddy Yankee
- 2005: "Do the Damn Thing" feat. Lil' Kim
- 2006: "Hurricane" feat. Rihanna
- 2007: "Hey Mami" feat. Wisin & Yandel
- 2007: "Game of Love and Unity" feat. Shaggy & Fay-Ann Lyons
- 2008: "Push Up on Me" feat. Thara
- 2008: "No te veo" with Jowell & Randy feat. Pitbull, Nina Sky & Swizz Beatz
- 2013: "On Parade" feat. Nikita
- 2013: "Vamos a bailar" feat. Calero
- 2016: "No Name" Rupee x Ricardo Drue
- 2018: "Tempted to Touch" feat. Zaeden
Achievements
Apart from dominating the charts in the Caribbean, Rupee has also gone gold in
Over the years, Rupee has amassed a number of Party Monarch and
In 2007, Rupee along with Jamaican Shaggy and Trinidadian Fay-Ann Lyons recorded the official song for the 2007 Cricket World Cup - "The Game of Love and Unity" - written by Rupee.[4]
He has worked with artists such as Rihanna, Shaggy, Thara Prashad, Fay-Ann Lyons, Alison Hinds, Lil' Kim, Daddy Yankee, Wisin & Yandel, Red Rat, Destra Garcia.
In 2011 during the Crop Over festival season, Rupee won the Starcom Network group of radio station's title of "People's Monarch" with his song "I Am a Bajan".[5]
References
- ^ Artiste profile: Rupee, Billboard.com
- ^ Toronto-lime.com via Archive.org
- ^ Dwek, Joel (2021-05-10). "BARBADOS: 1 On 1 - Rupee". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ Toronto-Lime.com - Soca Track
- ^ Rupee - Barbados' People's Monarch Crowning + Performance, Vid. of Rupee collecting 2011 People's Monarch prize in front of the radio station.
External links
- Rupee profile, Trinijunglejuice.com