Jay Sean

Artist Image: Jay Sean
Attribution
Image Credit: Rivarix (Flickr), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, better known by his stage name Jay Sean, is a British singer-songwriter, rapper, beatboxer and record producer. He debuted in the UK's Asian Underground scene as a member of the Rishi Rich Project with "Dance with You", which reached No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 2003. This led to him being signed to Virgin Records and having two UK top 10 hits as a solo artist in 2004: "Eyes On You" at No. 6 and "Stolen" at #4. They were included in his critically acclaimed debut album Me Against Myself which, though only moderately successful in the UK, sold more than two million copies across Asia and remains his most successful album to date. Alongside the Rishi Rich Project, Sean was a pioneer of Bhangra-R&B fusion, which his debut album helped popularize among the worldwide South Asian diaspora. He eventually left Virgin in 2006 and founded his own independent label, Jayded Records. After a gap of nearly four years, he returned in 2008 with "Ride It", which reached No. 11 in the UK and topped the charts in several Eastern European countries, including Romania where it was one of the best-selling singles of the year. It was followed by hits such as "Maybe", which reached No. 7 on the Japan Hot 100, and "Tonight". They were included in his second album, My Own Way, which became his most successful album on the UK Albums Chart, reaching No. 6, and topped the UK R&B Chart. At around this time, he began increasingly incorporating electropop sounds into his R&B music. Since the end of 2008, has he been signed to Cash Money Records. In 2009, his American debut single "Down" topped the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first solo artist of South Asian origin and first UK urban act to top the Hot 100. It was the seventh-best selling song of 2009, having sold more than three million copies in the United States that year, eventually reaching four million sales in the United States and six million sales worldwide, making him the most successful British/European male urban artist in US chart history. As of 2011, it is the fifth best selling song by a British artist in the digital era. It was soon followed by another hit, "Do You Remember", which has sold more than a million copies in the US, and entered the top ten on the Hot 100, making him the first male act since Chingy in 2003 to "simultaneously appear in the Hot 100 top 10 with his first two charting singles." They were included in his American-debut album All or Nothing, which debuted at No. 37 on the US Billboard 200 and reached No. 11 on the Japan Oricon Albums Chart. Sean is sometimes referred to as a "one-man boy band" and was ranked No. 35 in Billboard's Hot 100 Artists of 2009.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 2003
Number of Albums 46
Record Label
Website www.jayseanworldwide.com
Wikipedia Jay Sean on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What is Jay Sean more commonly known as?

Kamaljit Singh Jhooti

... Sean Biography The Sikh Punjabi family in London (England) born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti , more commonly known as Jay Sean. Sharan and Bindi Jhootis pare...
In what year did Jay leave Mary University to become a musician?

2003

...ntinued to study at Barts, London, and Quéen Mary University but left in 2003 to fulfill his desire to become a musician. In November 2004, the album ...
In what film did Jay make a short appearance?

Kyaa Kool Hai Hum

... You and Stolen. Jay made a short appearance in the Bollywood film Kyaa Kool Hai Hum and his album sold over two million copies in India. The album wa...
When did Jay leave the Virgin label?

February 2006

...he album was released in December 2004. Jay left the Virgin label in February 2006 with delays in publishing a followup album. Kamaljit Singh Jhooti B...
What was the original deluxe My Own Way edition scheduled for?

USA

...8. He was the first British Asian artist to sign an agreement with an American label. An original deluxe My Own Way edition was scheduled for the USA ....
What is the name of the record label?

Cash Money

... hop took a chance on a different kind of artist. The record label is Cash Money , and the news here is not so much the music as the kind of person who...
Who is the host of the show?

STEVE INSKEEP

... STEVE INSKEEP , host: A record label known for producing hip hop took a chance on a different kind of artist. The record label is Cash Money, and the n...
What is the name of the rapper Jay Sean is performing with?

Little Wayne

...goes by the name of Jay Sean. He's performing, here, with the rapper Little Wayne . And the song is a hit reaching the top of the pop charts, which mea...
Where did Jay Sean's ancestors come from?

India

...outh Asian to do that. He comes from Britain and his ancestors come from India . Sometimes you hear that Indian influence in Jay Sean's songs. Now, let...
Who was one of the first DJs to play Jay Sean's music?

Adele Ray

... let it be INSKEEP: Before his music hit the United States, Jay Sean was a star in Britain where Adele Ray was one of the first DJs to play his music....
In what country was Jay Sean a star before he hit the US?

Britain

... let it be INSKEEP: Before his music hit the United States, Jay Sean was a star in Britain where Adele Ray was one of the first DJs to play his music....
How many consecutive Top 40 singles did Dance with You have around the end of the 2000s?

five

...nal starstudded guest rapper led to massive international popularity and five consecutive Top 40 singles in America around the end of the 2000s. Produ...
Who produced Dance With You?

Rishi Rich

...ve Top 40 singles in America around the end of the 2000s. Produced by Rishi Rich and featuring fellow 2Point9 artist Juggy D, Dance with You (Nachna T...
Who was offered a lucrative majorlabel recording contract with?

Virgin Records

...ss, Sean was offered a lucrative majorlabel recording contract with Virgin Records . He accepted the offer and opted to drop out of Queen Mary's School...
What school did Sean drop out of?

Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry

...ords. He accepted the offer and opted to drop out of Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry , where he was studying to become a doctor. Despite ...
Sean's second album, My Own Way, was released by what label?

2Point9 Records

...and released his second album, My Own Way (2008), independently via 2Point9 Records . Though its release date was pushed back repeatedly, My Own Way de...
What was the name of his second album?

My Own Way

...nternational success, Sean left Virgin and released his second album, My Own Way (2008), independently via 2Point9 Records. Though its release date wa...
When did Sean sign with Cash Money?

2009

... Portugal, Romania, and Bulgaria. The focus would turn toward America in 2009 when Sean signed with the Cash Money label. The relationship kicked off ...
What is Jay Sean's nationality?

British

...In 2009 British R&B star Jay Sean conquered the US chart, succeeding where many UK artists had previously failed by notching up six weeks in the Billb...
Jay Sean is from what city?

West London

...m the first and only British male artist in history to do this. Today West London born singer, songwriter and DJ Jay Sean has become an even bigger, g...
How many albums has Jay Sean sold?

18 million

...ber alongside a charttopping discography Jay Sean has sold a combined 18 million sales spanning across his career! His Indian heritage has played a hu...
What has played a huge role in his success?

His Indian heritage

... has sold a combined 18 million sales spanning across his career! His Indian heritage has played a huge role in his success. He remains to this day th...
How many MOBO nominations did he receive?

2

...sh Asian male artist in history. Additionally, his impact both in the UK, ( 2 MOBO nominations, UK Urban Music Award winner), and all the American bill...
Where did his parents emigrate to?

Great Britain

...n Hounslow, London. His parents Sharan and Bindi Jhooti emigrated to Great Britain . He was born in Southall, West London and exhibited early musical t...
What hip hop duo did Jay Sean form with Pritpal Rupra?

Compulsive Disorder

... musical talent. At the age of 11, he formed a hip hop duo called Compulsive Disorder with his cousin Pritpal Rupra. Jay Sean was a pupil at Latymer U...
Where was Jay Sean a student?

Latymer Upper School

... Disorder with his cousin Pritpal Rupra. Jay Sean was a pupil at Latymer Upper School , the very private school that was attended by Hugh Grant, Heston...
In what year did he quit school?

1997

...ool that was attended by Hugh Grant, Heston Blumenthal and Lily Cole. In 1997 , he quit school. He finished his GCSEs as a straightA student and then c...
What did he finish his GCSEs as?

straightA student

...and Lily Cole. In 1997, he quit school. He finished his GCSEs as a straightA student and then completed his Alevels in mathematics and chemistry with ...
When did he release his sophomore album, My Own Way?

12 May 2008

...g as dapper in his light brown suit as a master of business. Released 12 May 2008 on Jayded Records and 2Point9 Records, the work suffered from variou...
When did Sean release his third album?

November 2009

...ining momentum, his third studio album, All or Nothing, was released November 2009 . Emerging from the EnglishIndian underground, Seans first album fea...
What was Seans third album called?

All or Nothing

...ase, My Own Way, in 2008. Gaining momentum, his third studio album, All or Nothing , was released November 2009. Emerging from the EnglishIndian underg...
When was Me Against Myself released in the U.K.?

8 November 2004

...from the traditional pop music of India (such as Bhangra). Released 8 November 2004 in the U.K., January 2005 in Malaysia, and February 2005 in India ...
What was the release date in Malaysia?

January 2005

...ic of India (such as Bhangra). Released 8 November 2004 in the U.K., January 2005 in Malaysia, and February 2005 in India on 2Point9 Records, Relentle...
Who wrote the critical reviews for the album?

Dan Gennoe

..., Me Against Myself achieved highly supportive critical reviews, with Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Seans touring, as well as the success of his singles in clu...
What color suit did he wear on the cover of My Own Way?

light brown

...lease, My Own Way, featured him on the cover looking as dapper in his light brown suit as a master of business. Released 12 May 2008 on Jayded Records...
Along with the Rishi Rich Project, Sean was a pioneer of what genre?

Bhangra R&B fusion

... to date. Alongside the Rishi Rich Project, Sean was a pioneer of Bhangra R&B fusion , which his debut album helped popularize among the worldwide Sout...
When did Sean leave Virgin?

2006

...e among the worldwide South Asian diaspora. He eventually left Virgin in 2006 and founded his own independent label, Jayded Records. After a gap of ne...
What label did Sean founded in 2006?

Jayded Records

...entually left Virgin in 2006 and founded his own independent label, Jayded Records . After a gap of nearly four years, he returned in 2008 with Ride It...
When was Jay Sean born?

Southall neighborhood of London

...A IndianPunjabi descendant, Jay Sean was born in Southall neighborhood of London on March 26, 1981. When he was 11, Jay formed a HipHop duo with his c...
What was his first song called?

One Minute

...don School of Medicine and Dentistry. He then recorded his first song One Minute and was signed to Virgin Records after the track fell into the hands ...
When was his debut album dropped for the UK?

November 2004

...s debut album Me Against Myself was dropped for U.K. release only in November 2004 . This record contained such hit singles as Dance With You, Eyes on ...
In what year was Me Against Myself released?

2004

...ut album Me Against Myself was dropped for U.K. release only in November 2004 . This record contained such hit singles as Dance With You, Eyes on You a...
What was Jay's debut album called?

Me Against Myself

... track fell into the hands of producer Rishi Rich. His debut album Me Against Myself was dropped for U.K. release only in November 2004. This record c...
What ethnicity did Jay Sean come from?

Punjabi

...y Sean was born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti in London, England to a family of Punjabi descent on March 26, 1979. He was interested in music from an early ag...
Jay Sean formed a hip hop duo with a cousin at what age?

11

...ic from an early age and formed a hip hop duo with a cousin at the age of 11 . While studying medicine he created a demo which attracted the attention ...
What was the name of the song that hit the UK pop charts?

Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal).

...r, in collaboration with Juggy D, put together the single Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal). The song hit the UK pop charts and peaked at 12 in 2003. ...
When was Sean's album My Own Way released?

May 2008

... then ended up selling over two million copies in India. The album My Own Way was finally released in May 2008 and debuted at 6 on the UK album chart....