Mr. Vegas

Artist Image: Mr. Vegas
Attribution
Image Credit: Celia Wagner (originally posted to Flickr as [1]), CC BY 2.0

Biography

He catapulted to the top of the Jamaican charts in 1997 with the dancehall boomshots "Heads High" and "Nike Air", his distinctive vocals fusing melodious singing with precision deejaying (rapping). Since then he has built an international fan base with hit singles like "Pull Up", "Tamale" and "Hot Gal Today" but it is on his latest CD "Constant Spring" that Mr. Vegas' spectacular sing-jay approach and cleverly crafted lyrics dazzle with the intensity of an evening in, well, Las Vegas. Born Clifford Smith in Kingston, Jamaica, he was given the nickname Mr. Vegas by his cousin for the neon pink shorts he wore on the football field; in addition to his athletic skills Mr. Vegas also demonstrated musical talents early on. However an unfortunate dispute over the ownership of a DAT resulted in Vegas being hit in the jaw with an iron pipe; after the assault Vegas' mouth was wired shut so he was forced to create a unique method of vocalizing through his teeth. That style was first heard on "Nike Air", the song that initially positioned Vegas on the dancehall charts. Characterized by uplifting lyrics aimed (especially) at young women, he followed "Nike Air" with another affirming and very appealing tune "Heads High" which reached number one in Jamaica, hit the British Top Ten and found its way onto several urban stations across America. Vegas' 1997 debut album "Heads High" (Greensleeves Records) further displayed his captivating vocal capabilities on songs like "Jacket", "Sweet Pineapple" and "Everywhere I Go"; it also earned him a British Mobo Award as Best Reggae artist, while establishing his fan base beyond the Jamaican dancehall. However Vegas demonstrated even greater versatility on his 2001 sophomore release "Damn Right" (Greensleeves) which featured a stronger R&B and hip-hop flavor on the hits "Girls Time" and "She's A Ho", sensitive singing on the roots rocking "Rise" and a sensational duet with Sean Paul "Hot Gal Today". With his move to the Los Angeles based independent label Delicious Vinyl Vegas released his third CD "Pull Up". The title track was recorded on Scatta Burrell's wildly popular Coolie Dance riddim, entered the Billboard charts and took Vegas' music into previously uncharted territory. Another single from "Pull Up" "Tamale" also did well, particularly in Europe. Vegas has just completed his fourth and finest CD so far "Constant Spring" which presents an amalgam of styles including reggaeton productions by the red hot duo Luny/Tunes on the tracks "Johnny" and "Papito" and Latin tinged duets with Don Omar ("Pobre Diablo") and El Medico ("Penicilin"). Another scorching combination "Burnin" features soca sensation Kevin Lyttle. Vegas' long time associate Jamaica's Richard "Shams" Browne produced several tracks including "Million Dollar Baby" and "Slow Wine" while veteran dancehall hit makers Steely and Clevie's Sleepy Dog riddim scampers under Vegas' current Jamaican chart topper, the CDs title track "Constant Spring". Another Jamaican hit that is currently finding popularity throughout Europe is Vegas' self-produced, uncharacteristically contemplative "More Love", his emotive singing lamenting Jamaica's upwardly spiraling crime rate but the song's lyrics are applicable to many troubled territories throughout the world: "I walk these Kingston streets, everyday a bare a beat/I can't get no sleep all I hear is AKs when they speak/ I walk Spanish town all I hear is people get gunned down, when I look around all I see is bodies on the ground. My shadow's afraid to even walk beside me, my shadow's afraid to even walk this city gun dawg and his friend full the morgue in Kingston city/too many guns in town." "Crime, violence, war, it affects everyone," Vegas says, "and there is nothing in that song that doesn't relate to what is going on everywhere, especially Kingston. We want this album to be versatile so a Latino person a hip hop person, urban kids or all nationalities will listen to it." Reflecting the ongoing changes within the music industry, Vegas and his manager Leslie Cooney of the Los Angeles based company Addict Management will be taking a very different approach regarding the release of "Constant Spring": they will not be signing to just one label. "We have found that as an independent artist Vegas can better exploit his appeal in every territory without the expectations and limitations of being signed to one label," says Ms. Cooney. "Instead, we will directly supply his fans with music worldwide and will seek licenses with different labels in their respective territories. Whether by an actual record or digital distribution, if there is a demand for Vegas it can now be met without waiting for the record label machinery to spring into action. We are taking matters in our own hands and Vegas is planning his own future." And for Mr. Vegas the future appears to be shining even brighter than the flashing neon lights that abound in the Nevada city that is his namesake. www.mr-vegas.com

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1997
Number of Albums 125
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Mr. Vegas on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Dancehall Reggae

Trivia

Smith's jaw was wired shut for how many weeks?

six

...ng an incident with a local producer that left Smith's jaw wired shut for six weeks, after hearing Beanie Mans Who Am I, he headed to his doctor and i...
In what year did Smith release Yu Sure?

1998

...Mans Who Am I, he headed to his doctor and insisted his jaw be freed. In 1998 the musician found success with the singles Yu Sure, Jack It Up, and Lat...
What was the name of the hit single released by Smith?

Nike Air

...re, Jack It Up, and Latest News. The result was the popular hit single Nike Air , followed by the single Heads High, which found a devoted fan base in ...
What was Smith's fulllength?

Hot It Up

... signing with Universal Records in 2006, Smith released the fulllength Hot It Up in 2007, led by the singles Hot Wuk, Taxi Fare, and Tek Weh Yuhself. ...
What was the name of Smith's sophomore album?

Damn Right

...mand act by artists including Sean Paul. Ahead of his sophomore album Damn Right , Smith issued the single Hot Gal Today, which peaked at No. Featuring...
Who contributed guest contributions to Damn Right?

Shaggy and Big Yard

...Gal Today, which peaked at No. Featuring guest contributions from Shaggy and Big Yard , Damn Right rose to No. Marking his arrival on the Billboard 200...
What was Smith's third album?

Pull Up

...e Billboard 200, the rapper and toaster released his third studio album Pull Up , which peaked at No. After signing with Universal Records in 2006, Smi...
When did Smith sign with Universal Records?

2006

...bum Pull Up, which peaked at No. After signing with Universal Records in 2006 , Smith released the fulllength Hot It Up in 2007, led by the singles Hot...
In what year did Smith release his fulllength?

2007

...th Universal Records in 2006, Smith released the fulllength Hot It Up in 2007 , led by the singles Hot Wuk, Taxi Fare, and Tek Weh Yuhself. The followi...
What was the name of Destra Garcia's album?

Soca or Die

...Yuhself. The following year Smith contributed to Destra Garcias album Soca or Die on the track On The Floor, before releasing a bestof compilation The...
In what month and year was Reggae Euphoria released?

September 2014

...bestof compilation The Hits. The record Reggae Euphoria followed in September 2014 , after which Smith contributed to the remix of Beyonces Standing on...
What record followed The Hits?

Reggae Euphoria

...e Floor, before releasing a bestof compilation The Hits. The record Reggae Euphoria followed in September 2014, after which Smith contributed to the r...
What song did Smith remix?

Beyonces Standing on the Sun

...mpilation The Hits. The record Reggae Euphoria followed in September 2014, after which Smith contributed to the remix of Beyonces Standing on the Sun ....
What was Mr. Vegas named after?

showgirls

... popular Jamaican tunes with little success. Despite being named after showgirls , Mr. Vegas was known as a tough one to the locals. When he went to a ...
How long was Vegas sipping food through a straw?

six weeks

...r. One hit to the jaw meant Vegas was sipping food through a straw for six weeks . Sweet vocalizing had played a major part in Vegas' style, but now he...
What was a major part of Vegas' style but needed to incorporate more toasting?

Sweet vocalizing

...he jaw meant Vegas was sipping food through a straw for six weeks. Sweet vocalizing had played a major part in Vegas' style, but now he had to incorpo...
What Jamaican hit was released after Nike Air hit the top of the charts?

Heads High

... instant Jamaican hit. As soon as Nike Air hit the top of the charts, Heads High was issued and became a smash not only on the island but in the U.K. ...
What was Vegas called upon to accompany?

Sean Paul

...K. as well. The singjay was now called upon to accompany crooners like Sean Paul , since producers assumed Vegas was a quick, forceful toaster with no ...
What did Vegas sing at local parties and shows in his early years as a singjay?

covers of Jamaican hits

...a Las Vegas dancer. In his early years as a singjay, Vegas sang covers of Jamaican hits at local parties and shows, and acquired a reputation as a tro...
What was the name of Vegas' first major hit?

Who Am I

...ews. For his first major hit, Vegas played off of clarification needed Who Am I to create Nike Air, which became a huge hit in Jamaica. Vegas won a MO...
What did Vegas win a MOBO for for the Heads High album?

Best Reggae Artist

...ike Air, which became a huge hit in Jamaica. Vegas won a MOBO for Best Reggae Artist for the Heads High album as well. 2000's single Hot Gal Today was...
When did he release Damn Right?

2001

...le Hot Gal Today was a minor hit on the US R&B charts, peaking at 66. In 2001 , he issued Damn Right, featuring guest appearances from Shaggy and Big Y...
What year was Clifford Smith born?

1974

...Biography edit Clifford Smith was born in Kingston in 1974 . The monikerMr. Vegas was given to Smith by his schoolyard football mates, who thought that...
What chart peak did Vegas hit in 1998?

69

...ound fame in 1998 with hits such as Yu Sure, Jack It Up, and Latest News. 69 peak on the U.S. R&B chart, and Vegas became increasingly in demand as a ...
What was the name of the dancehall boomshots he released in 1997?

Heads High and Nike Air

...top of the Jamaican charts in 1997 with the dancehall boomshots Heads High and Nike Air , his distinctive vocals fusing melodious singing with precisio...
When did he reach the top of the Jamaican charts?

1997

...He catapulted to the top of the Jamaican charts in 1997 with the dancehall boomshots Heads High and Nike Air, his distinctive vocals fusing melodious ...
What color shorts did he wear on the football field?

neon pink

...on, Jamaica, he was given the nickname Mr. Vegas by his cousin for the neon pink shorts he wore on the football field; in addition to his athletic ski...
Heads High reached what number in Jamaica?

number one

...th another affirming and very appealing tune Heads High which reached number one in Jamaica, hit the British Top Ten and found its way onto several ur...
What was the name of Scatta Burrell's riddim?

Coolie Dance

... Up. The title track was recorded on Scatta Burrell's wildly popular Coolie Dance riddim, entered the Billboard charts and took Vegas' music into prev...
What was the name of Vegas' long time associate?

Richard Shams Browne

...iously uncharted territory. Vegas' long time associate Jamaica's Richard Shams Browne produced several tracks including Million Dollar Baby and Slow W...
What was the name of Vegas's newest album?

Party Tun Up

...0 Artist & Speaker From Heads High (1998) to the newest Party Tun Up (2013), Mr. Vegas has assembled an unshakable string of international classic reg...
Where was Clifford Smith born?

Kingston

...or the last two decades. Born Clifford Smith in Jamaicas capital city, Kingston . Mr. Vegas developed a passion for music at an early age. It was custo...
What would female classmates regularly attend without showing any interest in?

lunch

... classmates would regularly attend without demonstrating any interest in lunch . Mr. Vegas, however, was destined to go places. To have two releases wi...
Mr. Vegas was destined to go where?

places

...nstrating any interest in lunch. Mr. Vegas, however, was destined to go places . To have two releases with two ICONIC MultiPlatinum POP artists when yo...