DeLon (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Dilan Jayasingha better known as his stage name, DeLon, is an aspiring American hip hop
artist and record producer
.
DeLon is the first Sri Lanka
n artist to place on the U.S. Billboard charts
, first with his single "Calor de la Salsa (The Heat Of Salsa)" in 2005 off of his debut album The Connection
and then again in 2007 with his single "Nasty Girl" from his second album Unstoppable
On April 5, 2008, DeLon won "Best Rap Performance" at the Derana
Music Video Awards in Sri Lanka
.
He has also collaborated with new age Sri Lankan Hip Hop artists and producers such as Bathiya and Santhush
, Ranidu
, Ashanthi
and Iraj
.
Born to parents from a small village in Gampaha, Sri Lanka
n, DeLon learned at an early age the
importance of hard work and humility while at the same time trying to attain a level of greatness never thought of
by someone from his island. DeLon made his musical debut at the young age of 12; but it wasn’t his lyrics people
were listening to. DeLon began his love affair with Hip-Hop by first learning to DJ for local parties and clubs
around his hometown of Pasadena, CA. A perfect match from the start; DeLon soon made a name for himself and
word of his talent spread through to the hottest clubs in Hollywood. DJ gave DeLon the chance to study
music and gain a stronger perspective of how people responded to certain beats and melodies.
Destined for something greater, at the age of 18, DeLon began writing and producing his own music and
perfecting his skills on the microphone by regularly attending local competitions. Due to his engaging personality,
performing and entertaining came as second nature. With the determination to experience a world more than what
he was given, DeLon after his graduation from college, decided to expand his horizons. Through lifetime travels to
over 33 countries, DeLon collected knowledge, spiritual and worldly, and indulged himself into music from all over
the world.
After experiencing the devastation of his country of Sri Lanka
, as a first-hand survivor, by the Tsunami
of
2004; DeLon is determined to shed light and positivity to worldly atrocities of famine, and racial and cultural injustices.
DeLon aspires to be the leading voice in bringing unity and consciousness to the forefront through Hip-Hop music.
Utilizing his multi-cultural knowledge and identity, DeLon fuses eclectic cultural beats with Hip-Hop to create
a unique style that cannot be sonically compared with any other rapper in the game. Those tracks combined with
the ability to perform in Spanish
, English
and Sinhala; DeLon produces a crossover appeal that makes him marketable
to a wider fan base through genres and markets worldwide. Authentic, unique, diverse and entertaining; DeLon strives
to achieve a level of international greatness and influence through his music at the same time keeping his roots
grounded to his village
upbringing.
He is currently working on his 3rd studio album “Something Out Of Nothing”.
, which featured "Calor de la Salsa" as the lead single
. "Calor de la Salsa" peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart. The Connection united hip hop listeners of all cultures as it features eclectic beats of different styles of cultural music mixed with American hip hop. With roots in salsa
, samba
, reggae
, soca
, Sri Lankan, India
n and Middle East
ern music, The Connection is an album that unites all cultures through international
hip hop. As reviewed by YRB Magazine
,
The Connection was released through DeLon's record label, Ceylon Records.
was originally meant for promotional use and only had 10,000 copies made to be sold at shows but due to the success of the Unity Through Education Tourhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=441dzo6Z6II, which DeLon headlined, the stock sold out. Unstoppable was then made available digitally through iTunes
in February 2008. The first single, "Nasty Girl", featured Sri Lankan R&B singer Ranidu
and debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.
" Slow It Down" is DeLon's first single off his upcoming album "Something Out Of Nothing".
artist M.I.A.
of supporting terrorism. The video was taken down by YouTube
allegedly by the request of Universal Music Group
(M.I.A.'s parent label). DeLon's music label contacted YouTube due and the video was put back up four weeks later only to be taken down once more two weeks after that. M.I.A. has responded by saying:
Compilation albums
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artist and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
DeLon is the first Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n artist to place on the U.S. Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
, first with his single "Calor de la Salsa (The Heat Of Salsa)" in 2005 off of his debut album The Connection
The Connection (DeLon album)
"The Connection" is the Debut Album by American Rapper DeLon. It was officially released on September 27, 2005. The first single from 'The Connection' was 'Calor De La Salsa'. "Calor De La Salsa" peaked on the Billboard charts at No.15 ] Rapper DeLon. It was officially released on September 27,...
and then again in 2007 with his single "Nasty Girl" from his second album Unstoppable
Unstoppable (DeLon album)
Unstoppable is DeLon's second album. DeLon has embarked on a 60-school tour through middle schools, high schools and colleges in his "Unity Through Education Tour" throughout Los Angeles.According to DeLon:...
On April 5, 2008, DeLon won "Best Rap Performance" at the Derana
Derana
Derana TV is a Sri Lankan Free-to-air Television channel which was launched on 11 October 2005.Derana broadcasts contemporary content that upholds Sri Lankan values on its “Ape De Rakagena, Aluth De Aragena” platform....
Music Video Awards in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
He has also collaborated with new age Sri Lankan Hip Hop artists and producers such as Bathiya and Santhush
Bathiya and Santhush
Bathiya & Santhush are one of the biggest names in the Sri Lankan music industry who were pop/rap duo composed of Bathiya Jayakody and Santhush Weeraman, who met while at Mary Anne David's school for singing in Colombo .Bathiya Jayakody was educated at Ananda College Colombo while his partner,...
, Ranidu
Ranidu Lankage
Ranidu Lankage is a Sinhalese R&B and hip hop artist who raised the international profile of Sinhalese RnB/pop. Lankage is the first Sinhalese artist to be played on BBC Radio 1 and the creator of the first Sinhalese single to be played on MTV and channel V and Z music India...
, Ashanthi
Ashanthi
Ashanthi de Alwis is a female Sri Lankan music artist. She is the only Sri Lankan female R&B / hip-hop artist to be signed to an international record label, Universal Records in 2003 and Sony Entertainment in 2006...
and Iraj
Iraj Weeraratne
Iraj Weeraratne is an Sinhalese R&B and hip hop artist and music producer who raised the international profile of Sinhalese RnB/pop.-External links :*...
.
Early life and career beginnings
From DeLon's Website:Born to parents from a small village in Gampaha, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n, DeLon learned at an early age the
importance of hard work and humility while at the same time trying to attain a level of greatness never thought of
by someone from his island. DeLon made his musical debut at the young age of 12; but it wasn’t his lyrics people
were listening to. DeLon began his love affair with Hip-Hop by first learning to DJ for local parties and clubs
around his hometown of Pasadena, CA. A perfect match from the start; DeLon soon made a name for himself and
word of his talent spread through to the hottest clubs in Hollywood. DJ gave DeLon the chance to study
music and gain a stronger perspective of how people responded to certain beats and melodies.
Destined for something greater, at the age of 18, DeLon began writing and producing his own music and
perfecting his skills on the microphone by regularly attending local competitions. Due to his engaging personality,
performing and entertaining came as second nature. With the determination to experience a world more than what
he was given, DeLon after his graduation from college, decided to expand his horizons. Through lifetime travels to
over 33 countries, DeLon collected knowledge, spiritual and worldly, and indulged himself into music from all over
the world.
After experiencing the devastation of his country of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, as a first-hand survivor, by the Tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
of
2004; DeLon is determined to shed light and positivity to worldly atrocities of famine, and racial and cultural injustices.
DeLon aspires to be the leading voice in bringing unity and consciousness to the forefront through Hip-Hop music.
Utilizing his multi-cultural knowledge and identity, DeLon fuses eclectic cultural beats with Hip-Hop to create
a unique style that cannot be sonically compared with any other rapper in the game. Those tracks combined with
the ability to perform in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Sinhala; DeLon produces a crossover appeal that makes him marketable
to a wider fan base through genres and markets worldwide. Authentic, unique, diverse and entertaining; DeLon strives
to achieve a level of international greatness and influence through his music at the same time keeping his roots
grounded to his village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
upbringing.
He is currently working on his 3rd studio album “Something Out Of Nothing”.
The Connection (2005)
DeLon made his debut in 2005 with The ConnectionThe Connection (DeLon album)
"The Connection" is the Debut Album by American Rapper DeLon. It was officially released on September 27, 2005. The first single from 'The Connection' was 'Calor De La Salsa'. "Calor De La Salsa" peaked on the Billboard charts at No.15 ] Rapper DeLon. It was officially released on September 27,...
, which featured "Calor de la Salsa" as the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. "Calor de la Salsa" peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart. The Connection united hip hop listeners of all cultures as it features eclectic beats of different styles of cultural music mixed with American hip hop. With roots in salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
, Sri Lankan, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern music, The Connection is an album that unites all cultures through international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
hip hop. As reviewed by YRB Magazine
Yellow rat bastard
Yellow Rat Bastard is the flagship establishment in a chain of New York City retail clothing stores owned by Henry Ishay. Like most of the chain, it is located on Broadway...
,
"Hitting the rap game from all sides, DeLon manages to be 'conscious' and 'street' on the same album...a seamless merger of hot production, a catchy hook and the lyrical precision of a young Talib Kweli." - Yellow Rat Bastard (YRB) Magazine, Issue ..61 "The Connection" Review.
The Connection was released through DeLon's record label, Ceylon Records.
Unstoppable (2008)
DeLon's second album, UnstoppableUnstoppable (DeLon album)
Unstoppable is DeLon's second album. DeLon has embarked on a 60-school tour through middle schools, high schools and colleges in his "Unity Through Education Tour" throughout Los Angeles.According to DeLon:...
was originally meant for promotional use and only had 10,000 copies made to be sold at shows but due to the success of the Unity Through Education Tourhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=441dzo6Z6II, which DeLon headlined, the stock sold out. Unstoppable was then made available digitally through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in February 2008. The first single, "Nasty Girl", featured Sri Lankan R&B singer Ranidu
Ranidu Lankage
Ranidu Lankage is a Sinhalese R&B and hip hop artist who raised the international profile of Sinhalese RnB/pop. Lankage is the first Sinhalese artist to be played on BBC Radio 1 and the creator of the first Sinhalese single to be played on MTV and channel V and Z music India...
and debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.
Something Out Of Nothing (2010)
." Slow It Down" is DeLon's first single off his upcoming album "Something Out Of Nothing".
M.I.A. Controversy
In July 2008, DeLon released a controversial video accusing InterscopeInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
artist M.I.A.
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
of supporting terrorism. The video was taken down by YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
allegedly by the request of Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
(M.I.A.'s parent label). DeLon's music label contacted YouTube due and the video was put back up four weeks later only to be taken down once more two weeks after that. M.I.A. has responded by saying:
"I don't support terrorism and never have," she wrote. "As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian deserter. Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion."
Discography
Solo albums- The ConnectionThe Connection (DeLon album)"The Connection" is the Debut Album by American Rapper DeLon. It was officially released on September 27, 2005. The first single from 'The Connection' was 'Calor De La Salsa'. "Calor De La Salsa" peaked on the Billboard charts at No.15 ] Rapper DeLon. It was officially released on September 27,...
(2005) - UnstoppableUnstoppable (DeLon album)Unstoppable is DeLon's second album. DeLon has embarked on a 60-school tour through middle schools, high schools and colleges in his "Unity Through Education Tour" throughout Los Angeles.According to DeLon:...
(2007) - The Movement (2009)
Compilation albums
- The Reality Mixtape (2008)
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sinhawalokanaya "In Retrospect | Jangu | Drama Post Production |