Mavado (singer)
Encyclopedia
David Constantine Brooks (born November 30, 1981), better known by his stage name
Mavado, is a Jamaican
musician, actor, DJ and music producer.
's Cassava Piece community. His grandmother gave him his first musical experience at a young age, bringing him to church to sing. He also cites the music of Bounty Killer
as an early influence.
The boyhood idol became his mentor when at the age of 15, Bounty took him under his wing to show him the ropes of the music industry. He decided to name himself "Mavado" after the Swiss watch company Movado
, altering the spelling.
His debut single, "Real McKoy" on the Anger Management riddim
in 2004, provided him instant success. He further established himself with the follow-up record “Weh Dem a Do”, on the Red Bull & Guinness riddim. After a string of hits in 2005 and 2006, Mavado released the album Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks
July 10, 2007 on VP Records
. "Whe Dem A Do" and "Dying", two singles from the album, were featured heavily on R&B/hip-hop radio in New York.
That same year brought Mavado off-stage controversy, as he was arrested and booked by Jamaican police on what was later revealed to be gun charges. While in police custody, the singer claims he was thrown into a glass window, losing three fingers in the process, which were reattached at a local hospital. Police claimed Mavado escaped from custody while at the hospital. The incident caused him to be refused entry into the United States a short time later. He was again arrested and charged with shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm in relation to an event occurring July 27, 2007. He was later freed of all charges.
In March 2008, Mavado was featured performing a rendition of his song "Real McKoy" for Grand Theft Auto IV
Trailer #4 "Everyone's a Rat". "Real McKoy", along with "Last Night" (both from the album Gangsta for Life), were also featured in the game on the radio station "Massive B Radio".
In November 2009, Mavado lost out to Sean Paul
for the Best Reggae Artist award at Soul Train Music Awards
. He won the 2010 EME award for Male Singjay
of the Year.
In 2008 Mavado was given the prestigious UK MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act.
In April 2010, Mavado starred as a gangster in Drake's
song Find Your Love
for Drake's album Thank Me Later
Mavado formed his own label, Mansion Records, in 2011, debuting with the single "Delilah".
Along with Bounty Killer, he has cited 2Pac as a childhood idol, comparing the late rapper's life to his own.
In 2011, Mavado recorded with U.K. Grime
artist Chipmunk
on the track "Every Gyal".
On 1 September 2011, Mavado appeared on the Angie Martinez
show on New York's Hot 97 radio station to announce that he had signed a deal with DJ Khaled
's record label We the Best Music Group
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Mavado, is a Jamaican
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
musician, actor, DJ and music producer.
Biography
Brooks was raised in an area known as "Cuban", a micro ghetto within the heart of Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
's Cassava Piece community. His grandmother gave him his first musical experience at a young age, bringing him to church to sing. He also cites the music of Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer is a Grammy nominated Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He is the founder of a dancehall collective known as The Alliance.-Early life and career:...
as an early influence.
The boyhood idol became his mentor when at the age of 15, Bounty took him under his wing to show him the ropes of the music industry. He decided to name himself "Mavado" after the Swiss watch company Movado
Movado
Movado is a Swiss luxury watch company whose name is Esperanto for "continuous movement". Movado was founded in 1881 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Achilles Ditesheim....
, altering the spelling.
His debut single, "Real McKoy" on the Anger Management riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
in 2004, provided him instant success. He further established himself with the follow-up record “Weh Dem a Do”, on the Red Bull & Guinness riddim. After a string of hits in 2005 and 2006, Mavado released the album Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks
Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks
Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks is the debut album of hardcore dancehall artist Mavado, released on July 2, 2007.-Track listing:...
July 10, 2007 on VP Records
VP Records
VP Records is an independent reggae record label, located in Queens, New York. It is best known for producing Caribbean singers.-The foundation:...
. "Whe Dem A Do" and "Dying", two singles from the album, were featured heavily on R&B/hip-hop radio in New York.
That same year brought Mavado off-stage controversy, as he was arrested and booked by Jamaican police on what was later revealed to be gun charges. While in police custody, the singer claims he was thrown into a glass window, losing three fingers in the process, which were reattached at a local hospital. Police claimed Mavado escaped from custody while at the hospital. The incident caused him to be refused entry into the United States a short time later. He was again arrested and charged with shooting with intent and illegal possession of firearm in relation to an event occurring July 27, 2007. He was later freed of all charges.
In March 2008, Mavado was featured performing a rendition of his song "Real McKoy" for Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
Trailer #4 "Everyone's a Rat". "Real McKoy", along with "Last Night" (both from the album Gangsta for Life), were also featured in the game on the radio station "Massive B Radio".
In November 2009, Mavado lost out to Sean Paul
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
for the Best Reggae Artist award at Soul Train Music Awards
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
. He won the 2010 EME award for Male Singjay
Singjay
Singjaying is a Jamaican style of reggae vocals combining toasting and singing in an elastic format that encourages rhythmically compelling and texturally impressive vocal embellishments. The performer is called singjay, a combination of singer and deejay.The fusion of singing and deejaying...
of the Year.
In 2008 Mavado was given the prestigious UK MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act.
In April 2010, Mavado starred as a gangster in Drake's
Drake's
Drake's is a baking company in Wayne, New Jersey, United States, owned by Hostess Brands, which makes snack cakes such as Ring Dings, Yodels, Devil Dogs, Yankee Doodles, Sunny Doodles, Funny Bones, and coffee cake. Their mascot is a smiling duck wearing a chef's hat and neckerchief holding a...
song Find Your Love
Find Your Love
"Find Your Love" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song written by Drake, Patrick Reynolds, Jeff Bhasker, and Kanye West, and was produced by the latter two and No I.D.. The song serves as the second single from his debut album Thank Me Later...
for Drake's album Thank Me Later
Thank Me Later
Thank Me Later is the debut studio album of Canadian recording artist Drake, released June 15, 2010, on Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Motown Records...
Mavado formed his own label, Mansion Records, in 2011, debuting with the single "Delilah".
Along with Bounty Killer, he has cited 2Pac as a childhood idol, comparing the late rapper's life to his own.
In 2011, Mavado recorded with U.K. Grime
Grime
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
artist Chipmunk
Chipmunk (rapper)
Jahmaal Noel Fyffe known by his stage name Chipmunk, is a British hip hop rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, London....
on the track "Every Gyal".
On 1 September 2011, Mavado appeared on the Angie Martinez
Angie Martinez
Angela "Angie" Martinez is an American radio personality and occasional rapper.-Radio career:Angie Martinez got her first break in radio at the age of 16 answering hot lines at the urban radio station WQHT . There she met popular DJ Funkmaster Flex, and began working as his protégé...
show on New York's Hot 97 radio station to announce that he had signed a deal with DJ Khaled
DJ Khaled
Khaled bin Abdul Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ, and record label executive. He is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. In 2006, Khaled released his...
's record label We the Best Music Group
We the Best Music Group
We the Best Music Group is a record label founded by DJ Khaled. It is distributed through Def Jam Recordings, Interscope-Geffen-A&M and Universal Motown.-Artists:* DJ Khaled* Ace Hood* Cameo* Hollyhood Bay Bay* Cubic Z* Ice Berg* Jarvis* Red Rum...
.
Albums
- Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David BrooksGangsta for Life: The Symphony of David BrooksGangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks is the debut album of hardcore dancehall artist Mavado, released on July 2, 2007.-Track listing:...
(July 2007) - Mr. Brooks...A Better TomorrowMr. Brooks...A Better TomorrowMr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow is the second studio album by Jamaican artist Mavado. The album was recorded during 2008 and 2009. It features tracks such as "So Special", "Overcome", "So Blessed", "On The Rock", and "Money Changer"...