Sean Paul: Although of Mixed Blood, Blood Runs Cool!
Coming from a family of accomplished athletes, anyone would think Sean Paul would end up an athlete as well. While he did play for the national water polo team up to the age of 21, he quit the athletic field to concentrate on his music career. Sean Paul was born Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques on January 8, 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica and had a privileged childhood. His father was a top athlete – and so was his mother – but his mother also dabbled in painting. He grew up in an upscale neighborhood by the name of Upper Saint Andrew Parish in Jamaica near his native Kingston. His father has Portuguese and Jewish origins while his mother had Chinese ancestry.
Sean Paul’s claim to fame was as a dancehall deejay – his first love. He is also associated with reggae music. Sean Paul wrote some of his own songs, and admits to being influenced by the works of Super Cat and Don Yute. Don Yute later became his mentor. He joined the popular reggae pop band called the Third World, and his brother, Jason, introduced him to some of his business networking buddies. Working closely with Jeremy Harding, Sean Paul released his first album, “Baby Girl, Don’t Cry” and was an instant success. Other Jamaican hits naturally followed: “Nah Get no Bly”, “Deport Them” and “Hackle Mi.”
His best-selling album however is Dutty Rock, which he waxed in 2002. Before that he was already attracting American audiences and was asked to partner up with dancehall song creator Mr. Vegas for rapper DMX. Although there was a falling out with Mr. Vegas over the remix of “Hot Gal Today”, Paul’s career did not suffer. In 2000 in New York, Sean Paul performed in the Summer Jam and was warmly welcomed. It was just a question of time before his fame went beyond American borders. That year, he released his first album, Stage One under the VP Records Label. A year later, he was featured on Baby Blue’s Album, Private Party. The first single from the Private Party Album, was “Money Jane” which included Kardinal Offishall and Jully Black.
Dutty Rock was released two years later and topped some world charts, selling more than 6 million copies. Sean Paul took part in Beyonce’s single “Baby Boy.” The Trinity was his third album and even if it was widely acclaimed, it only garnered half the success of Dutty Rock.