Ini Kamoze (JM)

About

Also known as: I. Kamoze, Ini Kamaze, Ini Kimoze, Ini Zamoze

Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist Ini Kamoze, born Cecil Campbell, spent much of the early 1980s building a reputation with recordings produced by the legendary duo Sly and Robbie, even touring internationally alongside Yellowman and Half Pint. His 1984 self titled debut on Island Records already showed off his wit, with liner notes describing himself as a "pencil thin, disentangled, six foot vegetarian". One track from that album was later sampled by Damian Marley on the 2005 smash "Welcome to Jamrock", proof that Kamoze's early work had lasting value even when mainstream attention faded. Then came 1994 and "Here Comes the Hotstepper", the song that made his name globally. It hit No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, topped charts in Denmark and New Zealand, and landed on the soundtrack to the film Prêt à Porter. The remixed version, handled by Salaam Remi, quietly borrowed the bass line from Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat", giving the track an irresistible groove. The success triggered a seven album deal with Elektra Records. Since then Kamoze has kept releasing music on his own terms, most recently the 2016 collaboration Ini Kamoze Meets Xterminator: Tramplin' Down Babylon.