Mavado

Born and raised in Cassava Piece, one of Kingston, Jamaica’s most perilous ghettos, reggae vocalist David Constantine Brooks, better known as Mavado, drew early inspiration from Bounty Killer and Cutty Ranks. Religious upbringing combined with a wish to spread socially aware lyrics helped him steer clear of deeper criminal involvement. Prompted by a friend, he stopped by Junior Reid’s Kingston studio, where he crossed paths with his idol Bounty Killer; the veteran instantly recognized his ability and linked him with singer Predator and manager Julian Jones-Griffith.

His first major breakthrough arrived in 2004 with the Daseca-produced single “Real McKoy,” voiced over the Anger Management riddim. Two years later the Red Bull and Guinness riddim powered “Weh Dem a Do” to another substantial hit, quickly followed by the popular “Dreaming” and “Bawl Dem a Bawl.” Momentum suffered a sudden blow when his father was killed in Switzerland. After securing the release and return of the body to Jamaica, Mavado settled his long-running dispute with fellow dancehall artist Vybz Kartel—a conflict that had fueled crew clashes and diss records such as “Warn Dem” and “Informer” from Mavado and “Alliance Diss” and “Mafraudo” from Kartel.

With tensions eased, he finished his debut album Gangster for Life for VP Records. Released in 2007, the set contained additional chart entries including “Top Shotta Nah Miss,” “Dying,” and a new mix titled “Real McKoy with a Full Clip,” which appeared the next year in Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City. Also in 2008, Jay-Z joined the remix of “I’m on the Rock,” prompting Mavado to re-record the track as “We Need Barack” in support of the presidential candidate. That same year he crossed into hip-hop with a guest spot on 50 Cent and G-Unit’s album T.O.S.: Terminate on Sight.

His 2009 release Mr. Brooks…A Better Tomorrow yielded the hit “On the Rock.” In 2011 Mavado launched his own imprint, Mansion Records, with the single “Delilah.” He shared the 2012 track “Lighters Up” with Popcaan and Snoop Dogg, then welcomed Nicki Minaj for the 2013 single “Give It All to Me.”