Razah

Born in Jamaica yet raised in Brooklyn, R&B vocalist Razah navigated an upbringing steeped in crime, violence, and drugs. Thanks to his resilient mother, he steered clear of street involvement while channeling focus into music during his school years. After classes he frequented Brooklyn’s renowned Don One studio, where encounters with artists ranging from Wayne Wonder to Shabba Ranks reinforced his reggae foundation and fueled ambitions of widespread recognition. Persistent demo submissions eventually connected him with production outfit ManHood Entertainment, resulting in the independently issued single “Feel So Good.” Its light, airy quality ignited intense interest from major labels eager to secure the polished vocalist. Written as a tribute to his mother, the track received steady airplay on R&B stations throughout late 2004. Blending reggae, R&B, and hip-hop influences, his first full-length project, Breath of Fresh Air, arrived in early 2005. Around the same period, Rihanna caught “Where Do We Go from Here” on New York’s Hot 97, requested a guest verse for the remix, and thereby introduced Razah to Jay-Z, who promptly placed him on the Def Jam roster. The singer’s initial release for that imprint, the self-titled Razah, surfaced in spring 2008.