Tanya Stephens

born on 2/7/1973 in Kingston, Jamaica

Tanya Stephens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tanya Stephens

Vivienne Tanya Stephens, better known by her stage name Tanya Stephens (born 2 July 1973, Kingston, Jamaica)[1] is an influential reggae artist who emerged in the late 1990s. Stephens is most known for her hits "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" the single was later featured on the Reggae Gold 1997 compilation album and "It's a Pity", which achieved Tanya international recognition.[2]

Biography

Stephens was born in 1973 and grew up in St. Mary and St. Ann, attending Zion Hill and Ocho Rios primary schools and St Mary High.[1]

Her album Rebelution was released in August 2006,[2] and the first single "These Streets" was a number one hit in the Caribbean staying on Tempo's Chart at number 1 for more than 4 weeks. The album was totally sold out in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean. The track "Rosa" is a tribute to Rosa Parks.[3]

Her early material was lyrically typical of dancehall and drew comparisons with Lady Saw,[4] along with whom she was proclaimed "the top female artists in Jamaica" in 1998 by the Washington Post,[5] but later developed beyond what she called "the same old four topics" to 'reality' themes and even lyrics critical of homophobia.[2] Social scientist Clinton Hutton said of her: "She is very intuitively intelligent and deftly tackles relevant social issues".[1]

Her 2001 album Sintoxicated saw her sign to Warner Music Sweden and make "a Macy Gray-style pop album with two Swedish producers, Emil Gotthard and Peter Cartiers".[6]

In 2007, Stephens was awarded a scholarship by Resource Development International to study for a Business Management degree via the internet from the University of Sunderland.[7]

Her latest album Infallible, was released in 2010.[8]

Stephens has a daughter, Kelly, born in 1994.[9]

Bedouin Soundclash reference Tanya's hit "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" in "Living In Jungles" from the album Sounding a Mosaic'

Discography

Albums

  • Big Things A Gwaan - RUNNetherlands - 1994
  • Too Hype - VP Records - 1997
  • Ruff Rider - VP Records - 1998
  • Sintoxicated - Warner Brothers Records - 2001
  • Gangsta Blues - VP Records 2004
  • Rebelution - VP Records - 2006
  • Tanya: Collection Of Hits - VP Records/Warner Records - (2009)
  • Infallible - Tarantula Records/VP Records - 2010
  • Guilty - VP Records - Winter 2012

Singles

  • "It's A Pity" (Doctor's Darling Riddim)
  • "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet"
  • "Cherry Brandy"
  • "Draw fi Mi Finger"
  • "Freaky Type"
  • "Cry and Bawl"
  • "Boom Wuk"
  • "These Streets"
  • "Dance 4 Me" (Mark Morrison featuring Tanya Stephens)
  • "119"
  • "These Streets"
  • "Mi and Mi God"
  • "Glue"

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004) "All Woman: Tanya Stephens", Jamaica Observer, 3 May 2004, retrieved 2010-10-31
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Yursik, Patrice Elizabeth Grell (2006) "Viva la Rebelution!", Miami New Times, September 14, 2006, retrieved 2010-10-31
  3. Campbell, Howard (2006) "Newsmaker: Tanya Stephens - Dancehall evolution sparks 'Rebelution'", Jamaica Gleaner, 26 September 2006, retrieved 2010-10-31
  4. Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 325
  5. Wartofsky, Alona (1998) "LADY SAW "Raw: The Best of Lady Saw" VP; TANYA STEPHENS "Ruff Rider" VP]", Washington Post, 9 October 1998
  6. "Tanya Stephens' Sintoxicated album". The World's Greatest Music. June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  7. Cooke, Mel (2007) "Tanya Stephens thankful for scholarship", Jamaica Gleaner, 12 August 2007, retrieved 2010-10-31
  8. "Tanya Stephens Performs At Christopher's Tonight", Jamaica Gleaner, 29 April 2010, retrieved 2010-10-31
  9. Brooks, Sadeke (2010) "Tanya Stephens Is No 'Infallible' Mom", Jamaica Gleaner, 9 May 2010, retrieved 2010-10-31

External links

  • Interview with Tanya Stephens on Jamaican Observer (2003)
  • Robbo Ranks interviews Tanya Stephens for 1Xtra (audio interview, 2006)
  • Recent interview with Tanya Stephens (2008)
This page was last modified 09.09.2012 01:41:25

This article uses material from the article Tanya Stephens from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.