Dancehall Superstar Cham Says They Owe Him A Grammy
Sitting with Cham in his Miami studio, he no longer goes by Baby Cham he explains. He reveals that his respect for Bounty Killer and production partner Dave Kelly has shaped his evolution to an elite class of Dancehall artists who enjoy international success.
In this interview, Cham explains the process of making authentic Dancehall music and how he became one of the genre’s biggest names.
What name do you go with now?
Well since there is nothing baby about what we are doing the name, we decided to just go with Cham.
What was your inspiration to start in music?
My Uncle had a sound system, by the name of Studio Mix from Water House. Super Cat used to perform on the sound system, John Wayne and Like John. At the time I was a tiny tot and I liked music from then. It was a joy to see SuperCat come and take the mic in the backyard and toast…but when I heard Buju, who was the hottest artist at the time, that was when I wanted to be an artist. So by buying Buju records I started to perform on the sound system.
Because that was the thing to do then?
Yes, because back then if you couldn’t perform live on the sound system it’s like you are a studio artist that created like “Millie Vanillie” no disrespect but that’s how Jamaicans are. So that’s how I started out on the sound system. I had a song called One Bag a Hotness, it wasn’t on record but it became known around the Kingston 20 areas because other sound man did have it. I met with a few producers but some of them were skeptical because of my nasal sound.
Now we see more artists using that sound?
Yeah, but back then you needed a baritone like Shabba.
How did you link up with Bounty Killer?
We really started clicking at a wedding reception. We drove from Jammings studio. First time I ever saw someone walk into a store, pick up a fresh suit and pay for it cash and walk out. I said to myself I need a piece of this (laughs) because where we come from that didn’t happen.
Then you did powerful songs together?
Yes, how the songs came about, Dave never really had a contact with Killa, it was me who had the contact so we had this beat by the name of Haunted we had written a song by the name of Worthless Bwoy and Dave was like you know who this would fit? He came over and in one take him knock it out, and ever since then him and Dave always had a chemistry that was natural. Few artists and producers have that chemistry. Especially the three of us. Rodney is one of the most talented in terms of delivery dancehall has ever seen.
Even now?
Probably now him need the producer but in terms of delivery no artist can deliver like Killa. DJ technique, come on bro.
You made some songs that were controversial and were said to have caused havoc, do you take any responsibility for the impact in that time and the crime?
I wouldn’t say the crime because the movie Killer came out and we saw this dude with a Glock 90 and he made on squeeze, that influenced rude boys but did they blame it on the movie? If the society is not reflecting what we are making in the studio. The reason why it connects is because that’s what’s going on. We normally watch the news and whatever we are seeing is what’s going on throughout the world not just in Jamaica. In Brazil, they tell their exact story. Music doesn’t influence crime, politics influence crime.
What are the ingredients that go into you making a song?
Everything. Even a regular conversation. Music is influenced by everything around. The funniest or simplest thing.
How that came about a decision to make songs that others can understand. We chose words that we wouldn’t normally use in the Dancehall space because I realized not only Jamaican and Caribbean people were listening to me. “Breaker breaker call the undertaker” I deliberately make lyrics like those so more people can understand.
You make good songs but you don’t make them often, what’s your format?
To each his own but if I have a one hour concert I can’t perform a hundred songs so its always quality over quantity. I make classic songs. Picking my spot and be a sharp shooter as hard as I can push it.
Atlantic Records told us Ghetto Story was not the song. To them it was just a next project but to me it was my life. It was at Giants stadium when the song took the park apart. That song was the song of the evening. FunkMaster Flex cut the live show to play it live on the air with sixty five thousand people saying “Raahh”. That’s when Atlantic Records paid it attention. Then they said they needed Lil Kim on it and I said you crazy? We told them we already had Alicia Keys and they said no one gets Alicia Keys. So give it up to Alicia, the song sold worldwide 1.7M.
You are one of the most successful Dancehall artists who consistently go platinum?
Only other person pulling our numbers in Dancehall is Sean and the closest thing is Jamrock.
You brought Dancehall to the mainstream, do you think they underrate you?
It may be my personality and Dave’s personality. He never goes on camera and never does interviews. Both of us are reserved but at the end of the day the numbers will speak. It is what it is, we know if it was someone else it would be in the papers everywhere but the fans know what it is.
How come you and Dave Kelly remained friends after all these years?
Me and Dave are like brothers. He’s like an older brother to me. We have never made money got in the way. Dave has been making big songs way before me. He recorded Tony Rebel, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Spragga Benz, Louie Culture.
There is a song Spragga said was given to Beenie?
“ Old Dog like we”, Spragga recorded the song but to Dave the delivery wasn’t right and at the end of the day it was never about ego. Spragga is a real youth because it naturally must hurt at a competitive level. We and Spragga a friend and I was rooting for Spragga more but Dave as a producer had a better ear. It was the right choice.
Dancehall is not reaching the Billboard charts anymore outside of Sean Paul. What do you think is needed?
It needs record labels that’s not trying to rape it. It needs good management and needs good producers. The last hit we had on the Billboard was Wine . It needs good management teams and I find that the production fluctuates. The talent is there but artists have to realize it’s not about hype so if the producer says go back and fix something he shouldn’t be arrogant. When you are in the studio it’s never about you as an artist.
What do you think about the Reggae Grammys?
Me Bias inuh cause them rob me of my Grammy. Nobody else was doing the numbers as Ghetto Story and they gave it to Lee Scratch Perry. The Grammys is about who has the best PR. Some PR teams are known to deliver Grammys. You need a link on the inside.
Do you still want a Grammy?
It’s only right. Grammy knows they owe us one.
Streaming is now a thing, have you fully understood what it is and integrated it into your business?
We are still learning but we are getting there. We have people on top of it.
The live shows in Reggae-Dancehall is where artists make money, will you be setting up a structure where people can get Cham merchandise.
It’s already there. The website is www.chamworld.com. The brand Lawless is more than I thought it was. It has taken on a life of its own, When I know it was taking on a life of its own when Junior Gong called me from a concert and said he saw someone coming to the show in a Lawless T-Shirt.
So you are ahead of the game with merchandise?
Yes, we did a tour and merchandise made more than the concert because that money comes straight to me. No one is paid from that.
Where is O?
O was never an artist inuh. We wanted to do a demo to send to a real artist so she did the demo in the studio at home. Dave said the sound was good and we can realize it as it is. The people started to ask and I sat with her and told her she can capitalize on it and that’s how she came up with the name Miss O. We did Tun Up after. Two classics. So many artists work for years and never get one song and she got two.
Yes those songs are classics, if you don’t careful as a man you find yourself singing (laughs)
And you have to hold yourself (laugh)
Baby Cham thanks for talking to me bredrin.
Big Up JR
Photos: Instagram/@thecham