Hi Kee Rooted & Grounded

Hi Kee is a peaceful person with a warm and friendly attitude, powerful voice and sharp, intelligent lyrics about our society, struggles in life and his faith in Rasta.

He grow up in a small community called "Pepper District" in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Hi Kee, has 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He is the eldest son raised by his Rastafarian father, a pump operator at the National Water Commission and his mother a dressmaker.

It was Hi Kee's close friend, DJ Skylan from St. Elizabeth, who offered Hi Kee opportunity to gain experience by building his own songs and DJ-ing on local sound systems like Tic Tac, Hi Grade CD Sound, Cosmic and Revelation Sound.

Hi Kee was only 23 years old when his first song called "Pretty like Gold" was recorded in a studio in Mandeville/Manchester, Jamaica. In 2004 the tune received airplay throughout Jamaican radio stations and Hi Kee was interviewed by Radio HOT 102 a national radio station. Unfortunately due to lack of funds and knowledge this song did not get released on 7 inch and no further recordings took place.

However, Hi Kee continued to search for partners to produce his music and in doing so, Hi Kee became educated about the Jamaican reggae industry. He has performed in lots of studios and countless stage shows all over the island. He has reasoned with many respected elders from the music scene and trained his voice & DJ skills to a highly professional level.

In January 2009 Hi Kee signed with LT International, a artist management company. Since working together, Hi Kee has recorded countless singles and tunes for various compilation albums, all to be released this year or early 2010. His first single is called "Woman of Virtue" and was recorded for Maasto Records, a label in Finland. The second single called "Goodness Gracious", was recorded for Reality Chant Productions, a label in New Zealand. Both tunes are released!

The next upcoming releases are "Fire Blaze" for Bassrunner Prod. in Austria (to be released 1st of Dec. 09) & "Refugee" feat. Sophia Squire for germans Rootdown Music Label (to be Released 20th of Nov. 09). More recordings include "Blood a Run" for the label Lustre Kings from the USA, "Praise Jah Name" & "Easy Sqeeze" for german based label Ire Hi-Fi, "From a Far" for UK-based label True Sounds & many more. The jamaican poduction team "Whatage Muzic" is also prepering a new release for Hi Kee - "Keep Rasta Fyah Blazing", likewize the Westmoreland based label „Highlight Records“ with the Tune "Kutchie Cup", releases expected for early 2010.

In Oct. 09 Hi Kee got the chance to do a first promotional Trip to europe to perfom in such great cities like Utrecht & Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Helsinki, Aarhus and many others. The feedback was great and he shurly be back soon to strenghten his name in europe.

Since middle of the year, Hi Kee is working on his debuet-album and several videoclips to lounch his youtube-channel and first promo-campaign in jamaica.

Watch out for more news about this emerging young roots reggae artist from Jamrock!!!

Lady B Bless talks with Hi Kee


What is the meaning of your name?
Hi Kee is actually coming from the swedish language and means "Might & Power"

What does your music brings to the reggae genre?
What does it add? My music is more educational then just entertaining alone, so I try to take enough time to make a song to the best of my ability. I try to make them "timeless", something people can relate to for a lifetime, people from all over the world me a talk, My music adds a positive and concious influence even to people that listen other kind of music.

And I think you can not do a quality song inna rush, It´s like cooking food - you have to take time to prepare something special and well cooked other then eating fast food from the drive-thru. I always try to write 3 verses to put nuff lyrics in my songs. Lots of artists I see don´t do that and they repeat their lyrics too often when there is space for nuff more message.

Who influenced you, and what is your motivation?
I got musically influenced a lot by my close friend "Skylan". He first carried me to soundsystems and let me DJ. He also showed me how to constucte my own lyrics to built a nice song.

In my early days me and my family listened to great Veterans like Tyron Taylor, Peter Tosh & Bob Marley. My precious mother always encouraged us to sing at home and in the church!!!

Then later in the early 90´s we listened to artists like Sizzla, Bounty Killer or even Louie Culture and more of those artists with solid, well arranged lyrics.
My motivation is basically LIFE on a whole... of course the Most High who I worship in my song. People u meet daily, the feedback u get from fans all over the world wether on a liveshow in jamaica or via a email thru the internet from somewhere out there.

But also the nature & climate that surrounds you... so many tings happen daily that motivate u to do a new song, even things that are not positive, you still try to flip it around and built a song out of a stressful situation for example

What do you see as future of reggae, and music in general?
You can not see the future, but I think if we don´t keep up with moral standards & protect the value of this great music it will be lost.

Reggaemusic is a very powerfull media, once it´s directed to create a positive impact, people will follow more and more. THAT is what is needed in this time.
Music has always been there and will always be. It is our responsablitiy as singers & players of instruments not to water it down, but make it better. I hope that the insdustry will get more concious in the future about these values and protect and nuture the cultural & postive reggae music!

Playing or recording what do you prefer?
It goes hand in hand for me. First u go in the studio to create a song and u feel good about it. it´s a joy. even later on the same day when u reach home u listen again and the day becomes a happy day!
Once u ready to perform it now, then u get a next joy from the crowd. Can´t say what I realy prefer, both parts of the work are nice!

Please tell the folks what you would like them to know?
Keep positive and concious and help me to protect this great music. Have faith in the most High, cause he will guide we thru all struggles. Keep and care for all children worldwide, they are our future.

Stay tuned to Hi Kee on myspace, facebook, twitter, reverbnation or Arcanovi Artist Network! Album is coming out first half of 2010! And keep listening Lady B Bless on Zim Carib Radio! Selassie I guide and protect!!! Selah

Hi Kee is currently Artist of the Month on www.RastaMusic.com - Internet Radio - A next short Interview Online, check it out!!!!!!!!!


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