I heard Lamar first when I saw the single "Too Many Nights" in the late 1998. I like the song very much and listened to it a lot. I especially like the lyrics, and as I told you before, it is quite important to understand a song, not just listen to it. Anyway, Lamar prooved to me and others that he is really talentet rapper and song-writer by releasing his second single "Shine(Davidīs Song)" in early 1999. Lamar had help from Jemini on that song. I just love this song and it also became a huge hit. Lamarīs third single "Fly(The Lonely Shepherd)" was just as wonderful as the singles before, maybe even better. I like the sounds he is using, and it is so different from others. His debut album "Ghetto Life" has just been released. And now Lamar is releasing his 4th single "My Team Plays To Win".
Lamar was born in Pittsburgh, USA in October 1975, where he lived until the age of 20. Where he grew up hiphop and making music were a big part of many people's lives - and also LAMAR's. Kids formed street gangs and spent their time rapping. One of the "gangs" that LAMAR spent his time with called itself "The Obvious".
In 1995 he moved to Germany, making a number of
remarkably successful event performances. Thus, for instance, he won the HipHopMasters
Germany in 1997, appeared on "HR 3 Clubnight", and accompanied various artists
as a support act on club tours. LAMAR has lived in Mannheim since 1996.
In 1998 he caught the attention of the hip hop factory 'Da Flava Squad'
(Fox/Morris/Lösch), which produced his singles "Too Many Nights", "Shine
(David's Song)", and also "Fly (The Lonely Shepherd)" and debut album
"Ghetto Life".
LAMAR sees his roots in rappers such as NAS and RAKIM, whose influence he is now putting to commercial use. He himself says of his songs: "The content of my raps are stories from real life, my own experiences and impressions from my life ..."Although he grew up in the ghettos, he is able to look back on a happy childhood.
His father is a priest, mother a pastor; at an early stage in his life his parents taught him to see the true values in life and to live these out. The deaths of some of his best friends, however, quickly showed him the contrast with life in the ghettos."
Lamarīs debut album, "Ghetto Life" was released in June,1999. The album contains 14 fat tracks. Except his 3 singles "Too Many Nights", "Shine(Davidīs Song)" and "Fly(The Lonely Shpeherd)", there are some really good tunes like "Thatīs How I Feel", "Slow Down", "They Donīt Want It" and "Life In The Ghetto (Ghetto Life)". The album is more slow hiphop. I like Lamar mostly because of his beutiful lyrics. Just like Nana, he can put so much more in the song that just sound and voice. He can put expression, pain and happiness. If you like slow european hiphop, then the album is just perfect for you. If it hasnīt been released in your country, then you can get it from www.telecd.de. You can get it only a week after you ordere it!
| 1. | Shine (Davidīs Song) (feat. Jemini) | 3:40 |
| 2. | Thatīs How I Feel (feat. Crystal Haze) | 3:49 |
| 3. | Fly (The Lonely Shepherd) (feat. Carmen Whitehurst) | 3:45 |
| 4. | Slow Down (feat. Crystal Haze) | 4:26 |
| 5. | I Have A Dream (feat. Carmen Whitehurst) | 3:45 |
| 6. | A Nightmare | 3:51 |
| 7. | My Team Plays To Win (feat. Stephen Summers) | 4:02 |
| 8. | Metaphysical (feat. The Elements) | 3:49 |
| 9. | Why? (feat. Trevor Jackson, Fadima & Medine Özpolat) | 3:03 |
| 10. | Life In The Ghetto (Ghetto Life) (feat. Carmen Whitehurst) | 4:06 |
| 11. | They Donīt Want It | 4:00 |
| 12. | Night & Flights | 1:14 |
| 13. | Too Many Nights | 3:54 |
| 14. | Let Your Lovelight Shine (The Funky Club Remix) | 3:12 |
Singles: |
VivaTop100 | T-MusicTop20 | |
| Too Many Nights | Oct,1998 | 50 | 20 |
| Shine(Davidīs Song) (Feat. Jemini) | Jan,1999 | 12 | 2 |
| Fly(The Lonely Shepherd) | May,1999 | 27 | 3 |
| My Team Plays To Win | Sep,1999 | - | 13 |
Albums: |
VivaTop100 | AlbumTop20 | |
| Ghetto Life | 21.06.99 | 99 | 6 |