Up Close and Personal with Music Sensation Sean Kingston
WHETHER IT’S “BEAUTIFUL GIRLS,”EENIE MEENIE” OR “FIRE BURNING,” WE ALL HAVE A FAVORITE SEAN KINGSTON TUNE THAT MAKES OUR BODIES TWIST. SEAN KINGSTON, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS KISE AN PAUL ANDERSON, IS A WELL-KNOWN JAMAICAN- AMERICAN SINGER. IN THIS ISSUE, WE ARE TAKING YOU UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH KINGSTON TO GET INTO THE MIND AND LIFE OF THE RENOWNED HITMAKER.
RAINE MAGAZINE PRESENTS: THE SEAN KINGSTON INTERVIEW
RAINE: Can you describe some of your early experiences and how they fine-tuned your craft?
KINGSTON: I started [dabbling in] music at eight—rapping in the bathroom and just playing around. I didn’t take it very seriously until my sister overheard me and told me that I could do this music thing for real. [When I was] around ten, I used to go and chop it up at the Barber Shop by singing; the older folks started to respond positively, as if they wanted more. They made comments like:“You’re really good at this.”This led to my older sister bringing me to perform at local talent shows, where I would always come in second or third place.
When I was 12, I won first place [after breaking] a tie, [as a result] my mom invested in me and allowed me to go to a recording studio. Once I was there, I never wanted to leave. No, seriously! I knew from that moment on that all I wanted to do was music. So, I began to put in the work and pursue recording in the studio daily.
It was a truly great day when I got a record deal off of MySpace. With 100 dollars to my name, I was able to work my finesse by finding someone to fly me to Los Angeles. When I arrived, I was beyond excited! All I was thinking was: I cannot leave. I cannot leave! There was no way I was going back to Miami without a record deal. I was 16 and wanted to show how hungry I was. I was feeding off the energy from the feelings [stemming from] my mom being away. Many don’t know this, but she was in prison for five years. I was her youngest child, and there was a lot of pressure building up on my siblings’ shoulders, when they were forced to become parents overnight. To me, it was time to bring my career into full drive by going out and making a real impact.
RAINE: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself five years ago?
KINGSTON: To have more patience and to be cautious— [and not] rush into anything. I realized that having the right people around me was key. You have to protect your energy. It’s not all about what you give [to others]; it’s [also] about what [you keep] within. Be aware; many people around you could have an agenda that is not in your favor.
RAINE: How would you describe a creative entrepreneur in your own words?
KINGSTON: Someone who is the boss—the CEO. Entrepreneurs are very artsy. They are always thinking about their next invention, [often] while they are working on their current one. Thoughts about how to be better every day flood their minds, along with how to best help and impact the people around them.
I most definitely consider myself a creative entrepreneur. I have the pleasure of saying that I’ve discovered some true talent with my own label. That’s rare! I’ve signed artists, too. I am currently finding artists right off of YouTube and walking them into stations [where they] begin to write on the spot, with no time being wasted.
RAINE: If you had to relate what you do to sports, how would you describe how you have followed, changed, or disrupted the game?
KINGSTON: I relate my music journey to boxing. You are going to have stuff come in your way. You’ll also have opponents that are going to throw punches, so sometimes you’ll have to bob and weave through the game. So, if and when something connects, you’ll simply learn from your mistakes, take notes, and keep pushing.
RAINE: If someone asked you how they could stimulate their creativity, what advice would you give? KINGSTON: Our brains don’t stop. So, if you have a quiet place in your house, go there. Light some candles, relax, and start praying; start talking to the Lord and see what happens after that.