Breathing Life Into the Ghetto

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Written by Kiki Ess

Sunday, 08 October 2006 11:56

In December 2005, we sat down with Baby Cham to talk about his Ghetto Story, a single featured on Madhouse Record’s 85 Riddim. Eight months and 16 tracks later, that single has taken on new life, evolving into a soon-to-be hit album laced with vocals from some of the music industry’s hottest artists.

This time we caught up with the deejay as he was gearing up for the Reggae on the River Concert outside of San Francisco, California, and he had much to say about the new release.

But first, a recap.

The album’s signature song, carrying the same title – as if you hadn’t already noticed – was released in the second half of last year. It detailed a life of poverty and violence, but also of friendship and success. But the song, nevertheless, received harsh criticism for its portrayal of everyday life in a Jamaican ghetto. Officials said Cham was promoting violence and banned the album.

“But the people wouldn’t have it,” said Cham. Radio stations continued to play the future hit, and the ban was lifted after only one weekend.

In response to critics, Cham said that the song was never meant to promote or incite violence. Yeah, maybe he does recount how his friend Richie was shot, turning his area into a war zone. And yeah, there’s also talk about holding up a shop and dumping a ballot box during election time. But, according to Cham, “My thought is like everything they try to blame on the music. Music never ever made someone come and gun someone down. “

What I did is a story.” Said Cham. “The song Ghetto Story is a real real story. So you cannot rewrite it or try to water it down or draw a curtain on it. You have to describe it as it is.”

His fans agreed. Next to Vitamin S, Ghetto Story is Cham’s most popular tune to date, still found in heavy rotation on radio stations catering to the Caribbean community. It’s been on Top 10 charts from London to New York, and made Grammy-winner Alicia Keys want to jump onboard for a remix.

“We just got a call from Alicia,” said Cham, “She enjoyed it and said it remind her of her childhood life.”And is he happy with the results? “I’m more than happy,” said the deejay out of Jamaica, “Happy is not the word.”

It took only two weeks following her phone call to get Keys into the studio. “We just had her do her thing,” said Cham. “I had already done Ghetto Story, the original. To do the remix, we just had to get 16 bars from her, have her do like a part of the hook, and make ad libs around it. She gave it the flavor she always gives her songs.” And that flavor is definitely turning heads.

The hit duet, while only officially released less than a month ago, has already achieved crossover appeal. It’s being played in hip-hop and dancehall clubs from the islands to the states and beyond, and is garnering much attention on the airwaves.

If you haven’t already heard it, swing by your nearest hotspot on a Saturday night and you’ll be hard-pressed not to catch it. Or better yet, tune in to any of the MTV networks, BET, VH1 or Vibe.com, and view the video.

Shot in Kingston, Jamaica, the video is nothing short of hot. But fans will be the ultimate judge.

So go check out the video online. And while you’re there, make sure and cast a vote for it – or two, or three, or four – so that it gets more play on the networks.

In addition, you might want to visit your local music store and purchase the cd, because there’s much more to this Ghetto Story than just the remix. “We have Boom Boom, featuring Rihanna,” said Cham, “We have the Ghetto Story remix, featuring the beautiful Alicia Keys. We have Ghetto Story- Chapter III with Akon. Then we have four brand-new artists on the album also.”

In the meantime, Cham plans on staying on the road to promote the new album. After hitting a few concerts in the U.S., he’s off to the U.K., possibly returning in November to get started on another album.

The man is definitely keeping himself busy. And to think that he had no early aspirations of becoming an entertainer. Would you believe he actually wanted to be a commercial pilot?

Born Dameon Dean Beckett in Kingston, Jamaica, Baby Cham’s father passed away at the age of 30. “So it was my mom taking care of four of us. And in Jamaica it’s so hard.” He said. “My last year in high school, that’s when I decided to do this. This was the route I was gonna take.”

Cham linked up with trend-setting producer Dave Kelly, who went on to form Madhouse Records, and has been putting out hits ever since.

Over the years, Baby Cham, has come to regard Dave Kelly as a big brother and mentor, providing guidance in life and lyrically. As a result, to date, they have been inseparable.

“When you come into the business you have an idea how you want to sound and what you want to write about. But he has been doing it so long, that everything that he has learned over the years he pass down…so I would know how to structure a sound, structure a presentation for appeal. “

The lessons have definitely paid off. The album dropped August 15 and is already climbing charts. But did you really expect anything less of the talented baritone with the baby face? Vitamin S, Ghetto Story I, II and III, Rudeboy Pledge, Tic Toc, Rihanna, Akon, and Alicia Keys. Different subject matters and every one of them hitting home, making the dancehall and hip-hop massive take to the dance floor in record numbers.

And while he still counts no one song as his favorite, he is partial to Bad Boys, which he said describes him perfectly.

Bad boy? “When you hear it, you’ll get it,” said Cham.

In the meantime, he’ll be out there promoting the tracks and “trying to do as much radio station concerts as possible.”

Fans looking to catch one of the shows or just keep tabs on the Jamaican virtuoso should visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/chammadhouserecords, or go to one of the following websites: www.madhouserecords.com, www.atlanticrecords.com/cham, or www.cham-music.com. And feel free to drop a line about your own ghetto story.

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