He introduced us all, the world at large, to a fat-faced cuddly kid singing about the dangerously free-spirited fun in being suicidal over beautiful girls. This was in 2007 on his eponymously titled debut album, a project that successfully altered the landscape of music. Sean Kingston, discovered on MySpace by Beluga Heights head honchos Tommy and J.R. Rotem, is the only true pop-artist in America of Jamaican heritage and Miami origins. What Drake and Justin Bieber are to their native Canada, Kingston is to Jamaica – an international superstar who brings power, popularity, prestige and global appeal to a nation neighboring the US and yet seemingly a world away. Sean is the melodic bridge radio waves cross to get from Cali to Kingston and beyond.
His music, a pop ballad brand of R&B with his own neo-reggae spin and signature sing-a-long flow supported by a Hip Hop-influenced delivery, has an undeniably catchy consonance. Sean’s music is light, fun, and relationship-based. In other words, made for radio and loved by listeners. The baby-faced big guy stands an imposing 6-foot-3 with a welcoming handshake and genuinely good-natured humility. It’s refreshing; shocking. He’s young, rich, and famous – could be an asshole if he wanted and the media would still pretend to love him. Instead, we can’t help but like Kingston because the guy is likeable. As a result, you want to see him continue to win and succeed.
Having survived a near death Jet Ski accident in the summer of 2011, Sean’s latest album “Back 2 Life” showcases a 23-year-old superstar revisiting his youth and enjoying the fruits of his labor - Loving Life. DOPE GIRL Brittany Smooch chilled with Miami’s favorite son at his Hollywood Hills cover shoot as the two talk country music, long lines at Jack In The Box, and buying sneakers.
Written by Tone Swep
Interview by: Brittany Smooch Photographer: Erick Sanchez
Creative Director: Brittany “Bella” Graham
Location: Hollywood Hills Estate in Los Angeles, CA.
Date: September 21, 2013
Read an Excerpt from the Full Length Cover Story
(Brittany Smooch: SMOOCH) So Sean you are always able to deliver hit singles, from “Beautiful Girls” when you first came out, to your latest radio smash “Beat It”. How? What’s the secret?
(Sean Kingston: SEAN) The secret with me basically is just that I’m the type of person that starts off with the melody. I like to hear the beat. I write all my songs so I’m really into the production side of it. I like to hear the beat and let it soak in. Then I ask myself: ‘ok, you know, what am I’m going to go into the booth and start singing?’ The melody, always begins with the best melody, then I choose from song topics and I start writing out lyrics to the song.
(SMOOCH) Are there any areas of music or genre’s that you haven’t touched on and you’d like to experiment with?
(SEAN) Ummmm, (carefully considers)… Yeah, you know. I like country music. A lot of people don’t know I listen to all types of music. I would say country music is definitely something I would want to do down the line. With me doing the Reggae-Pop thing, I think that would be DOPE, and country music is a big genre of music too so I think it would be DOPE to switch lanes and do that collabo.
(SMOOCH) I know the media can be really hard with the rumors and all that. How do you deal with it?
(SEAN) That’s what comes with it. You have to be a person that knows what you are signing up for. When you are a celebrity and you have success and you have positive stuff going on people want to see you fall. That’s the downfall. They look at it like you are just another one of them making it out. Then society, the system, is designed for us to fail so we just gotta really keep our head up and really stay focused on what we came here to do to improve our lives. My dream was music, so I don’t really tend to worry about all the other stuff, the negative stuff. I stay positive.
(SMOOCH) So is there a lesson you learned from your Mama Kingston?
(SEAN) Mama Kingston! I love my mom. My mom is definitely about this: keep grinding, stay focused. And like you said, go straight to the top. Don’t let the negative stuff get you. That’s mainly it.
Follow Sean Kingston on Twitter
Watch Sean‘s Latest Hit Song & Video “Beat It”
Watch Sean‘s Newest Hit Song & Video “Seasonal Love”
Purchase Sean‘s Hit Album “Back 2 Life” on iTunes Music
Visit Pure DOPE Magazine to See the Full Fall Issue and Read Sean‘s Cover Story