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Chronixx

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Chronixx
Background information
Birth nameJamar Rolando McNaughton
Born (1992-10-10) 10 October 1992 (age 32)[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2010–present
LabelsSoul Circle
Websitewww.chronixx.com

Jamar Rolando McNaughton (born 10 October 1992),[1] popularly known as Chronixx, is a Jamaican reggae artist. His stage name replaced the name "Little Chronicle" which he was given because of his father, the singer "Chronicle".[2][3] Chronixx and his music has been branded as a "Reggae Revival", alongside other reggae musicians including Lila Ike Alborosie, Dre Island, Jah Bouks, Jah9, Protoje, Kelissa, Jesse Royal, Keznamdi and Kabaka Pyramid. His lyrical content revolves around themes of anti-war, romantic declarations and resiliency.[4][5]

Early life

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Jamar began songwriting at an early age and his father Selvin McNaughton, known professionally as "Chronicle", began to nurture his musical aspirations.[2] McNaughton wrote his first song, "Rice Grain", at the age of 5.[6] During an interview with Okay Player Chronixx spoke on his early life:

"My music come from early beginnings, from childhood days. I used to sing at school, in church, and then my whole family sings. My daddy, Chronicle, caused me to be very exposed to music from a very tender age. That’s where the music started for me. Professionally now, that’s when I was in high school. I started producing. Making riddims. But the music go from then until now. When I was 15, 16 I started producing and it was a great vibe for me."[7]

He attended St Catherine High School in Spanish Town.[2] He started his recording career at the age of 11, recording a Gospel track with producer Danny Browne (which was not released), and went on to provide harmony vocals for artists such as Lutan Fyah as well as beginning production work, composing rhythms used by artists such as Konshens, Popcaan, and Munga Hornourebel for Mavrick Records.[2][6] At the age of 14, he began producing and building riddims, including the Freezer riddim for Ice Box Records.[2] In 2009 Chronixx's brother died which led to him writing with Romaine 'Teflon' Arnett of Zincfence Records.[2]

Career

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Chronixx popularity grew throughout 2012, with significant airplay in Jamaica, and performances at festivals such as Reggae Sumfest and a show in December at the Tracks and Records nightclub/restaurant in Kingston, which was attended by Usain Bolt.[4] He was featured on the Major Lazer-curated mixtape Start a Fire.[8] In 2013, he had hits with "Smile Jamaica" and "Here Comes Trouble", and he toured the United Kingdom (including a BBC 1Xtra concert in Leeds) and the United States with his Zincfence Redemption Band.[9][10][11] In March 2013, he travelled to Kenya, where he has a large fanbase, as a Peace Ambassador during the country's general election, and performed at the Tuko Rada Peace Concert in Nairobi.[12] He again performed at Sumfest in 2013, in front of an audience of more than 10,000.[13]

His EP, Dread & Terrible, was released on 1 April 2014, and topped the Billboard Top Reggae Albums charts on the week of 18 April.[2][14] Following his appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show and his Central Park concert, the EP saw significant gains, according to Nielsen SoundScan, earning a number two position on the Digital Reggae Singles chart.[4] The EP returned to the number one spot on the Top Reggae Albums chart, according to SoundScan.[4] By March 2015, the EP had spent 42 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Top Reggae Albums chart.[15]

In February 2014 Chronixx was featured on Protoje's single "Who Knows", the lead single of the album Ancient Future.[16] The single was later certified Silver by BPI in 2022.[17]

In May 2014, he won Culture Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and Entertainer of the Year at the Linkage Awards in New York.[18] In July 2014, he performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on US network NBC.[19] He followed this with a concert in Central Park attended by over 5,000 people.[20] In September 2014, he was nominated for a MOBO Award in the Best Reggae Act category.[21] The following month he won awards for Best Song (for "Smile Jamaica") and Best Music Video (for "Here Comes Trouble") at the 33rd International Reggae & World Music Awards.[22] He founded his own ZincFence Recordz production house along with producer Romain "Teflon" Arnett and co-producer/engineer Ricardo "Shadyz" Lynch.[4] As well as Chronixx, ZincFence has produced hits by Jah Cure, Kabaka Pyramid, and Protoje, and had worked with Maverick Sabre, Mavado, and Nomaddz.[23]

In January 2015, Chronixx appeared on "Belly of the Beast" a song which featured on American rapper Joey Badass debut album B4.Da.$$.[24] In June 2015, Chronixx performed at the Glastonbury Festival.[25]

His 2017 debut album, Chronology, received a Grammy Award nomination, and in the same year he received a Prime Minister's National Youth Award for Excellence.[26]

On 13 March 2020, Chronixx released the first single "Dela Move" from his upcoming second album, "Dela Splash". The title of the track and album were inspired by his hometown – De La Vega City, a district in Spanish Town, Jamaica.[27][28]

Discography

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Reg.
[29]
Chronology 1
Dela Splash
  • Released: TBD

Mixtapes

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  • Start a Fire (2012) - with Major Lazer and Walshy Fire
  • Roots & Chalice (2016) - with Federation Sound, Soul Circle Music
  • ODD Ras (2013)- Frenchman Promotion

EPs

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[31] 		US
Reg.
Hooked on Chronixx – –
Dread & Terrible
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Chronixx Music Group, bashment
  • Formats: Digital download, CD
 179 1

Singles

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  • "Somewhere" (2012)
  • "Start a Fyah" (2012)
  • "Mi Alright" (2013)
  • "Access Granted" (2013)
  • "Alpha and Omega" (2013)
  • "Most I" (2013)
  • "Thanks and Praise" (2013)
  • "Here Comes Trouble" (2013)
  • "Selassie Souljahz" (2013)
  • "Smile Jamaica" (2013)
  • "Ain't No Giving In" (2013)
  • "Rain Music" (2013)
  • "Perfect Tree" (2014)
  • "Prayer" (2014)
  • "Play Some Roots" (2015)
  • "Capture Land" (2015)
  • "Ghetto People" (2015)
  • "Light It Up" (2015)
  • "Majesty" (2017)
  • "Likes" (2017)
  • "Skankin Sweet" (2017)
  • "Ghetto Paradise" (2017)
  • "Spanish Town Rockin" (2017)
  • "Sweet love" (2017)
  • "Eternal Light" (2019)
  • "Dela Move" (2020)
  • "Same Prayer" (feat. Kabaka Pyramid) (2020)
  • "Cool As The Breeze/Friday" (2020)
  • "Safe N Sound" (2021)
  • "Freedom Fighter" (2021)
  • "Never Give Up" (2022)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Chronixx Biography". Chronixx.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Jackson, Kevin (2014) "Chronixx tops Billboard’s reggae chart Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 12 April 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  3. ^ Jeffries, David "Chronixx Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  4. ^ a b c d e Meschino, Patricia (2013) "Is Chronixx Jamaican Reggae's Next Big Thing? Chris Blackwell, Diplo Think So", Billboard, 25 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  5. ^ Bakare, Lanre (2013) "Chronixx puts Rastafarianism back into Jamaican reggae", The Guardian, 11 October 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  6. ^ a b Henry, Krista (2012) "Chronixx Begins Doing His Part", Jamaica Gleaner, 15 January 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  7. ^ "LargeUp Exclusive: Chronixx Interview". Okayplayer. 11 January 2013.
  8. ^ "LargeUp Premiere: Major Lazer Presents Chronixx & Walshy Fire [Mixtape]", okayplayer. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  9. ^ Henry, Davina (2013) "US, UK Tours Open Chronixx's Eyes", Jamaica Gleaner, 6 November 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  10. ^ Johnson, Richard (2014) "Chronixx carries the torch", Jamaica Observer, 10 February 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  11. ^ "Chronixx makes outdoor debut in New York's 'Groovin'", Jamaica Observer, 7 March 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  12. ^ "Chronixx Named Peace Ambassador to Kenya Archived 12 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine", 96mixx.com, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  13. ^ Dreisinger, Baz (2013) "Jamaica's Hottest New-School Reggae Artists Return To Roots", NPR, 29 December 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  14. ^ Meschino, Patricia (2014) "Chronixx Tops Reggae Album Chart Following 'Tonight Show' & Central Park Performances", Billboard, 31 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014
  15. ^ "Chronixx EP Enjoys 42nd Week On Reggae Billboard Top Ten", Jamaica Gleaner, 23 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015
  16. ^ Johnson, Richard (10 March 2015). "'My best work yet'". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  17. ^ "British certifications – Who Knows". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Chronixx, I-Octane top Linkage Awards", Jamaica Observer, 7 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014
  19. ^ Jackson, Kevin (2014) "Here Comes Chronixx Archived 20 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 24 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014
  20. ^ Campbell, Howard (2014) "Jagger comes out for Chronixx Archived 31 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014
  21. ^ Jackson, Kevin (2014) "5 For MOBO Reggae", Jamaica Observer, 24 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014
  22. ^ "Chronixx takes two IRAWMA", Jamaica Observer, 8 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014
  23. ^ Jackson, Kevin (2014) "Behind the Zinc Fence", Jamaica Observer, 16 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014
  24. ^ "Amazon.com: Joey Bada$$: B4.DA.$$ (LP): Music". Amazon Music. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  25. ^ "Chronixx Setlist at Glastonbury Festival 2015". setlist.fm. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Chronixx cops PM youth award", Jamaica Observer, 8 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017
  27. ^ "Chronixx Debuts New Song 'Dela Move' Off His Upcoming Album 'Dela Splash'". 13 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Exclusive Preview: Chronixx's Second Album, Dela Splash". Vanity Fair. 13 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Chronixx - Chronology". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Chronology - Chronixx". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Jack White's Vinyl Sales Still Sizzle, Adele's '21' Nears 11 Million Sales & More". Billboard.
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