Dynamq | |
---|---|
Birth name | Kennedy Ongele Lorya |
Also known as |
|
Origin | South Sudan |
Genres | Dancehall Afro Beat Ruka |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2004–present |
Labels | Akuen |
Website | www |
Kennedy Ongele Lorya, professionally known as Dynamq, is a South Sudanese Reggae-dancehall artist, DJ, music producer, the founder of Dynamq Sounds International and the Non-governmental organization Dynamq Foundation in Juba south Sudan.
Dynamq was born in a family of seven children. He grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya known as Kakuma, having had to flee the civil war in his native Sudan. His love for music came from attending Sunday school. He got himself involved with Jamaican music while at the camp. His affiliation with sound systems began with the Shashamane set. After relocating to Kansas City, Missouri he formed Dynamq 10 years ago and has competed in several sound clashes. [1] [2]
His first big stage show was at the 1996 King Lions Sounds 'Rasta Festival' held at the City Hall in Nairobi. He is the reigning Rumble champion and holds the Bermuda Triangle champion title, he has also made it to the semi-finals in the popular Boom Clash in Jamaica and the River Nile Crocodile and Jamie Hype from Young Hawk sound formed Team USA to compete in, and win, the famous War Ina East championship. [1] [3]
He has shared the stage with various artists such as Damian Marley, [4] Benjy Myaz, Lady G, Richie Spice, Luie Culture, George Nooks, Jesse Royal, Queen Ifrica, Mikey Spice, I Wayne, I-Octane and Beenie Man. [5]
Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Afro Entertainment Awards | Best Songwriter | Nominated [6] |
Best Music Video | Nominated | ||
Best Male artist | Nominated | ||
Best Talented Artist | Nominated | ||
Best International Artist | Nominated | ||
Best Music Album | Nominated | ||
2015 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male East Africa | Nominated [7] |
2016 | MTN/Eye Radio Music Awards | Best Reggae Artist | Won [8] |
2017 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male East Africa | Nominated [9] [10] |
2019 | South Sudan Music Awards | Best International Act | Nominated [11] |
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first popular song to use the word reggae, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as by American jazz and rhythm and blues, and evolved out of the earlier genres ska and rocksteady. Reggae usually relates news, social gossip, and political commentary. It is instantly recognizable from the counterpoint between the bass and drum downbeat and the offbeat rhythm section. The immediate origins of reggae were in ska and rocksteady; from the latter, reggae took over the use of the bass as a percussion instrument.
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Key elements of dancehall music include its extensive use of Jamaican Patois rather than Jamaican standard English and a focus on the track instrumentals.
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques is a Jamaican rapper and singer who is regarded as one of dancehall and reggae's most prolific artist of all times.
In Jamaican popular culture, a sound system is a group of disc jockeys, engineers and MCs playing ska, rocksteady or reggae music. The sound system is an important part of Jamaican culture and history.
Donovan Letts is a British film director, disc jockey (DJ) and musician. Letts first came to prominence as the videographer for the Clash, directing several of their music videos. In 1984, Letts co-founded the band Big Audio Dynamite with former Clash lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist Mick Jones, acting as the band's sampler and videographer before departing the band in 1990.
Reggae Sunsplash is a reggae music festival first staged in 1978 in northern Jamaica. In 1985, it expanded with the addition of an international touring festival. The festival ran annually until 1996, with a final event in 1998, before it was revived in 2006. The festival returned for a virtual staging in 2020 produced by Tyrone Wilson, Randy McLaren, and Debbie Bissoon.
Michael George Campbell, better known as Mikey Dread, was a Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster. He was one of the most influential performers and innovators in reggae music.
Philip Thomas, better known as Cutty Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.
David Michael "Ram Jam" Rodigan MBE OD is a British radio DJ who also performs as a disc jockey. Known for his selections of reggae and dancehall music, he has played on stations including Radio London, Capital 95.8, Kiss 100, BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 2 and BFBS Radio.
Trinitya.k.a.Junior Brammer was a Jamaican reggae deejay and producer, whose career began in the mid-1970s and continued into the 1990s.
Emmanuel Andrews Sammini, known by his stage name Samini, is a Ghanaian reggae and dancehall recording artist from Wa, Ghana. His genre of music is a melodious mixture of high life, dance hall, reggae and hip-hop. He terms his brand of music "African dance hall". He signed his first record deal with Ashanti International. Samini started his record label after he left the aforementioned label.
Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., is a Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist. He is known by his stage name Shatta Wale, formerly Bandana. His best-known singles are "Dancehall King", "My level" and "We taking over". He is also known for "Already" from Beyoncé's Black Is King which also featured Major Lazer. His song "Dancehall King" earned him the Artiste of the Year at the 2014 edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. Wale is also an actor who appeared in the films Never Say Never, The trial of Shatta Wale and Shattered Lives. Wale's 2004 recording "Moko Hoo" was nominated for a Ghana Music Award.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician.
Blakk Rasta (born Abubakar Ahmed is a Ghanaian reggae / Kuchoko artiste, dub poet and a radio presenter of Zylofon FM. He is best known for the song "Barack Obama" sung in honor of the 44th U.S President. He was honored at a special dinner with President Obama on 11 July 2010.
Grace Latoya Hamilton, known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer. Known as the Queen of Dancehall, Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world. She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
Nyantakyi Kusi Emmanuel,, known by his stage name Kojo Manuel, is a Ghanaian radio host, Event MC, and artist. He was crowned the Best Event Hypeman at the Ghana Entertainment Awards USA, 2022; he also won Best MC/Hypeman at the Ghana Event Awards 2021; and Best MC & Hypeman at the Ghana DJ Awards 2019.
Julian Nii Ayitey Adjin Nicco-Annan, better known by his stage name Juls, is a British-Ghanaian record producer, disc jockey, and musician. He is known for his music contributions, particularly in Afrobeats circles, and for the production of songs such as: "Bankulize" and "Skin Tight" by Mr Eazi; "Feel Alright" by Show Dem Camp; Rudebwoi Love by Stonebwoy; and Gwarn by Burna Boy. He has collaborated with the label BBnz Live, and has worked on A&R for Mr.Eazi's Life is Eazi album.
Rumble & Strong was a Canadian hip hop band from Toronto, active in the late 1980s. They were one of the first Canadian hip hop acts to be signed to a record label, when they signed to Gee Street Records in 1987, although they released only one EP, 1989's Crazy Jam, before breaking up.
Kabelo Petrus Motha is a South African DJ and record producer, popularly known as Kabza De Small. He is a major figure in the amapiano genre of house music. Aside from his solo career, Motha is a member of the Scorpion Kings. Motha gained international recognition after the release of "Umshove", in 2018.
Shalkal Carty, stage name Shalkal, is a Jamaican dancehall/reggae artist, realtor, author and developer. Among his various nicknames, he is oft-referred to as "Ruler" and has been recognized as a prolific and skilled lyricist in the genre. He is credited with further popularizing dancehall as well as reformulating and evolving the genre by cross-pollinating it with other musical styles, perhaps most notably Zimdancehall.