EMPEROR

BORN: Dexter Simon DATE OF BIRTH: December 28, 1970 ZODIAC SIGN: Capricorn TRIBE SIGN: Asher BACKGROUND: Scarborough is the main town in Tobago where I was born. I grew up in Delaford, Tobago, which is deep in the country. My grandmother Willamena Dalrymple, also known as Sweet Ames, raised me along with six of my cousins. Every Saturday Sweet Ames would host a talent contest for our family members. She would bake pastries and sweet cakes in her dirt oven as rewards for the winners of these contests. Some family members would dance, some would sing other peoples songs, but I would always create my own lyrics about recent events or people in the family. I almost always won the contests. This is when I first realized that I was gifted and had a talent for music and lyrics. Being the youngest grandchild, I was favoured by my grandmother. Still, I was given the same disciplined upbringing that my cousins received. We would rise before the sun to say our prayers and do our daily chores, which consisted of sweeping the yard, feeding the animals, and fetching water from the spring. Our chores were always to be finished before we sat down for breakfast and got ready for school. EMPEROR S.W.L.: The name Emperor was given to me by one of my dearest friends, Lawrence McEathnie. When school was out in the summer, Lawrence would come to Delaford, Tobago to visit family. This is how we first met and became friends. By the age of twelve, most of my cousins had moved to New York, and so my father, my grandmother and myself moved to Trinidad. Upon arrival, I was reunited with Lawrence. We started high school together at Movant Laventille Secondary School. Since we lived so close to each other, after school we would go over to his house to beat-box, break dance, rap, and chant. Back then, guns and drugs were not as prevalent in Trinidad, which gave us the opportunity to develop our raw talent. While Lawrence was always encouraging me to follow a career in music, I was simply enjoying life and giving no thought to the future. Lawrence would not give up on me though. He believed my lyrics were poignant and thought provoking. He would tell others about my talent but he was rarely believed; I was extremely shy and had only ever sung in front of Lawrence and my family. The day Lawrence baptized me with the name Emperor will forever be a moment that is fresh in my mind. We were at Lawrences house and he was rapping the lyrics to Roxanne, Roxanne, a famous rap song of the day. I was spitting lyrics of my own as I always did. He was so drawn to my speech that he gave me the name right then and there. As he explained it, I needed a name that stood out like that of a King. So he said I will call you Emperor: He who governs the lyrical Empire. From that moment on, I have been known as Emperor. It is not a comparison to His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, whose dirtiest shoes I would not even dare step in. I am only the Emperor of lyrics. PROFESSIONALLY: I have been performing as a reggae artist for the past 18 years. My first time on a big stage was when I entered a competition held in Dabadie Arima, East Trinidad. The competition, held in a rec centre, featured artists such as Coxcie Culture and Lanky Lecture. Despite the fact that they were more seasoned artists, the best they could place was second and third while I went on to win the competition. That performance put me on the musical map in Trinidad. A local DJ group, Rhythm Nation, made me part of their crew and I began to do dub plates, intros and recording songs for their cassettes. The cassettes were sold throughout the country and as a result, my name became well known. After three years, I left the group to go out on my own. I shared the stage with various Trinidadian and Jamaican artists such as Super Cat, Cutty Ranks, Anthony B., Jah Mason, Junior Kelly, Terry Ganzie and Bunjie Garland. The performances took place at some of the most respected venues in Trinidad such as the Static Club, Spectrum, Tobago Nip Deck, Compound, Shore Park Rec Grounds, and Arima Velodrome. Along with the exposure I gained from my performances, I was able to reason with artists from all walks of life. This reasoning helped me decide to take my time and allow my music to grow. I never signed with any label or released any major recordings although I was offered many times to do so. Instead, I chose to take caution with my art form, preserve and perfect it. When I was in my early twenties, I moved back to the land I grew up on in Tobago to live humbly, planting food and creating lyrics to save for a time when a reputable and distinguished recording label wanted to sign me. PRESENT: I remained in Tobago until 2004 then I moved to Toronto, Canada. Right now, I am working on my first album entitled Save the Planet, in collaboration with Inspired Productions. Since arriving in Canada, I have performed with some of Canada reggae superstars such as Otis I, Humble, and Treson' and was honoured to perform with the legendary bass player from the Skatalites, Gary Lowe. These performances took place at such venues as Affairs Banquet Hall, Thymeless, Petes Place, Orbit Room, and Kensingtons Supermarket. I have also been shown support from community based Bless the youths and radio DJs like Chocolate (88.1 CHRY), Patrick Roots (89.5 CIUT) and Carrie Mullings (105.5 CHRY). Interviews and on-air live performances have really assisted in getting my name known in the community. My greatest goal and aspiration is to be a recording artist known for my positive lyrics and good vibes spreading throughout the world. Inspiration in music has come to me through such artists as Lt. Stichie, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Sizzla, Mansion, Mighty Sparrow, Chalkdust, Cline Dion. I continue to inspire myself. Give all thanks and praises to the holy divine Creator and Sustainer of the Universe and to all the good people that I have met along the way in the journey of life. Hail the King, Rastafari