Y’all 90s kids and party rockers, some bangers here for you to jive! Get in here! Let’s talk Caribbean music! We got a feature on that artist whose name invokes a good feeling and one of those entertainers whose vibe never gets old. You know what I mean! He’s a Soca sensation best known by his stage name Rupee. Call him German, English, or even Barbadian artiste extraordinaire.I bet many folks have jived and even chewed mouth to his music in early 2000s but still do not know the lyrics nor his name till date! Some of us at one point or another have pretended to be singing lyrics of songs we haven’t mastered well only to realize later that we’ve been singing rubbish!
Currently, a song titled #SkeletonMove by S.A singer Master KG has been trending. So, there is a part of the lyrics that says #WanetwaMos but all I could here is #BodeThomas! You know the song I am talking about right?
Absolutely! That catchy hook! Some of us have found ourselves in such situation back in the day singing along to music we barely mastered their lyrics! I am sure #MrTempted2Touch music is no spear back in the mid 90s into early 2000s being one of those hit music acts! Rupee’s sound has been described as rhythmically complex yet instantly catchy. The Barbadian artiste has got many hit soca singles as well!
Fantastic! Rupert Antonio Clarke was born September 10, 1975 (43 years), in military barracks in Germany to a Born in Germany on September 10 to a white German mother, and black Barbadian father who was serving in the British armed forces at the time. Rupee, as a child (at age 9) had lived in three different cultures- Germany, England, and Barbados. He first gained recognition after winning the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition in 1993 when he was a schoolboy at Harrison College. Spending his first years in England, he was exposed to a contrast of sounds which reflected his parents’ diverse backgrounds. Rupee eventually moved to Barbados in 1995. After completing an associate degree in Graphic Arts from the Barbados Community College, he remained in that field for some time, working with two public relations/advertising agencies in Barbados before deciding to pursue music full-time.
After this early achievement, he became one of the three lead singers in the Barbadian band Coalishun with whom in 1995 he released their first raga-soca hit single “Thundah”. This paved the way for the following year which saw the release of the mega Ragga-soca hit “Ice Cream” in 1998- the song that launched his solo career. In the year 2000 he released “Jump”- song adopted as an anthem by the Barbados Volleyball Team, who won the Caribbean Championship at the time
Rupee later dropped “Insomnia” which went on heavy rotation on the Trinidad charts. He then hit overseas bookings which resulted to touring England, Canada, Bermuda, New York, Trinidad, Grenada and throughout the Caribbean on the strength of the single Jump.
A year after the tour, Barbadian artiste Rupee released his debut CD “Blame It On the Music”. The debut CD has a variety of slamming tracks embracing different musical genres including new wave Soca, Hip-Hop, Rhythm and Blues as well as Reggae. Then his second CD “Rupee-Leave A Message” followed the success of the first. The album included chat toppers such as “Tempted To Touch” “Till Morning”, “That’s Where I’ll Be”, “Frenemy” and “This Is Festival”. “Tempted to Touch” attracted more waves around the world and bring Rupee one step closer to a private dream.
Just at the time “Tempted to Touch” was still breakthrough the mainstream market in North America; Rupee released his third album“thisisrupee.com” as well as his website. He dedicated a track titled “You Never Know” Again to those who had touched lives significantly. It’s such an anthem for remembering loved ones as well as other hit tracks on the album.
Later in 2004, Rupee got signed to Atlantic Records – one of the largest labels in the recording industry (and EMI Publishing) in the UK. That was due to the label’s interest in Caribbean music, Rupee’s exposure and the potential of “Tempted to Touch”. He released the album “1 on 1” with the record label in November 2004. The album includes the international hit “Tempted to Touch. His music subsequently landed on the Billboard Top 40 and other major charts across the globe.
That wasn’t all guys! Rupee hasn’t quit doing music. He’s been back on the front seat making music since over 3 years now. For those who may have mistaken Rupee for Shaggy as well!
hot single released in November 2018 named by Billboard Magazine as one of the Top 10 Caribbean anthems of the 21st century. It was produced by Billboard charting producers Stadic & Jonny Blaze. The producers both agree that”Perfect Fit” has a global feel yet stays true to its Caribbean roots with fresh, thoughtful, provocative lyrics. The track is a modern genre- bending production to set the mood and landscape of new music heading into 2019.
“Game of Love and Unity” in the background features Rupee but owned by Shaggy. It was released in 2007. Rupee also released Tipsy in 2016 – asmash of course. In 2017, Rupee got signed to ULTRA Records as result of the collaboration between Rupee and Black Shadow- a Grammy Award winning production outfit based in Miami. Rupee was heavily involved in Trinidad and Tobago’s carnival in 2017 with a few tracks released and enjoying heavy rotation across the airwaves.
Albums:
- 2001: Blame On It De Music
- 2002: Leave A Message
- 2003: Thisisrupee.com
- 2004: 1 on1
Mr Tempted 2 Touch is a soca musician (a genre of music that originated within a marginalized subculture in Trinidad and Tobago in the early 1970s, now has a range of styles especially from the 1980s and later) from Barbados.
Rupee is back in the driver’s seat ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s 2019 carnival season. One that he has worked for throughout his musical career and for which he carries another dream – to take Soca music to the world.. He’s loved world over but when it comes to his appeal among the ladies in Trinidad and Tobago, Rupee outdoes himself every time.
fantastic talent