Lee-James Edjouma (born 18 November), better known by his stage name James BKS, is a French lyricist, a music composer and a producer of African hip hop.[1]
James BKS | |
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 James BKS in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lee-James Edjouma |
| Born | 18 November 1982 Paris, France |
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| Instruments |
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| Labels |
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Career
editEarly career
editBorn in Paris, Edjouma's career started out in the US when he signed on Akon's label Konvict Muzik.[2] It was around this time that he was working with famous artists such as R. City, T-Pain, and producing for Sean Combs, Snoop Dogg, Ja Rule, and Booba.[3] He then decided to return to France to focus on his personal project.
Music
editHe is currently signed to Idris Elba’s London-based label, 7Wallace.[4][5] He released three singles on the label, featuring Allan Kingdom, Reo Cragun, Ebenezer, Idris Elba, Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest), Little Simz and his father Manu Dibango.[6] He also co-founded his own record label and music production company, Grown Kid, with his wife. His music has been aired several times on international radios most notably being playlisted on Annie Mac’s radio show on BBC 1Xtra.[7]
James BKS is also a composer of original scores for feature films[8] and advertisement.[9]
Live
editJames BKS started performing live in late 2019 in Paris, showcasing his live performance for the first time at La Petite Halle de la Villette.[10] He also performed for the Africa Day event on MTV Base Africa[11][12] and for Arte Concert[13]
He also performed live before the AFCON finals.
Personal life
editEdjouma is the son of famous Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango.
Discography
editCompositions
edit- 2008 : Petit Nègre – Al Peco[14]
- 2008 : 100 barres – Al Peco[15]
- 2008 : King – Booba[16]
- 2009 : Groove On – Timati (feat. Snoop Dogg)[17]
- 2010 : Plus Que De La Musique – Sat L’Artificier (feat. Akhenaton, Soprano)[18]
- 2011 : I'm On You – Timati (feat. P. Diddy)[19]
- 2012 : Party Animal – Timati[20]
- 2012 : Pain Is Love – Ja Rule[21]
- 2012 : To The Top – Ja Rule (feat. Kalenna)[22]
- 2012 : Requiem – Sadek[23]
- 2012 : Mecs du Hood – Zoxea[24]
- 2013 : Retrofuturflow – Ol Kainry (feat. Youssoupha)[25]
- 2013 : Pas Besoin – Kamelancien (feat. Atheena)[26]
- 2016 : Tu sais – Christophe Willem, Black M, Inna Modja, Manu Dibango[27]
- 2017 : Art Contemporain (album) – Les Sages Poètes de la Rue[28]
Soundtracks
edit- 2014 : Une Histoire Banale directed by Audrey Estrougo[29]
- 2015 : La Taularde, directed by Julie Gayet
- 2016 : Le Gang Des Antillais directed by Jean-Claude Barny
Singles
edit- 2018 : Kwele (feat. Allan Kingdom, Manu Dibango)
- 2018 : MaWakanda (feat. Reo Cragun, Ebenezer)
- 2019 : New Breed (feat. Q-Tip, Idris Elba, Little Simz)[30]
References
edit- ^ "James BKS: A 'New Breed' of African music". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "Rencontre avec James BKS, protégé d'Idris Elba et producteur tout-terrain". Les Inrockuptibles (in French). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "James BKS Musique". wakhart (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Bloom, Madison. "Q-Tip, Little Simz, and Idris Elba Join James BKS on New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Idris Elba Launches New Record Label 7Wallace Music, Announces French Artist James BKS as First Signing". Billboard. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "BBC World Service – Focus on Africa, James BKS: A 'New Breed' of African music". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "BBC – Anderson .Paak Party Playlist". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "AlloCine – James Edjouma". AlloCiné. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "EN ÉCOUTE : Il est Français, il vient de signer sur le label d'Idriss Elba et il s'appelle James BKS". Clique.tv (in French). 13 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "James BKS traîne avec Q-Tip". Nova (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Africa Day Benefit Concert". www.dstvafrica.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Idris Elba to host Africa Day Benefit Concert which features Stonebwoy, Manifest plus other African and global stars". MyJoyOnline.com. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "Awa Ly, Jawhar et James BKS en Concerts Volants". Arte.tv. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ Al Peco – Petit nègre, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ "BKS (FRA)". Genius. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "BKS (FRA)". Genius. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "lescharts.com – Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Sat l'Artificier (Ft. Akhenaton & Soprano) – Plus que de la musique, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ "lescharts.com – Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "lescharts.com – DJ M.E.G. feat. Timati – Party Animal". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Ja Rule (Ft. Kalenna) – To The Top, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ Ja Rule (Ft. Kalenna) – To The Top, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ Sadek – Requiem, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ Zoxea – Mecs du hood, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ Ol' Kainry (Ft. Youssoupha) – Retrofutur flow, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ Kamelancien (Ft. Atheena) – Pas besoin, retrieved 2020-08-21
- ^ ""Tu sais" : Black M, Christophe Willem et Inna Modja célèbrent la France pour les JO". chartsinfrance.net. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "BKS (FRA)". Genius. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ AlloCine. "James Edjouma". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ BKS (FRA) (Ft. Idris Elba, Little Simz & Q-Tip) – New Breed, retrieved 2020-08-21