Teacha Dee

Teacha Dee

Teacha Dee as of June 2014
Background information
Birth name Damion Darrel Warren
Also known as Teach, Teacha Dee, Teacher Dee, Teacha D
Born 21 September 1980
Origin Westmoreland, Jamaica
Genres Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion,
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter,deejay, producer
Instruments Keyboard, bass guitar
Years active Late 2005–present
Labels Independent
Website Teacha Dee on Myspace

Damion Darrel Warren (born 21 September 1980 Westmoreland, Jamaica) better known by his stage name Teacha Dee, is a Jamaican reggae singer and classroom teacher. He is perhaps known for his 2006 single "Smoke and fly" and 2007 single "Smuggling Weed". He has been a classroom teacher at the secondary level in Jamaica for ten years as of September 2010 and has also recorded his most popular songs whilst in service to the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture, Jamaica. The name "Teacha Dee" was given to him to mean a teacher that sings reggae music.

Early life

At the age of 16, he relocated to Montego Bay in the parish of Saint James where he attended Sam Sharpe Teacher's College. In August 2000, he as a Trained Teacher specializing in Mathematics, Integrated Science and Information Technology and began teaching immediately after. In May 2005, he entered the inaugural staging of Rising Stars a Jamaican talent search competition, where he appeared on television for voters for the first time. It was during this time, he was contacted by The Mighty Powpow Productions a major German production label and he recorded his first single which was released professionally a year after.

Music career

In 2006, Teacha Dee recorded "Life Goes on" which is a reggae song sung in the melody of the The Beatles hit "[Ob La Di]". This song was released on a compilation CD entitled "First Sight Riddim" produced by German based label, The Mighty Powpow movements. However, this song was published not as "Teacha Dee" but as " Damian Warren" and this was listed on many reggae database site as a separate artiste. That same year, he recorded "Them A Play" on the "Gloria Riddim" for Dasvibes Productions also based in Germany. This single was the first song on which he was officially recognized as "Teacha Dee" a pseudonym he maintains until this day .

Teacha Dee Ras Tafarian Picture

In 2007, he recorded "Revolution" on the "wes Roc Riddim" for "La Familia Wes" a Jamaican based label, "If yuh have it hard" on the "wild West Riddim" for Master j Productions also a Jamaica label and "Leading cause of death" on the "Ice Ice Riddim V2" for Rising Son Records based in Germany. His hits of this time however, were; "Smuggling Weed" for Powpow Movements and "Smoke and Fly" a sound dub recorded on the "Kingston Town" instrumental made popular by an Italian reggae superstar Alberto Dascola aka Alborosie. This sons was leaked into the underground by some small sound systems and it eventually became a crowd favorite.

In 2008, Teacha Dee recorded "Blaming Game" on the "True Life Riddim" for Master J Productions and "Reggae Souljahs" on the "Ilove Riddim Pt2" for Rootdown Records based in Germany. In 2009 he recorded "The System" on the "TNT Riddim" for Dasvibes Productions.

In August 2010, Teacha Dee recorded three singles for his label entitled "Within my soul" on the "Hotbox Riddim" and "Mr. Thirteen" on the "Thirteen Riddim" and "What I pray" which is a collaboration with 'Determine' an artiste famous for a massive hit with Beenie Man. In June 2010 Teacha Dee accepted the Ras Tafari way of life and grew his locks.

Teacha Dee Rastafarian Picture as of April 2013

In the summer of 2011, Teacha Dee embarked on his first European tour during the a leave he earn from teaching which kick started his career on the international scene. Appearances include, Yaam and Insel Clubs in Berlin, Faust in Hannover, Magnapop in Krefeld, Petit Prince and Lüxor in Köln, Rude 7 in Mannheim, Kulturfabrik in Hildeshiem, Wagen Bau in Hamburg and U-club in Wupertal, The highlight of which was his appearance in Bersenbrück on the prestigious Reggaejam Festival, within the dancehall tent.[1] During this trip Teacha Dee recorded several singles only a few were released immediately after. These are "Ganja We love" a moombahton single produced by soul force music, "Cyaan Stop We " produced by Catchy Greezly based in Italy and "Beat Babylon" remixed by Symbiz Productions.

In October 2011, Teacha Dee released his debut album entitled "Reggae Souljahs: Beating Babylon With Music" which was completion of singles previously released. This he did with his own independent label, "Tenfloor Records".

In April 2012, Teacha Dee was again back in Europe much to the delight of the fans. This trip saw performances in Cantu Italy, Bern Switzerland, Oldenburg and repeated performances in Osnabruck and Mannheim Germany. It was during this time, his affiliation with Weedy G SoundForce began as he recorded a collaboration with Skarra Mucci entitled "Summer Time" for the Swiss based label.

Teacha Dee in Germany June 2014

In May 2012, Teacha Dee recorded a single entitled "Sound System" on the "Reggaeville Riddim" for Reggaeville/Oneness Productions based in Germany and "I Will Try Again" for Catchy Greezly based in Italy. In October two songs were released, one for Jugglers Music Based in Germany entitled "Spliff and Beer" and "Freedom" on a riddim called "Naughty Wifey Riddim" for Deebuzz Music also based in Germany.

In August 2013, Teacha Dee and Utan Green collaborated on a single entitled "Reggae Show" on the " Reggae Jam Riddim" which was released at the 19th staging of the Reggae Jam festival held in Bersenbruck, Germany on 2 August. Teacha Dee, who was also a headliner for this festival.[2] He performed on the release date of the riddim compilation and the second day of the festival celebrations.

On July 4, 2014, "Party Day" recorded in Germany and released by upcoming German dancehall producers "Dancehallrulerz" made it to the number one spot on the official German reggae charts. This chart presented by Jugglerz radio and Riddim Magazine, is the official Reggae chart of german and "Party Day" held the number one spot on two separate occasions. These chart numbered 30/2014 and 33/2014 were posted on August 26 and September 22 respectively.[3][4]

Discography

Albums

Studio Albums
Title Release date Label Format
Reggae Souljahs: Beating Babylon With Music 31 October 2011 TenFloor Records Digital Distribution

Singles

Unofficial releases and singles

Mixtapes

External links

References

  1. ↑ Reggaestory. "Reggaejam - Bersenbrück Festivalerinnerungen 2011". www.reggaestory.de.
  2. ↑ Reggaeville. "Reggaejam 2013 line up". Reggaeville festival-details.
  3. ↑ Lasse (26 August 2014). "German Reggae Chart 30/2014". Jugglerz Radioshow.
  4. ↑ Lasse (22 September 2014). "German Reggae Chart 34/2014". Jugglerz Radioshow.