- DeLon
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DeLon 
DeLon with Derana AwardBackground information Birth name Dilan Jayasingha Origin Los Angeles, California Genres Hip Hop Occupations Rapper, songwriter, record producer, executive producer Instruments Vocals, keyboards Years active 1993–present Labels Ceylon Records[1] Associated acts Ranidu, Bathiya and Santhush, Ashanthi, Iraj Website www.delonmusic.com Dilan Jayasingha better known as his stage name, DeLon, is an aspiring American hip hop artist and record producer.
DeLon is the first Sri Lankan artist to place on the U.S. Billboard charts, first with his single "Calor de la Salsa (The Heat Of Salsa)"[1] in 2005 off of his debut album The Connection and then again in 2007 with his single "Nasty Girl" from his second album Unstoppable[2]
On April 5, 2008, DeLon won "Best Rap Performance" at the Derana Music Video Awards in Sri Lanka.[citation needed]
He has also collaborated with new age Sri Lankan Hip Hop artists and producers such as Bathiya and Santhush, Ranidu, Ashanthi and Iraj.
Contents
Biography
Early life and career beginnings
From DeLon's Website:[3]
Born to parents from a small village in Gampaha, Sri Lankan, DeLon learned at an early age the importance of hard work and humility while at the same time trying to attain a level of greatness never thought of by someone from his island. DeLon made his musical debut at the young age of 12; but it wasn’t his lyrics people were listening to. DeLon began his love affair with Hip-Hop by first learning to DJ for local parties and clubs around his hometown of Pasadena, CA. A perfect match from the start; DeLon soon made a name for himself and word of his talent spread through to the hottest clubs in Hollywood. DJ gave DeLon the chance to study music and gain a stronger perspective of how people responded to certain beats and melodies.
Destined for something greater, at the age of 18, DeLon began writing and producing his own music and perfecting his skills on the microphone by regularly attending local competitions. Due to his engaging personality, performing and entertaining came as second nature. With the determination to experience a world more than what he was given, DeLon after his graduation from college, decided to expand his horizons. Through lifetime travels to over 33 countries, DeLon collected knowledge, spiritual and worldly, and indulged himself into music from all over the world.
After experiencing the devastation of his country of Sri Lanka, as a first-hand survivor, by the Tsunami of 2004; DeLon is determined to shed light and positivity to worldly atrocities of famine, and racial and cultural injustices. DeLon aspires to be the leading voice in bringing unity and consciousness to the forefront through Hip-Hop music. Utilizing his multi-cultural knowledge and identity, DeLon fuses eclectic cultural beats with Hip-Hop to create a unique style that cannot be sonically compared with any other rapper in the game. Those tracks combined with the ability to perform in Spanish, English and Sinhala; DeLon produces a crossover appeal that makes him marketable to a wider fan base through genres and markets worldwide. Authentic, unique, diverse and entertaining; DeLon strives to achieve a level of international greatness and influence through his music at the same time keeping his roots grounded to his village upbringing.
He is currently working on his 3rd studio album “Something Out Of Nothing”.
Music career
The Connection (2005)
Main article: The Connection (DeLon album)DeLon made his debut in 2005 with The Connection, which featured "Calor de la Salsa" as the lead single. "Calor de la Salsa" peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.[4] The Connection united hip hop listeners of all cultures as it features eclectic beats of different styles of cultural music mixed with American hip hop. With roots in salsa, samba, reggae, soca, Sri Lankan, Indian and Middle Eastern music, The Connection is an album that unites all cultures through international hip hop. As reviewed by YRB Magazine,
"Hitting the rap game from all sides, DeLon manages to be 'conscious' and 'street' on the same album...a seamless merger of hot production, a catchy hook and the lyrical precision of a young Talib Kweli." - Yellow Rat Bastard (YRB) Magazine, Issue ..61 "The Connection" Review.
The Connection was released through DeLon's record label, Ceylon Records.
Unstoppable (2008)
Main article: Unstoppable (DeLon album)DeLon's second album, Unstoppable was originally meant for promotional use and only had 10,000 copies made to be sold at shows but due to the success of the Unity Through Education Tour[2], which DeLon headlined, the stock sold out. Unstoppable was then made available digitally through iTunes in February 2008. The first single, "Nasty Girl", featured Sri Lankan R&B singer Ranidu and debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.[5]
Something Out Of Nothing (2010)
Main article: Something Out Of Nothing.
" Slow It Down"[6] is DeLon's first single off his upcoming album "Something Out Of Nothing".
Ventures
Ceylon Records
M.I.A. Controversy
In July 2008, DeLon released a controversial video accusing Interscope artist M.I.A. of supporting terrorism. The video was taken down by YouTube allegedly by the request of Universal Music Group (M.I.A.'s parent label). DeLon's music label contacted YouTube due and the video was put back up four weeks later only to be taken down once more two weeks after that. M.I.A. has responded by saying:
"I don't support terrorism and never have," she wrote. "As a Sri Lankan that fled war and bombings, my music is the voice of the civilian deserter. Frankly, I am not trying to start dialogue with someone who is really just seeking self-promotion." [7][8]
Discography
Main article: DeLon discography- Solo albums
- The Connection (2005)
- Unstoppable (2007)
- The Movement (2009)
- Compilation albums
- The Reality Mixtape (2008)
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 2010 Sinhawalokanaya[9] "In Retrospect Jangu Drama Post Production References
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3062772&cdi=8491317&cid=11%2F26%2F2005
- ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=353&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Singles+Sales&ci=3086435&cdi=9395872&cid=09%2F22%2F2007
- ^ /delonmusic.com/bio/
- ^ "Calor de La Salsa", Billboard.com
- ^ "Nasty Girl", Billboard.com
- ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/slow-it-down-feat-dylan-synclaire/id400452744
- ^ http://billboard.prweb.com/releases/2008/08/prweb1179054.htm <-Billboard
- ^ http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/ask_the_answer_bitch/b22295_mia_paper_planes_on_tear_terror.html <- E Online
- ^ http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/life/132-life/15311-sinhawalokanaya-on-silver-screen.html
External links
Categories:- Living people
- American record producers
- Hip hop record producers
- American people of Sri Lankan descent
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