Artist Name: Craig David
Born: 5/5/1981
In: Southampton, England
Musical Styles: Urban, Club/Dance, Garage/House
Similar Artists: Joe, D'Angelo, Jamiroquai, Maxwell, Bump & Flex,
Robbie Craig, Danny J. Lewis, Dem 2
Singer Craig David was the success story of 2000 with
his first hit 'Fill me in'. His smooth voice and sauve good looks made
him the ideal poster-boy for British R&B in the early noughties. Born
in Southampton, he grew up listening to R&B and hip-hop which gave him
the inspiration to write songs. He turned DJ for pirate radio in 1995,
but it wasn't until he met Mark Hill, of Artful Dodger fame, that he
appeared on his first hit 'Rewind', which went on to become a UK garage
classic. His first album, under an independent label, came out in 2000
under the title 'Born To Do It' and beat many British sales records.
Hit singles taken from the album included 'Fill Me In', '7 Days' and
'Walking Away', after which David took time out in 2001 to record his
second album 'Slicker Than Your Average'. 'What's Your Flava' became
an international hit and David went on to record a duet with Sting,
'Rise and Fall'.
R&B sensation Craig David was barely out of his teens
when he took a hold of the U.K. pop circuit, twisted it around, and
threw it back on its bum during fall 2000. This fresh-faced native of
Southampton, England, was merely playing into his love of funkadelic
hip-hop and crooning urban stylings when he started writing songs as
a teenager. His love for Terence Trent D'Arby, Sisqo, and Donnell Jones
allowed him to put his creative love for art, culture, and history into
a musical beat all his own. And the new millennium belonged to him and
garage had been redefined.
Born Craig Ashley David on May 5, 1981, David was slicing and dicing
ragga and R&B on the local station PCRS 106.5FM and found himself playing
club gigs prior to rubbing elbows with some of music's finest. It was
during this time he hooked with Artful Dodger's Mark Hill. After winning
a national writing competition, Craig was more than ready to start producing
with Hill. His big break came when he put his own additives on Damage's
"I'm Ready," a B-side to "Wonderful Tonight." Soon thereafter he remixed
his own version of Human League's "Human" and started himself a regular
spot in area clubs during the weekends. "Rewind" was another underground
smash, specifically a definitive move for David. His respect for Stevie
Wonder, Faith Evans, and R. Kelly was most apparent, however his own
vocal talent was beginning to shine. He and Hill's specialty show on
Capital Radio provided another outlet for David to shape his musical
work of genius. "Fill Me In" proved yet another hit, shooting straight
to number one in summer 2000. David was now the youngest British male
solo artist to have a number one single. He was 19-years-old.
A deal with Wildstar Records in the U.K. sparked toward the end of the
summer as "Re-Rewind" and "7 Days" gained praise in late November. A
stateside agreement with Atlantic also led to more global hype. He had
sold 3.5 million records worldwide and garage was finally becoming massive
overseas and it was David's debut Born to Do It that was at the head.
But not all were pulling for this R&B prodigy. Aside from winning three
awards at the MOBO's in October, Craig David walked away empty handed
at the 2000 Brit Awards in February 2001. He was up for six nominations,
including Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Newcomer, and
Best British Single for "7 Days," but industry politics fell into operation.
Many mainstream stars came to David's defense, artists such as Elton
John, U2, and Robbie Williams, professing their disgust for the ill
recognition for David and his musical efforts in the past year. Death
threats soon followed for the superstar in spring 2001 as he took the
stage in a show in London. An anonymous caller claimed a soldier would
injure David with tear gas and hand grenades. Still, his record sales
continued to soar in the U.K. with sales of Born to Do It increasing
over 100 percent after his dismal beginning months of 2001. He bombared
American Shores with a deal with Atlantic and released Born to Do It
stateside in summer 2001. Mainstream radio flocked to him immediately.
Missy Elliott, Beyonce' Knowles, and Usher called themselves fans.
The next year, things didn't simmer down for the now international pop
star. Craig David returned with a sophomore effort Slicker Than Your
Average in November 2002. This particular album saw a much grittier
side from David. Debut single "What's Your Flava?" also became one of
the year's hottest singles. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
