Reagan is unstoppable

By Carlington Wilmot, Youth Writer

Carlington Wilmot photo

THERE'S NO stopping 20-year-old Reagan Bennett this summer. He wants success so bad he can almost taste it ­ and he is close.
The youngblood's latest single, 'Real Bad Man', has been getting a lot of airplay on the first hot bonafide Summer rhythm, 'The Blockbuster' in recent weeks. He has also been making appearances on various stage shows, and at teenage gatherings in the Corporate Area, earning fans with his 'one time, long time' signature slang.

A graduate of Spanish Town Primary and Crescent Junior High, he fell in love with dancehall music in his mid-teens.

"It's an inborn concept with me, I was always a performer even back in basic school and it is only a matter of time before I break into what's cracking on the dancehall scene," he said.

Bennett uses his Christian name, Reagan as his stage name because "I was born a star. My mother gave me my star name already. Why should I change now?," he asked.

After earning his first onstage performance at the Teen Splash show in Kaiser, St. Elizabeth, he began to earn his street props by performing whenever and wherever, cracking up audiences with his storytelling style of deejaying. He earned his first big show the following year, performing at Sting.

He recorded 'Cooling Out' at Mikey Bennett's Grafton studio but the song did not make much impact. However, his first single, 'No Gal Caan Buy Mi Out' recorded in 1999, but released in 2000 by True Blue Records, received decent airplay. His latest single could well have the flavour to vault him into the spotlight.

"I am an entertainer, I make people feel happy, it's what I do. At first, my mom never liked it, she felt that I should get a skill at HEART. Now I am a chef, but I'd rather flip some rhymes than flip some burgers anyday," he said.

Look out for his latest singles, 'Matumba' on the Fat Eyes label, and the funny, conversational 'Know Wha Yu a Do'.

Stay away from drugs

Real Name: Reagan Bennett

Stage Name: Reagan

Date of Birth: November 6, 1980

School attended: Spanish Town Primary and Crescent High

Home: Vineyard Town

Parents: Mother, Kathleen Bennett

Siblings: One brother and one sister.

Happiest moment: "My happiest moment was when I mash up Sting. I felt really good and I knew I was going to make it."

Scariest moment: "My scariest moment was when I dropped off the step of a bus in Half-Way Tree, across from the FedEx building. When I got up I was white (skin rub off) and the people make fun of me saying that I look as if I was bleaching."

Hobbies: Football, writing songs and originating new slang.

Favourite food: Sea food only, fish, lobster, shrimp etc...

Favourite colour: Yellow

Favourite song: 'Again' by Lenny Kravitz.

Favourite artistes: Cobra and Mariah Carey

Favourite book: 'Sweet Sweet Mango Tree'

Favourite T.V. Show: 'Walker Texas Ranger'

Favourite travel destination: Sandals, Negril

Favourite Slang: "One Time, Long Time"

Place of worship: Home

Advice to teenagers: "Stay in school, don't do drugs and protect yourself from STDs."

Wish for Jamaica: "Peace and prosperity and also a way for poor people to enjoy a better standard of living in this beautiful country. Jamaica is nice, but you can't really enjoy Jamaica without money in your pocket."

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