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Macka
Diamond: the
money goddess
Charmaine
Munroe was born in Kingston and grew up in
Portmore. She attended Holy Childhood High
School. Her father, Phillip Munroe, is a record
producer who worked with some of the greats,
including the likes of Gregory Isaacs, while
also being close friends with legendary dancehall
producer, King Jammy's, and reggae music's
production dynamite duo, Sly and Robbie.
It was after hearing artistes such as Sister
Nancy (aka Muma Nancy), a female deejay trailblazer,
that she decided she, too, was going to become
a deejay. Instead of using her father's connections
to get her foot in the door, Macka decided
to do it alone. She asked a friend to show
her where Lady Junie, another happening foundation
female deejay at the time, lived, and just
like that, Macka went and introduced herself.
Charmaine
had decided to call herself Lady Charm but
after she had made her first record, an
answer version to Major Mackerel's Don Ban,
the producer insisted that the song be released
under the name, Lady Mackerel. Needless
to say, Charmaine did not like the development
one bit.
In
2003, Charmaine decided that she had finally
outgrown her Lady Mackerel epithet and changed
her name to Macka Diamond.
Macka
Diamond's hard work finally paid off in
the summer of 2004 when Done
A Ready topped the Jamaican charts,
the first time a female had topped the charts
in four years.
Macka
Diamond is now finally calling the shots,
with the start of her own entertainment
company, DiamondDistrict Ja.
Macka
Diamond was awarded with one of reggae/dancehall
music's most coveted awards, Female DJ of
the Year, on not one, but on three consecutive
occasions. She was also the reigning female
DJ of the year on Irie FM's and Excellence
in Music and Entertainment's (EME) awards.
On
May 7, last year, she scored her third number
one song with the very hot Hula
Hoop. She did it the first time
with Done AlReady
then followed up with the women's anthem
Bun Him,
which was done in combination with Black-er.
Macka
cemented an endorsement deal with Wray and
Nephew Rum Cream to be their spokesperson
for 2005, which was subsequently renewed
for 2006-07.
On
September 19, last year, Macka Diamond released
Jamaica's first official dancehall novel,
entitled Bun Him!,
which literally flew off the shelves, becoming
an instant bestseller in Jamaica, and a
much sought after piece of literature worldwide.
On
Friday, October 26, 2007, Macka Diamond
won the Jamaica Observer Teenage Choice
Award for Female Artiste of the Year and
Best Dressed Female Artiste.
SOURCE:
myspace.com
Compiled
by: Kemesha Parkins
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