You ever try to describe a song to a friend, a song that you don't the name of, but you know the melody.. how it goes.. the chorus.. the beat? Or say you walk in a store with plans to purchase said song and embarrass yourself by singing the parts of the song that you can remember, unknowingly botching up the whole thing?
I've definitely had my American Idol moments over the years.. rapping to music store clerks, tilting my head back letting out a horrible falsetto. Of course these clerks let you sing cause they find it funny.. they know what song your talking about, even if you can't name the artist. It makes the day go quicker, seeing you act a fool. Well, talking to a friend last week, at least I had the name of the artist right.
"You know that chick Lumidee?"
"Who?.."
"Lumidee."
"Lumi?.. Nah, who is that?"
"You know her.. they play her song on HOT 97 all the time. A Spanish chick."
"Spanish?!.. I don't know who that is."
"Yeah, you do. .. how does it go? .. "If you want me to stay.. uh ohhh.. uh ohhhhhhh."
*thinking* "Nah I don't know her."
Alright, so he wanted to play store clerk, but he has definitely heard the song. Over the past four months or so it's been getting played like crazy in NYC - it's becoming the summer anthem. Five years from now, when Funkmaster Flex (or some other DJ) is digging in the crates for one of those flashback moments on his radio show, it'll definitely ring bells. "Uh ohhh.. uh ohhhhh.".. "Yooooo, remember this song?"
Spanish Harlem..
Lumidee, along with her 2 brothers and 2 sisters, was raised by her grandparents in the 110th-135th side of Harlem, New York dubbed by residents as Spanish Harlem.. or is that East Harlem? From the age of 12, with such musical influences as Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, MC Lyte and Lauryn Hill, she began honing her skills as a rapper. Throughout high school she had every intention of making her mark as the next big thing in hip-hop. After her graduation things changed slightly, 19-year-old Lumidee hooked up with a local producer named DJ Ted Smooth. One of their first creations was a song called "Never Leave You" where she sang over a reggae influenced beat - the Diwali rhythm.
Because of the infectious chorus and not knowing the actual name, people have also been calling it the "Uh-Oooh" song. Missy would be proud.
The record was released on Straight Face records, an independent label, and immediately caught fire in the clubs. It was later picked up by NY radio station HOT 97, and the rest as they say is history.
F-a-b-o-l-o-u-s
It was just two months ago, March 2003 that Lumi was being interviewed by HOT97 host, Sunny. Sunny invited her to the station on the strength of the response the song was getting from the streets. Funny thing, at the time, Lumi said she didn't have a record contract. The song was getting love, she was performing at club venues, but that was the extent of her career.
During the interview, Sunny said she had someone on the phone.. a secret admirer who wanted to speak to her. Sunny clicks over and who is it, Fabolous - the kid who's responsible for mad people messing up in the school spelling bee. Fab said that he loved the song and wanted to do a remix with her.. there were a bunch of rappers getting at her, but Fab made his bid on the air.
The street heat perked the ears of the execs at Universal Records and they quickly signed Lumidee to a recording contract. They wanted to capitalize on the moment, so she was put on the express track: immediately placed in the studio with a release date of June 24th 2003.
Almost Famous
"Seeing different artists who were raised in the ghetto succeeding and doing it their way helped me get to where I am today," says Lumidee. "You have to follow your dream. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, you have to be happy."
And Lumidee is happy, not world renowned but she has an appropriately titled album with her name on it Almost Famous.. Here's a description straight from the Public Relations department:
"Almost Famous contains the original hit single "Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)," and also features the remix with Busta Rhymes and Fabolous. The album ranges from up-tempo tracks to slower melodic ballads, a unique combination that Lumidee conquers effortlessly. On "Crashin' The Party," Lumidee links up with NORE and weaves her soft vocals with his unfaltering energy. With a bouncy chorus saying "I feel like crashing a party/VIP don't try to stop me/you can like my style but don't copy/ladies let me know if you got me," the song is a girl's party anthem that encourages everyone to gravitate to the dance floor.
Lumidee showcases her rhyming skills on the track "Go With Me." The song begins with a smooth R&B groove that she quickly tackles with 16 bars of lyrical power, proving that she can hold her own weight as a MC. She continues by singing the floating hook and adds another verse that explores the nature of love and relationships."
Enough of that.
Here's hoping that the chick from Spanish Harlem can call her next album, Paid in Full.
Listen to the HOT97 interview here (real audio)