Christy Campbell (born March 29, 1981), known by the stage name Admiral T, is a French singer, rapper, songwriter, DJ, and actor. He is one of the most popular and successful Guadeloupean singers. He is also a designer and the creator of the clothing trademark WOK LINE.
Admiral T | |
|---|---|
 Concert of Admiral T in Paris | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christy Campbell |
| Also known as | Admiral T |
| Born | 29 March 1981 Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, French West Indies |
| Origin | France (Guadeloupe) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels |
|
| Formerly of | Karukera Sound System |
| Website | Official site of Admiral T |
Biography
editBorn in 1981 on the French island of Guadeloupe, he was one of ten children. He also has roots in the nearby island of Dominica.[1] At the age of 6, he joined the dancehall group Karukera Sound System; he left the group in 1992 to start a solo career; releasing his first album Mozaïk Kréyòl. During the sneak preview of Sean Paul at Bercy Stadium in 2004, Admiral T outperformed himself and drew much attention.[2] Universal Music Group's delegates who attended this concert decided to sign Admiral T and re-released his album on Universal Records, featuring artists like Wyclef Jean or French rapper Rohff. Admiral T's album became a hit throughout the West Indies, France and Europe.
In 2005, Admiral T starred in Guadeloupean director Jean-Claude Barny's film Nèg Maron. The following year, he released his second album, Toucher L'Horizon, which also gained popular and commercial success and got awarded a Césaire of Music Award in October 2006. Admiral T spent much of 2007 in France, London and the Caribbean on his "Fòs A Péyi La" Tour (from his title song duet with Kassav'). Admiral T also won a Skyrock Music Award in December 2007 and a Virgin music Award in February 2008. He launched his own clothing line WOK LINE and made a new tour in Africa during 2008. The following year, Admiral T performed in Germany at Summerjam, Europe's biggest reggae festival and at Dominica's World Creole Music Festival. On 19 April 2010, he released his 3rd album : Instinct Admiral, comprising featurings of Machel Montano, Busy Signal, La Fouine, Médine, Young Chang MC, Lieutenant, Patrick Saint-Éloi, Fanny J and Awa Imani. Besides his solo career, Admiral T is also the producer of the newcomer reggae-dancehall singer Wyckyd J.
In 2014, he sang On n'oublie pas (written by Serge Bilé) with several artists and personalities including Alpha Blondy, Jocelyne Béroard and Harry Roselmack. This song is a tribute to the 152 victims Martinique of the crash of 16 August 2005, to remember this event and to help the AVCA, the association of the victims of the air disaster, to raise funds.[3]
Personal life
editCampbell has been married to wife and manager Jessica since 2005. They have 3 children: twins Dylan and Lewis and daughter Chelsy. They met at age 20 and wed 4 years later. They have launched a streetwear clothing line.[4]
Nèg Maron
editIn the 2005 film, Admiral T plays one of two Guadeloupean residents of an urban slum who survive off of illicit activities.[5]
Discography
editAlbums
edit
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| FRA [6] | ||
| 2003 | Mosaik Kreyol | 30 |
| 2006 | Toucher l'horizon | 9 |
| 2010 | Instinct Admiral | 15 |
| 2012 | Face B | 36 |
| 2014 | I Am Christy Campbell | 81 |
| 2019 | Caribbean Monster | 196 [7] |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [6] |
SWI | |||
| 2002 | "Gwadada" | - | - | |
| 2004 | "Dancehall X-Plosion" (feat. Pearl) |
56 | - | |
| 2006 | "Les mains en l'air" (feat. Diam's) |
29 | 76 | |
| 2007 | "Fos a péyi la" (feat. Kassav') |
- | - | |
| 2010 | "Viser la victoire" (feat. La Fouine and Médine) |
- | - | |
- Featured in
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRA [6] | |||
| 2012 | "Ma reine" (Axel Tony feat. Admiral T) |
76 | |
| 2012 | "Meet me" (NUZ feat. Admiral T) |
Mixtapes
edit- Mek It Happen (2002)
- Killa Session (2002)
- Ti Moun Ghetto (2004)
- Determiné Dèpi Piti (2005)
- Flagada Smokey (2006)
- Dancehall Festival (2006)
- Good To Mixx vol.2 (2006)
- The Big Champion (2006)
- Reyel Champion Soti Gwada (2007)
- Ti Moun Ghetto 2 (2007)
- The King of the Dancefloor (2007)
Compilations
edit- Ragga Kolor (2002)
- Dancehall Clash (2002)
- Ragga Dancehall N°1 (2003)
- Groovin Attitude (2004)
- Ragga Masters (2004)
- Génération Rap RnB vol. 2 (2004)
- Exclusif Admiral T (2005)
- Ninety Seven K-Ribbean (2005)
- Unis-Sons (2005)
- Reggae Bashement (2006)
- Total Reggaeton 2 (2006)
- Generation Dancehall (2007)
- Rap & R'n'B Non Stop (2007)
- Coupé Décalé Mania (2007)
- BexXx Cluzif (2008)
- Too Much Gangsta (2008)
- Good Times (2008)
- Mesrine (2008)
- Don's Collector Saison 3 (2008)
- Soprano Riddim (2008) (produced by Bost & Bim)
Contributions
edit- 1848 of Karukera Sound System (1998)
- Special Request of Karukera Sound System (2000)
- Welcome to Haiti of Wyclef Jean (2004)
- La Fierté Des Notres of Rohff (2004)
- Caribbean Sessions of Karukera Sound System (2005)
- Ma vision of Saël (2005)
- Émancipé of Vibe (2005)
- Dans Tes Rêves of Disiz La Peste (2005)
- Ah Shwe Bah of Dr. Lefty (2005)
- Soné Ka-La of Jacques Schwarz-Bart (2006)
- Face A La Réalité of Saik (2007)
- Les Liens Sacrés of Nèg'Marrons (2008)
- In Transit of Ziggi (2008)
Filmography
editFilms
edit- Nèg Maron of Jean-Claude Flamand Barny (2005)
- Le Mur du Silence of Jean-Claude Flamand Barny (2009)
- Retour au pays of Julien Dalle (2010)
Concerts
edit- Le Grand Méchant Zouk (2006)
- Fos a Péyi La Tour (2007)
Reportages
edit- Mozaïk Kréyòl (2004)
- Toucher L'Horizon (2006)
- Dancehall Story (2008)
Clips
edit- Rapide (1998)
- Pas Comme Les Autres, featuring Saël (2000)
- Rendez-Vous, featuring Curtis (2000)
- Youth Attack, featuring Curtis (2001)
- So Strong, Savage Riddim (2002)
- Otantik, Hum Riddim (2002)
- Le Bien Et Le Mal, featuring Tiwony & Curtis (2002)
- Gwadada (2002)
- Lov', featuring Little Espion (2003)
- Rèv An Mwen (2003)
- Move Together, featuring Square One (2003)
- Dancehall X-Plosion, featuring Pearl (2004)
- Ok, featuring Saik (2004)
- Mets Nous A L'Aise, featuring Saël (2005)
- Lanmou Épi Respè (2006)
- Fos A Péyi La, featuring Kassav' (2006)
- Les Mains En L'Air, featuring Diam's (2006)
- Ti Moun Ghetto (2007)
- Pé La, featuring Jacques Schwarz-Bart (2008)
References
edit- ^ Horn, David (5 October 2017). Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 11: Genres: Europe. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 630. ISBN 9781501326103.
- ^ Interview of Admiral T (traduction), 3 December 1982
- ^ "Crash du 16 août : " On n'oublie pas "" [Crash of August 16: "We don't forget"] (in French). Martinique France-Antilles. 6 August 2014.
- ^ "Admiral T et Jessica Campell : 12 ans de mariage et plus complices que jamais ! | People Bo Kay". People Bo Kay | Le webzine de chez nous ! (in French). Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Bonilla, Yarimar (6 October 2015). Non-Sovereign Futures: French Caribbean Politics in the Wake of Disenchantment. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226283951.
- ^ a b c LesCharts.com Admiral T discography
- ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 44, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
