The rise of Chi Ching Ching
Following the success of Breadfruit and Get There, dancer-turned-singjay Chi Ching Ching has blazed into the summer with the jamming Elevate.
Released in early June, Elevate is a collaboration with singjay Gabbi Don.
In an interview with Splash, Chi Ching Ching said he is not surprised by Elevate’s success.
“I never doubt anything that I do, so the success of this song is not a surprise. It has that feel-good mood to it and everyone likes to feel good.”
Elevate is produced by TJ Records, an independent label out of South Florida that has had significant triumphs with Vybz Kartel.
In addition to promoting the single, Chi Ching Ching is gearing up to release visuals for other new songs, Crick Neck and Kush In The AC.
The wiry 33-year-old first made his name as a dancer. But he is also known for catchy slangs and dance songs including Breadfruit, Get There and Watch Di Wire.
His approach to music, he notes, is spontaneous.
“I don’t plan when it comes to my music, I just work with the vibes and the energy. I can go to the studio tomorrow and when I’m finish it might be another Way Up or another One Knock,” he said.
Today, he heads to New Jersey to perform at an event called Colours which features Ding Dong, Chromatic and Copper Shot sound system.
Chi Ching Ching, whose given name is Radion Beckford, was born in St Mary. In his youth, he relocated to Kingston to live with his father. Back then, he was not too popular with the ladies.
“I was very lanky and poor. Girls were interested in the boys who had money and wore expensive clothes,” he recalled.
Chi Ching Ching found solace in music and dancing. At the end of school each day, he enjoyed nothing more than going home, listening to the radio and dancing.
In 2000, dancehall culture found a new audience through video-recorded street dances on DVD. Weekly dances such as Early Mondays, Passa Passa, Weddy Weddy, Dutty Fridaze and Hot Monday became the honing ground for aspirants to showcase their talent; one of them was Chi Chi Ching.
While his dance moves caught on quickly, eventually he got into recording. His debut song, Lock Pon Di Ting, was released in 2014, followed by Popcorn Pop.
Chi Ching Ching performs this evening at Summer Time Relief in Mandeville.
