Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973),Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004)
All Woman: Tanya Stephens
", ''

Jamaica Observer ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica. The publication is owned by Butch Stewart, who chartered the paper in January 1993 as a competitor to Jamaica's oldest daily paper, ''The Gleaner''. Its founding editor i ...

'', 3 May 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2010STAR FILES ...Tanya Stephens – musical rebel
", ''Jamaica Star'', 14 January 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012 known by her stage name Tanya Stephens, is a Jamaican

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

singer and

deejay A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile D ...

who emerged in the late 1990s. She is most known for her hits "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" — later featured on the ''Reggae Gold 1997''

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

— and "It's a Pity", for which Stephens achieved international recognition. She and business partner Andrew Henton have together co-founded

Tarantula Records ''For the defunct punk rock record label, see: Tarantulas Records'' Tarantula Records was created by Jamaican recording artist ''Tanya Stephens'' and her life partner Andrew Henton. The label was set up because Tanya desired more freedom over her ...

Biography

Stephens was born in 1973 and grew up in

St. Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

and St. Ann, attending Zion Hill and Ocho Rios primary schools and St Mary High. She has three brothers and three sisters (one sister deceased). She began recording in the mid-1990s for producers such as Dave Kelly and

Philip "Fatis" Burrell Philip "Fatis" Burrell (23 July 1954 – 3 December 2011)Katz, David (2011)Philip 'Fatis' Burrell obituary, ''The Guardian'', 6 December 2011, retrieved 2011-12-06 was a Jamaican record producer, who ran the Xterminator record label. He was one o ...

. Her 1996 single "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet", produced by Kelly, brought her to the attention of the Jamaican public, and she had further success with singles such as "Draw fi Mi Finger", "Freaky Type", and "Cry and Bawl".Prato, Greg
Tanya Stephens Biography
,

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

. Retrieved 9 September 2012 Her debut, ''Big Things a Gwaan'', was released in 1994 (featuring

Yami Bolo Rolando Ephraim McLean (born 1 October 1970), better known as Yami Bolo, is a Jamaican reggae singer. Biography Yami Bolo grew up in postal zone 13 of Kingston. His first professional job and exposure was with Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion C ...

on a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

Suzanne Vega Suzanne Nadine Vega ( Peck; born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter best known for her folk-inspired music. Vega's music career spans almost 40 years. She came to prominence in the mid-1980s, releasing four singles that entered the ...

's "

Tom's Diner "Tom's Diner" is a song written in 1982 by American singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of '' Fast Folk Musical Magazine''. Originally featured on her second studio album, '' Solitude S ...

" and

Prezident Brown Fitz Albert Cotterell (born ), better known as Prezident Brown, is a Jamaican reggae/dancehall vocalist Biography Fitz Albert Cotterell was born in Johnny's Hill district on the Bullhead Mountain, Jamaica in the mid-1960s and raised in Oracabes ...

on a remix of the title track), and second album ''Too Hype'' followed in 1997. She moved to Sweden, where she signed a record deal with Warner Music Sweden and recorded the 2001 pop album '' Sintoxicated''. After returning to Jamaica she released the critically acclaimed ''

Gangsta Blues ''Gangsta Blues'' is the fifth studio album by Jamaican recording artist Tanya Stephens. This album was probably the most politically driven album with tracks like "What a Day", "The Other Cheek" and "Sound of My Tears". The album also has a lo ...

'' album in 2004. Her album '' Rebelution'' was released in August 2006,Yursik, Patrice Elizabeth Grell (2006)
Viva la Rebelution!
, ''

Miami New Times The ''Miami New Times'' is a newspaper published in Miami, Florida, United States, and distributed every Thursday. It primarily serves the Miami area and is headquartered in Miami's Wynwood Art District. Overview It was acquired by Village Voic ...

'', 14 September 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2010 and the first single " These Streets" was a number one hit in the Caribbean staying on Tempo's Chart at number 1 for more than 4 weeks. The album was totally sold out in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean. The track "Come A Long Way" is a dedication to black leaders.Campbell, Howard (2006)
Newsmaker: Tanya Stephens – Dancehall evolution sparks 'Rebelution'
", ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. Originally called the ''Daily Gleaner'', the name was changed on 7 December 1992 to ' ...

'', 26 September 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2010 ''

Infallible Infallibility refers to an inability to be wrong. It can be applied within a specific domain, or it can be used as a more general adjective. The term has significance in both epistemology and theology, and its meaning and significance in both fi ...

'', was released in 2010, initially given free with the Jamaican base German magazine ''Riddim'' then made available for free download for more than a year.Tanya Stephens Performs At Christopher's Tonight
, ''

'', 29 April 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010 In 2019, Stephens was honoured by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) for her contribution to the reggae industry as a songwriter.

Legal issues

In 2006, Tanya sued American rapper

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of he ...

for plagiarism on her song "Durty" from ''

The Naked Truth The Naked Truth may refer to: Literature * ''The Naked Truth'' (novel), a 1993 fictional memoir by Leslie Nielsen * ''The Naked Truth'' (book), a 2007 commentary on film ratings Film * ''The Naked Truth'' (1914 film), a silent Italian film * ...

'' asking for all rights to the song, past, present & future. Stephens claimed that Kim used the lyrics from her song "Mi and Mi God", stating that "she even used a west Indian accent". She claimed that in 1999 Tanya was flown out to New York by Kim, who claimed to be a huge fan & owned her albums, Kim wanted her to record for an album, but her vocals were never used.

Lyrical content

upright=0.8, Stephens performing in 2012 Her early material was lyrically typical of

dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rou ...

and drew comparisons with

Lady Saw Marion Hall (born 12 July 1969; formerly known by the stage name Lady Saw) is a Jamaican singer and songwriter whose career has spanned over two decades. Formerly known as the Queen of Dancehall, she is the first female deejay to be certified ...

,Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.'', Rough Guides, , p. 325 along with whom she was proclaimed "the top female artists in Jamaica" in 1998 by the ''

Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'',Wartofsky, Alona (1998) "LADY SAW "Raw: The Best of Lady Saw" VP; TANYA STEPHENS "Ruff Rider" VP", ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'', 9 October 1998 but later developed beyond what she called "the same old four topics" to 'reality' themes and even lyrics critical of

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitude (psychology), attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, h ...

. Social scientist Clinton Hutton said of her: "She is very intuitively intelligent and deftly tackles relevant social issues". In a talk in 2011 at the

University of the West Indies The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 17 English-speaking countries and territories in th ...

, she urged her fellow artists to be more socially responsible, and spoke out against the objectification of women in dancehall lyrics and the promotion of bigotry and violation of human rights, saying "The music that once spoke to and spread messages of peace and love, now merely judges, condemns and provokes."Walters, Basil (2011)
Tanya Stephens talks female responsibility
, ''

'', 11 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012Walters, Basil (2011)
Music has the power to shape society — Tanya Stephens
, ''

'', 3 April 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2012 Her song "Still Alive" deals with discrimination against people with HIV, and it was used in a television campaign dealing with the issue.Gayle, Sheena (2010)
Tanya Unplugged – Artiste Rocks Montego Bay With Stellar Performance
, ''

'', 4 November 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2012Cooke, Mel (2012)
STORY OF THE SONG: 'Still Alive' And Fighting HIV Discrimination
, ''

'', 26 August 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012

Other work

In 2007, Stephens was awarded a scholarship by Resource Development International to study for a Business Management degree via the internet from the

University of Sunderland , mottoeng = Sweetly absorbing knowledge , established = 1901 - Sunderland Technical College1969 - Sunderland Polytechnic1992 - University of Sunderland (gained university status) , staff = , chancellor = Emeli ...

.Cooke, Mel (2007)
Tanya Stephens thankful for scholarship
", ''

'', 12 August 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2010Henry, Krista (2007)
Deejays go for degrees
", ''

'', 9 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2012 In 2009 she made her acting debut, playing Nurse Tracey in the CVM TV series ''Royal Palm Estate''.Brooks, Sadeke (2009)
Stephens makes acting debut on 'Royal Palm'
", ''

'', 15 February 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2012 She also opened the restaurant '' the same year in the Coconut Grove Shopping Centre in

Ocho Rios Ocho Rios (Spanish for "Eight Rivers") is a town in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica, and is more widely referred to as ''Ochi'' by locals. Beginning as a sleepy fishing village, Ocho Rios has seen explosive growth in the ...

. Tanya also owns

, founded in 2004 with business partner & producer Andrew Henton which has handled all of her music since then.

Personal life

Stephens has a daughter, Kelly, born in 1994.Brooks, Sadeke (2010)
Tanya Stephens Is No 'Infallible' Mom
, ''

'', 9 May 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010

Discography

Albums

Compilations

* ''Tanya: Collection of Hits'' (2009), VP/Warner Bros. Records

Singles

* "One Touch" (1994), Shelly Power * "No More Lies" (1994), Xterminator * "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" (1995), Madhouse * "Short Wuck" (1995), Stone Love * "Man Fi Rule" (1995), Firehouse Crew * "Cry Freedom" (1996), Cell Block 321 * "Gotta Find Someone" (1996), Vibes House * "Friends" (1996), Hyped * "Gangster Girl" (1996), East Coast * "Big Things a Gwaan" (1996), Runn * "Handle the Ride" (1997), Digital B * "Big Heavy Gal" (1997), Shocking Vibes * "Goggle" (1997), Shocking Vibes * "1-1-9" (1997), Hotwax * "Work Out" (1997), Joe Gibbs Music * "Draw Fi Mi Finger" (1997), Hotwax/ VP * "Handle the Ride" (1997), Digital-B * "Big Ninja Bike" (1997), Annex * "Steppa Gal" (1998), Rude Boy Records * "Bounce Me" (1998), 2 Hard Recordings * "One Style" (1998), Digital-B * "Pose Gal" (1998), Jazzy Creations * "Learn Fi Choose" (1998), Fat Eyes * "Who Have the Link" (1998), Fat Eyes * "Choppa" (1998), Goldhead * "My Type" (1998), Mawga Man * "Ta Ta" (1998), Bankylous * "True Potential" (1999), Top Secret * "Rigormortis" (1999), Mo' Music Productions * "Fag in a Closet" (1999), Finatic * "For You" (1999), 1st Foundation * "Commercial Jack" (1999), Jamdown – B-side of Scare Dem Crew's "Party Time" * "Serious Thing" (1999), Call Me $ham$ * "One Gran" (1999), Spider Man * "Corners Boy" (1999), How Yu Fi Sey Dat? * "Wuk and Bruk" (1999), RC-ONE * "Dis Name" (1999), Pure & Clean * "Wuk Dat" (2000), Kings of Kings * "Shetengae" (2000), Studio 2000 * "Big Up Di Cash" (2000), Fan Club * "Bad Luck Boy" (2000), Flynn & Flynn * "Back to Haunt Me" (2001), Telegram Records Stockholm * "Galang So" (2001), First Name – B-side of Cobra's "Standing" * "What a Day" (2002), Xterminator * "It's Over Now" (2002), Dubz House * "Soft Inside" (2002), Topaz * "Forever" (2002), Silly Walks Productions * "Leave Me Alone" (2002), M.U.S.S.E.L. * "Ratings Falling" (2002), Cali Bud * "Shorty" (2002), Heights of Heights * "What's the Story" (2002), Flabba – B-side of Christopher's "Thank You Lord" * "Drought" (2002), Sweet Sadie's Production * "Need You Tonight" (2002), Germaican * "Touch Me No More" (2002), 40/40 Productions * "Blaze the Fire" (2003), Rashanco Music * "Gangsta" (2003), Creation Star Music * "Tek Him Back" (2003), Xterminator * "U Don't Get It" (2003), Fat Eyes * "It's About Time" (2003), South Rakkas Crew * "Have Mercy" (2003), Creation Star Music * "Hunt Fah" (2003), Golden Cartel * "Champagne" (2003), Beat Ruut Music * "Toe to Toe" (2003), Raggedy Joe * "Dis Ya Gal" (2003), South Block * "Need Fi Know Yu" (2003), First Name Music * "It's All Right" (2003), Vikings Production * "Can't Move Me" (2003), Raggedy Joe * "One Last Bridge" (2003), Creation Star Music * "Power of a Girl" (2003), Pow Pow Productions * "Shot It Up" (2003), Shajay * "Tonight" (2003), Xterminator * "Missing U" (2003), Live Wire Productions * "Call It a Draw" (2003), Big Jeans – with KC Jockey * "Can't Help It" (2003), Cali Bud * "Style Yu Want" (2004), Productions * "Bleach Pon It" (2004), Fire Links Production * "Not Your Own" (2004), Shocking Vibes * "It's a Pity" (2004), Germaican * "How Long" (2004), Dem Yute Deh Music * "After You" (2004), Don Corleon * "Bring It On" (2004), Insight * "Gansta Roll" (2004), In Time Music * "Little White Lie" (2004), VP * "The Other Cheek" (2004),

* "Better Luck" (2004), Joe Frasier * "Can't Breathe" (2004), Al.Ta.Fa.An. * "Life" (2004), One Love * "Call Me Back" (2004), All Access * "Party Tonight" (2004), Germaican * " These Streets" (2006), Tarantula/VP * "No Regular" (2006), Pure & Clean * "Forever" (2006), Silly Walks Productions * "Who's Sexing You" (2006), Reggae Republic * "I'm Bad" (2007), Mafia and Fluxy * "I'm Not Proud" (2007),

Mafia & Fluxy Mafia & Fluxy are a British reggae rhythm section and production team, consisting of the brothers Leroy (bass) and David Heywood (drums), whose careers began with London reggae band The Instigators in 1977. They backed Jamaican artists on UK to ...

* "Fire Burning" (2012), Tarantula/VP * "Feeling It..." (2012), Hyyype Muzik * "Take Good Care (of My Man)" (2012), Kingston Songs

Duets and combination singles

* "How Many Ways" (1996), Brickwall –

Shabba Ranks Shabba Ranks (born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon; 17 January 1966) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throughout his prominence in his home cou ...

and Tanya Stephens * "Crazy For Your Loving" (1996), Sampalue – with Chevel Franklyn * "Independent Gal" (1997), Pot of Gold – with

* "Cry and a Bawl" (1998), Fat Eyes –

Bounty Killer Rodney Basil Price (born 12 June 1972), known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair ...

and Tanya Stephens * "Freaky Type" (1998), Hi Profile – Tanya Stephens and Richard Browne * "Buck Them Up" (1999), Insomnia –

and Tanya Stephens * "Fire" (1999), Kings of Kings – Tanya Stephens and

Spanner Banner Joseph Bonner, also commonly known by the nickname Spanner Banner, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician. Biography Bonner was born on 6 February 1959, in Rock Hall, St. Andrew, Jamaica.Russell, Karie (1995)The Chillin' is Over, '' Regga ...

* "Come Nuh" (1999), Wallstreet – Dillgin and Tanya Stephens * "Nuh Mek It" (2000), Jamdown –

Spragga Benz Carlton Errington Grant (born 30 May 1969), better known as Spragga Benz, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. Career He began his career around 1991. He was once known to his friends as "Spaghetti" (tall and slim), but this was later shortened to ...

and Tanya Stephens * "Don't Take My Love for Granted" (2002), Xterminator – with

Sizzla Miguel Orlando Collins (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Sizzla Kalonji or Sizzla, is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is noted for his high num ...

* "Skettle 2004" (2004), Golden Kartel – Tanya Stephens and Cecil, B-side of Sasha's "Run Dung Me" * "Enuff 4 U" (2004), Wall of Sound – TCC Prassay featuring Tanya Stephens * "Dance 4 Me" (2006) –

Mark Morrison Mark Morrison (born 3 May 1972) is a British R&B singer. His single, "Return of the Mack", became a No. 1 or top 10 hit in several European countries in 1996. The song peaked at No. 2 in the United States the following year. Career Mark Mo ...

featuring Tanya Stephens, promo only CD-R * "Child of the Universe" (2007) on

Chuck Fenda Leshorn Whitehead (born June 15, 1972), better known by his stage name Chuck Fenda, is a Jamaican American reggae musician and deejay born in Brooklyn, New York City.Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2012)Fenda's ordeal, '' Jamaica Observer'', Novembe ...

's album ''The Living Fire'' (2007)The Beat – Volume 26, Issues 2–4 2007 p. xlix "Tanya Stephens redeems "Child of the Universe" with her smooth, lyrical lines complementing Fenda's unpolished style." * "Heart of Stone" (2008), Bass Inna Yu Face – Taddy P. featuring Tanya Stephens * "Want Love" (2012), Kirkledove – with

Marcia Griffiths Marcia Llyneth Griffiths (born 23 November 1949) is a Jamaican singer. One reviewer described her by noting "she is known primarily for her strong, smooth-as-mousse love songs and captivating live performances". Biography Born in West Kingst ...

References

External links

Interview with Tanya Stephens on Jamaican Observer
(2003)
Robbo Ranks interviews Tanya Stephens for 1Xtra
(audio interview, 2006)
Recent interview with Tanya Stephens
(2008)
Tanya Stephens at
Facebook
Interview with Tanya Stephens – Reggae.Today (2014)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Tanya 1973 births Living people People from Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica Jamaican dancehall musicians Jamaican reggae singers 21st-century Jamaican women singers 20th-century Jamaican women singers VP Records artists