Imperial Blaze is the fourth album by dancehall artist Sean Paul. Rap-Up.'.' Retrieved April 25, 2009. The album was released on August 18, 2009. All Sean Paul.'.' Retrieved April 25, 2009.

Background

The album was originally scheduled to be released in the summer of 2007 under the name The Next Thing, MTV.com'.' Retrieved June 29, 2008. but was then pushed back to November 2008. Youtube.com'.' Retrieved June 29, 2008.

Sean Paul told MTV that he wants to be less focused on party songs such as Get Busy, We Be Burnin', and Temperature. He said he wants his songs to focus on youth violence in Jamaica

The album's title means "Kings Fire". Sean Paul commented on the title saying, All Sean Paul.

In an interview with DJ Swerve, Sean Paul confirmed that he did 60 tracks for the album, with 19 tracks making the final cut.

On July 10, a song from the album, "Press It Up", was premiered on Sean Paul's official website. All Sean Paul. A video was filmed for "Press It Up," which was directed by Jessy Terrero

The album was put on pre-order on July 17, 2009. Those who pre-ordered will receive two digital track downloads to songs titled "She Wanna Be Down" and "Get With It Girl". All Sean Paul. On the German iTunes Store "Imperial Blaze" was released on August 14, 2009.

Sean Paul expressed delight regarding the progress of the album on the international stage. "It's a good feeling and I'm happy - very happy that people like the music, and that they've been going out and getting the album," he said.

"Number 1 in Japan is a big achievement for me. I'm especially proud of that, because outside of Jamaica, Japanese people are really the biggest consumers of dancehall music," he said.

Imperial Blaze was certified gold in France, debuting at #8 in that country, #7 in the United Arab Emirates, #5 in Canada, #4 in Switzerland, #15 in Belgium, #17 in Austria, and #17 in Germany.

It was also the first ever Jamaican album to debut atop the Billboard Rap Charts. The wholly Jamaican produced project debuted atop the Billboard Reggae Charts, #3 on the Hip Hop/R&B Album charts, #12 on the Billboard 200, #9 on the Digital Albums, and #20 on the European Albums chart.

Singles

* The first official single is "So Fine", peaking at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100.

* The second official single is "Press It Up". It was released on August 4, 2009. The music video was released on September 9, 2009.

* The third single is "Hold My Hand" which features Keri Hilson. It was sent to U.S. radio on September 29, 2009.http.

Reception

Initial critical response to Imperial Blaze was average. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 51, based on five reviews. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album .

Deluxe Version

iTunes Bonus track

Charts

References

Artist/Band Information

Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques (born January 9, 1973), who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican Grammy winning Reggae/Dancehall artist who was the former lead vocalist of the Dutty Cup Crew.

Life and career

1973–1996: Early life

Sean Paul was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and spent his early years in Upper Saint Andrew Parish, a few miles north of Kingston. His parents, Garth and Frances, were both talented athletes, and his mother is a well-known painter. His paternal grandfather was a Sephardic Jew whose family immigrated from Portugal, and his paternal grandmother was Afro-Caribbean; his mother is of English and Chinese Jamaican descent. Sean Paul was raised a Catholic. Many members of his family are swimmers. His grandfather was on the first Jamaican men's national water polo team. His father also played water polo for the team in the 1960s, and competed in long-distance swimming, while Sean Paul's mother was a backstroke swimmer. Sean Paul played for the national water polo team from the age of thirteen to twenty-one, when he gave up the sport in order to launch his musical career. He attended the Wolmers High School for Boys, Belair High School, and the College of Arts, Science, and Technology, now known as the University of Technology, where he was trained in commerce with a view to pursuing an occupation in hotel management.

1996–2004: Stage One and Dutty Rock

SeanPaul2005.jpgleftthumbSean Paul in September 2005.

He made a quick cameo appearance in the 1998 film Belly on stage performing. He made a very successful collaboration with DMX & Mr. Vegas (Here Comes Da Boom) as a soundtrack of the film. In 2000, Sean Paul released his debut album, Stage One with VP Records. In 2002, he began working extensively with a team of producers and choreographers from Toronto, namely Jae Blaze and Blaze Entertainment and announced the release of his second album, Dutty Rock. Pushed by the success of the singles "Gimme the Light" and the Billboard Hot 100 topper, "Get Busy", the album was a worldwide success, eventually selling over six million copies. Simultaneously, Sean Paul was heard on Beyoncé's U.S. #1 single "Baby Boy" and Blu Cantrell's "Breathe", a chart hit in Europe. Both helped to push his reputation further still in the United States.

He appeared on Punk'd, 106 & Park, Sean Paul Respect, Making the Video ("Get Busy", "Gimme the Light", and "Like Glue") and his music videos have been broadcast on MTV and BET. Paul's biggest hits included "Get Busy", "Like Glue", "Gimme the Light", "Baby Boy", and "I'm Still in Love with You"

2005–2008: The Trinity

Sean Paul's third album The Trinity was released in on September 27, 2005. The album produced five big hits, "We Be Burnin'", "Ever Blazin'", "Give It Up to Me","Never Gonna Be The Same" and the U.S. chart-topping smash hit "Temperature" .

The video of "(When You Gonna) Give It up to Me" (featuring Keyshia Cole) was also featured in the movie "Step Up" in 2006.

He was nominated for four awards at the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, including male artist of the year, rap artist of the year, hot 100 single of the year, and pop single of the year for his hit "Temperature". He also won an American Music Award for "(When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me" beating Kanye West and Nick Lachey who were also nominated for the award.

His song "Send It On" from "The Trinity" featured on the 2005 Vauxhall Corsa advert. Sean Paul often contributes his songs to various Riddim Driven albums (by VP Records). In March 2007, he returned to his native Jamaica to perform at the Cricket World Cup 2007 opening ceremony.

Sean Paul appears on the game Def Jam Fight for NY as part of Snoop Dogg's crew and again in the game's sequel, Def Jam: Icon.

In 2008, he quietly released an independent album, A New Age.

2009: Imperial Blaze

The newest Sean Paul album entitled "Imperial Blaze" was released on August 18, 2009. The lead single, “So Fine”, which was produced by Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, premiered on Sean Paul's official website on April 26, 2009.httphttp

Speaking to Pete Lewis of 'Blues & Soul' magazine in August 2009, Sean Paul stated that 'Imperial Blaze' "Actually signifies 'The King's Fire'. It's that thing inside of you that gives you the desire to do whatever you do, and be the best in the world at it." http

The new album consists of 20 tracks including "So Fine", "Press it Up", "She Want Me", "Private Party" which are party tracks and also love songs such as "Hold My Hand" (feat Keri Hilson), "Lately", "Now That I've Got Your Love" among others. Producers on the album include Don Corleone, Jeremy Harding, and Sean's brother Jason 'Jigzagula' Henriques. All the full songs of the album have been added to Sean Paul's Myspace page on the day of release of the album.

Up until now there have been eight music videos: "Always On My Mind (with Da'Ville)", "Give It To You (with Eve)", "Watch Them Roll", "Back It Up" (with Left Side/Mr. Evil), "(I Wanna See You) Push It Baby" (with Pretty Ricky), "Hit 'Em" (with Fahrenheit and his brother Jason "Jigzagula" Henriques), "Come Over" with Estelle.http and also the video of his first single, "So Fine" from the new album.

He has recently been featured in Shaggy's video, "Save A Life", which also includes appearances from Elephant Man and Da'Ville, among others. In an effort to raise money for a children's hospital, Shaggy, Sean and the others will be having a benefit concert. All proceeds raised will go towards getting new equipment and technology 'For Aid to the Bustamante Hospital for Children'. Also Has Performed a Remix of Dangerous with Kardinal Offishall and Akon.

To promote the Imperial Blaze and to show respect for his fans he has started to use Twitter as He writes there about his new songs, his daily life, tour dates, collaborations and different events in his career.His official site is .In an interview in 2009 he is planning to release another album in 2010.

Discography

* Stage One (2000)

* Dutty Rock (2002)

* The Trinity (2005)

* Imperial Blaze (2009)

Independent

* A New Age (2008)

Awards and nominations

SeanPaulIRAWA.jpgrightthumbWorld Music Awards in May 2007.

*American Music Awards

**2006, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist (winner)

**2003, Favorite Hip-Hop/Rap Male Artist (nominated)

**2003, Favorite Hip-Hop/Rap Album Dutty Rock (nominated)

*BET Awards

**2003, Best New Artist (Nominated)

*MTV Romania Music Awards

**2007, Best International Artist (winner)

*Grammy Awards

**2010, Best Reggae Album: Imperial Blaze (nominated)

**2006, Best Reggae Album: The Trinity (nominated)

**2004, Best New Artist: (nominated)

**2004, Best Reggae Album: Dutty Rock (winner)

**2004, Best Male Rap Solo Performance: "Get Busy" (nominated)

*MOBO Awards

**2009, Best Reggae Act (Winner)

**2006, Best Reggae Act (Winner)

**2005, Best Reggae Act (Nominated)

*MTV Video Music Awards

**2006, Best Dance Video "Temperature" (nominated)

**2003, Best Dance Video "Get Busy" (nominated)

**2003, Best New Artist "Get Busy" (nominated)

*Soul Train Awards

**2009, Best Reggae Artist (Winner)

**2007, Best Dance Cut "When You Gonna (Give It Up to Me)" (nominated)

Collaborations

Sean Paul has collaborated with: Beyoncé Knowles, Rihanna, Blu Cantrell, Akon, Pitbull, Keri Hilson, Jay Sean, Sean Kingston, Estelle, Chris Brown, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Eve, Snoop Dogg, Shaggy, Ziggy Marley, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Busta Rhymes, Kelis, Carlos Santana, Gwen Stefani Kardinal Offishall, Keyshia Cole, Pretty Ricky Missy Elliott, Vybz Kartel, Joss Stone, T-Pain, Wyclef Jean, Shabba Ranks, Mýa, Lil Jon, Twista, Mr. Vegas, De La Soul, Fabolous, Wisin & Yandel, Fatman Scoop, Kid Kurup, Jully Black, Wayne Wonder, Richie Stephens, Looga Man, Shano, Lil' Scrappy, Nina Sky, Daddy Yankee, Alison Hinds, Sasha, Tami Chynn, Bunny Rugs, Timbaland, Liza, Debbie Nova, Tony Touch, Wayne Marshall, Labba, Delly Hawkeye, Cecile, Chico, Munga, Mr. Easy, Mr. Chicken, Brandy, Tony Gold, Destra Garcia, Legitimate, Jimmy Cozier, Bling Dawg, Josee, R. Kelly, Mr.Evil, Busy Signal, Da'Ville, Lady Saw, Choobakka Das EFX, Debi Nova, Richie Stephans, Toni Braxton, Will Smith , Don Corelone, DMX, Little Kirk, Kool & the Gang, Spanner Banner, Spragga Benz, Rampage, Pras, Rahzel, Zaho, Chino, his hypemen Farenheit and Jigzagula (his brother)

References