The formula for making it into the music company is not merely to get a skill and to be able to hear the listener while the music is performed. In creating a fan base, a background narrative that constitutes an artist’s X Factor is often important. In fact, Lyfe Jennings has ‘it’. Formed on June 3, 1978, as Chester Jennings, he had always had a glimpse of life since his childhood. In his hometown of Toledo, Ohio he founded a teen singing group composed of his brother and two cousins and called themselves Dotsons. The group was short-lived but Jennings managed to seek a career in music as a solo. The scheme did not go as smooth as planned for violence, losing a parental figure and rough climate lead him to a life in jail. He was just 14 years old when he was accused of arson and ordered to go behind bars in 199Yet it was precisely the same location that took him back to life and, happily, transformed the young boy as well.
Jennings took much of his serving time whilst being confined by learning to play guitar and composing an album as a result. It was in 1997 that a copy of Erykah Badu’s debut album “Baduizm” got in his hand and became a powerful motivator of his career choice. 10 years after walking inside a jail cell for the first time, Jennings smelled the outside air for the first time in December 200Being a wanderer, mobility has not been wasted. He reached the booth only one day after his departure to document some songs that he had written whilst in custody. The session culminated in a four-track EP, which he delivered the next day at a nearby club. He managed to score a gig at Showtime in Harlem only a month later, which took place at the popular Apollo Theatre. He was booed by the audience when he climbed up the stage for the “Amateurish Night”, but the crowd was astonished as soon as he strummed the guitar and delivered his intent. At the gig stage, he recorded five wins and even got a standing ovation at one stage.
His songs “What Is Love” and “She Got Kids” earned airplays on local radios, thereby giving his EP, which then crossed more than a thousand copies, the requisite sales boost. Suddenly, calls started to rush in. In the expectation of having his signature, executives, concert organizers and even label reps came out searching for him. Jennings assembled his confidence to travel to New York City, filled with the desire to step up in the league.
He was signed to Columbia Records and shortly afterwards, in many showbiz affairs such as gigs and recording sessions, he took risks. He wrote some songs for the label, made a cameo in music videos and opened for other artists’ concert. Soon, he found himself focusing on shaping his debut album with the professionals. In August 2004, “Lyfe 268-192” lead by the single “Must Be Nice” which earned strong spins on radio outlets, was released. On the Billboard Hot 200 chart, the collection hit # 9 and managed to sell more than 1 million copies. It was later re-released with additional remixes featuring Fantasia Barrino and Nas because of the achievement. “He was nominated for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist at the 2006 Soul Train Music Awards for his effort and earned a nomination in the same year for his single “Must Be Good” at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
