Amani a.k.a. Specialist

Amani aka Specialist Bio

Amani recently earned the distinction of becoming Boston's first local talent to travel to Switzerland where he performed in front of a sold out audience for a radio station sponsored concert. Like at home in Boston, Amani received major recognition on Switzerland's airwaves, which is considered a mecca of the reggae dancehall movement in Western Europe. From Switzerland to Germany, Amani won the hearts of fans in Europe as the American DJ from Boston who drew a record audience for reggae shows in Switzerland. With his slim frame and Rasta man persona, Armani electrified the sold out Switzerland crowd with his unique blend of reggae dancehall and urban hip-hop flavor. "This guy had Switzerland on lock" declared Switzerland’s radio personality Arik Weiss, host of Pressure drop. I've seen a lot of major artist from Jamaica come here and fail big time" says Arik Weiss. "Amani is really a specialist while performing his music."

Born Amani Smith, in August of 1977 in Kingston Jamaica, Amani is the second of 4 children, with 3 sisters. Growing up in Jamaica Amani developed a love for the entertainment arts. "I had always been a lover and admirer of Reggae music and wanted more and more to become a specialist in it." So that he did. Amani went on to learn to play the keyboard, focusing on his biggest influence, roots.

Leaving Jamaica at the age of 16 to join his grandparents in Boston, Massachusetts, Amani relocated to the states in 1994. Now residing in Boston, one day he accompanied a friend to a local recording studio where he received his initial start in the business. Soon thereafter Amani began to take Boston by storm, easily gaining himself the #1 Deejay spot .

Releasing his first single, "Mr. Rooney", which rode wonderfully on a remixed Sly & Robbie mission impossible riddim, Amani established major airplay on influential station spanning all over the world.

Since his debut onto the international reggae market, which is difficult as a stateside reggae artist not living in Jamaica, Amani has ventured into other areas of the music industry, most notably his recent work as songwriter and producer with Biggatingz Productions in Boston. With a hunger to succeed and expand his craft, Amani has been working with the likes of super producer Marcus Bell, who has produced such notable artist like Bad Boy recording artist Faith Evans.

Known locally in Boston as a wicked stage performer, Amani has graced the stage alongside some of reggae's finest like Beenie Man, Lady Saw, Sean Paul, and Josey Wales, just to name a few, which has been tremendous in Amani's development, and in fact, most of Amani's lyrics often reflect an raw edge that is usually synonymous only to Jamaican based artists. Although living in the states Amani has always been closely attune to the contemporary sounds of Jamaica. Amani's stage presence is both modern and primal. His style of deejaying is rhythmical and moving, his voice is a powerful tool for moving bodies and souls.

Now as part of the IConcepts Management Camp , CEO Paul "Genius" Parara sates, "Growing up around my uncle "Sid" of Wizard Records, I have watched artists the likes of Buju Banton and Anthony B grow into the superstars that they are today . Amani is an equally talented young entertainer with mass star qualities which appeals strongly to today's reggae fans". "Trust me, the sky could be the limit for this young talented SPECIALIST." Amani's management team, which includes Nicole Johnson , his record label Bigga Tingz Records headed by Cecil Whyte and Arik Weiss from Flex Promotion have great expectation for him in the year 2004 and beyond. Ms.Christy Barber, reggae industry guru and VP of Universal Record's Tuff Gong Music, describes this dancehall specialist as "a personable guy with an electrifying stage presence and a strong voice that commands applause and support from audiences wherever he goes..."

Amani has not only laid a strong foundation for Boston deejays; he has represented dancehall stateside in such a way that would make all ‘yardie’ deejays proud. Amani is marked both by his versatility and harmonious vibes. Vastly different from a ny other deejay before him, Amani keeps his music fresh while his dance hall energy, urban hip-hop flavor, and conscious lyric appeal to a new generation of reggae fans worldwide. "There's nothing that I would like more than to have the opportunity to share my style of music and MY Life with the world," Amani explains. "Shaggy have proven the power of pop-influenced reggae music around the globe and my career goal is to do the same with my brand of urban hip-hop-influenced dancehall reggae."

It is this passion, combined with talent and his love of music that leads those who have met him to expect great things from him.