Notch (artist)

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Notch (born Norman Hovvell) is a R&B, reggae, dancehall and reggaeton artist. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Notch is fluent in American English, Jamaican Creole, and Spanish. His Dj is Dj Dennis da Menace who appeared with Notch at the DUB Auto Show and Concert in Miami Beach. Some songs can be heard with him mixing all three, a mixture he calls "Spatoinglish". He has worked with Daddy Yankee, Luny Tunes, Voltio, Baby Ranks, Thievery Corporation, Sublime, Rascalz, and Cylcon. He has been featured on hit albums such as Mas Flow 2, Mas Flow 2.5, Chosen few II-El Documental, Barrio Fino, and The Cosmic Game. His first solo album, Raised By The People was released in May 2007.

1 Discography
2 Songs
3 Ancestry
4 Trivia
5 References

[edit] Discography

Kids From Foreign - Born Jamericans (1995)

Raised By The People (2007)

he was born Dominican.

His father was the one who inspired him to do reggae music and different other types of genre's

[edit] Songs

Some of Notch's most famous songs are:

Verme (featuring Baby Ranks)
Nuttin no Go So
Ya Tú Sabes
Hay Que Bueno
Mira Mira (featuring Pitbull)
V.I.P. (Get back!)
Zoom Gal
Amerimacka
The Richest Man in Babylon
Huh Say What
Aquí Me Quedo
Truly Call My Own
Party Hardy
Fly Away
Gwaan Gal
Dale Pa' Tra (Back It Up)
Guaya Guaya
Bailar Reggae
Que Te Pica
Chévere (featuring Voltio)
Más De Ti

[edit] Ancestry

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Notch's mother was a woman of mixed African, Caribbean, Portuguese, and Native American descent, and his father a Jamaican of French and Afro-Cuban heritage, who showed him as a child the many wonders of reggae and other Jamaican music. Former lead vocalist and creative force behind the Hip-Hop/Reggae riddim machine Born Jamericans the dynamic duo group was one of the pioneers to introduce Reggae to Mainstream American in the early nineties. NOTCH has shared headline billing on sold-out tours around the world with the likes of Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliot, Snoop Dog, Sean Paul, Sublime, Rabanes, Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Shabby Ranks, Inner Circle, just to name a few. For over five years, NOTCH fronted this highly innovative and successful musical fusion on its whirlwind international run, until he decided to branch out on his own in 1998. Now as a solo artist on many different musical ventures, NOTCH IS BACK -- stronger than ever!

Wasting no time, NOTCH has regained his place at the top of the charts with the Reggaeton smash “Hay Que Bueno.” Notch has reached into his rich heritage, introducing a new generation to “Spatoinglish” a unique combination of Spanish, English, and Patois. With constant airplay throughout 2004 “Hay Que Bueno” has perfectly positioned NOTCH on all major Spanish radio stations, building a bridge from Puerto Rico to Jamaica, between BET and Mun2, crossing traditional programming lines and connecting with broad audiences in many diverse markets. Like other international superstars such as Wyclef Jean, Selena, R. Kelly, and Marc Anthony, NOTCH’s style of music has evolved into an unstoppable universal sound that transcends language and cultural barriers.

NOTCH’s sound is a musical reflection of his own eclectic multi-cultural background. Born to a Black American mother of Portuguese, Native American and Caribbean descent who always encouraged him to pursue his talent to be an entertainer, and a Jamaican father of Afro-Cuban & French Descent, a professional bass player who introduced him to the world of Reggae music, and always encouraged him to tap into his Latin roots. His artistic evolution, which masterfully fuses genres such as Reggae, R&B, Hip Hop, Latin, Reggaeton, Alternative, and Pop was until recently considered a gamble; but NOTCH’s multicultural heritage and his sophisticated ear have enabled him to dominate multiple worlds, taking people by surprise eliciting a “Who’s that!!!?” response. He now owns the common sound between riddim and ritmo and despite not yet releasing his solo album, he has managed to stamp his mark on various Billboard Charting Albums for the last 4 years. A few notable examples of his “Spatoinglish” fusion is the electrifying Reggaeton songs “Hay Que Bueno” which is featured on the Chosen Few Compilation- “El Documental”, on Daddy Yankee’s “Barrio Fino” album NOTCH can be heard on the Bandera-Latin Hip-Hop track "San Pedro", and LunyTunes album “Mas Flow 2” with a tropical sounding track “Verme” featured by Baby Ranks. He also digged into his reggae roots with the solo title track “Nuttin Nuh Go So” on the Buy Out riddim, popularly known as the reggae riddim, Sean Paul’s “Like Glue” was featured on, he can also be heard on Grammy Award winner Beenie Man’s previously released album, on the track titled “Pure Pretty Gal,” produced by Tony Kelly and recently on the “Kopa Riddim” produced by Black Chiney the smashing infectious “V.I.P. Get Back.”

Not limited to collaborating with Reggae and Reggaeton artists, NOTCH is featured on the infamous Canadian BMG Hip Hop Recording Artists the “Rascalz” latest album which debuted at #22 on the Canadian Billboard Charts. From Jazz to Alternative, he worked with Brand New Heavies on their jazzy rare groove Brazilian Portuguese rhythm “Carnival” and with currently dismembered Alternative Rock group, Sublime on their song “Open Road.” He was also featured on the acid jazz fusion group Thievery Corporation’s song “The Richest Man in Babylon” which was performed NBC’s late night talk show “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and in 2005 he lend his voice once again to their newest album “The Cosmic Game” with the laid-back Reggae Roots song "Amerimacka". Most Recently NOTCH teamed up with the hot new Columbian group “Cyclon” and Sergio “Sir George” who is known for working with Latin vocalist Marc Anthony and the late great Celia Cruz, on the Urban Viallenato (Tropical fused) song “Estoy Pegao.” One of NOTCH’s soon to be released song “Wepa” was aired on NBC’s hit TV shows “Third Watch” and “ER” and he also participated in a charity project from which the proceeds went to the victims of September 11th, collaborating with an all star Reggae Cast on the song “Pray for Love”.

Offering his works of art to the world, NOTCH draws us closer to him as a multi-dimensional vocalist, taking us on a musical voyage through the limitless universe of music. Not committed to genre, Notch is definitely “Notch’ur average singer and is the answer that mainstream America seeks when it looks to targeting this new multi-cultural generation; while giving his fans worldwide, music they can associate with their lifestyle. NOTCH says it best “I am an artist that is committed to become one of the many musical bridges, connecting cultures of the world together through my musical fusions derived from my diverse cultural backgrounds.

[edit] Trivia

Notch became a solo artist in 1998.
Notch's pseudonym is Jamaican Patois slang for "Top Man", equivalent to "Don" or "Boss" in the Italian Mafia.
Notch's father was a professional bass player.
Notch was also one half of the duo Born Jamericans.
Notch was a 1993 graduate of St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C.
Notch attended St. Catherine Laboure in Wheaton, MD from 1986 - 1988