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| Lumidee |
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"You have to follow your dream. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, you have to be happy and do the things you want to do."
-Lumidee
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| Lumidee is the owner of the summer hit of 2003. "Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh!)" will stand as a massive club anthem and radio hit, thanks to a Caribbean rhythm and collaboration from rappers Busta Rhymes and Fabolous. The track is the driving force behind the success of Lumidee's debut album, Almost Famous, which showcases a great mix of Latin hip-hop flavor. |
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| Emerging as a potential R&B and hip-hop diva, Lumidee has caught our attention with a smooth voice and catchy club beats. This Puerto Rican East Harlem native has the street credibility and skills that have brought instant respect and love from the fans. As a plus, her songwriting talents and ear for hit tracks practically ensure longevity in the business. |
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Growing up in Spanish Harlem with two brothers and two sisters, childhood was not easy for Lumidee Cedeno. Her father passed away in 1995, after which her grandparents raised the five children by themselves. Since the age of 12, Lumidee was humming and singing, showing an aptitude for performing early on.
After seeing Salt-N-Pepa's video for "Push It" in 1987, she gravitated toward music, but was too shy to show off her talents, even before her parents. Due to her timidity, this aptitude for singing remained in the background, until her father died. He had never really seen her talents but wanted her to succeed, and so, after his passing, Lumidee was motivated to honor his wish.
Hanging out with friend and local DJ, Tedsmooth, in her teens, she slowly grew out of her shell. At 17, Lumidee recorded the first version of "Never Leave You," which Tedsmooth and co-producer Trendsetta copied onto CD and shipped out to clubs in the New York area. Swiftly, the song became an underground hit, though Lumidee never expected it to get far: "It wasn't supposed to blow up this big, it was supposed to be for the streets," she proclaimed.
Soon however, radio stations picked up the song and, as Lumidee continued to work on singles with DJ Tedsmooth at his Straight Face Records studio, suitors from major labels came knocking. Def Jam, Epic, Roc-A-Fella, and Arista all tried to recruit her, but, in the end, Tedsmooth and Lumidee decided on Universal.
The huge music company beefed up "Never Leave You," adding the "Uhh Oooh" hook, and then allowing the 19-year-old Puerto Rican to team up with Busta Rhymes and Fabolous for a remix. The release of this version, along with a video, helped propel the single to No. 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Lumidee's full 13-track album Almost Famous came out in stores on June 24, 2003 and, within two months, had already sold over 200,000 copies. "Never Leave You" became the summer's premiere hit and Lumidee began touring to promote her album. She did publicity on Access Hollywood and MTV before playing several clubs across North America. She then traveled to Jamaica to perform in front of 50,000 fans at a Summer Jam Concert.
Life continues to be hectic for the up-and-coming star, with a second single "Crashin' the Party," featuring rapper N.O.R.E., bound to duplicate her initial success. Signing on to open for high-profile rapper extraordinaire DMX on his new tour will surely do wonders for her, as she prepares to reach true stardom. |
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