Artist Biography

1979 saw the birth of the man. 1988 saw the birth of the MC. Inspired by legends such as Run-DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Big Daddy Kane and Chubb Rock, this young Barbadian entered the world of Hip Hop music, where very few of his peers dared to tread. In those early years, Hip Hop and Rap were not very well accepted in the society of this small Caribbean island. Radio play was reserved more for Pop, Calypso and Reggae/Dancehall. Armed with these pervasive genres as secondary sources of inspiration, S.J began his life as a writer, beginning with rap verses and moving on to dancehall and calypso songs.

As the 1980s progressed, S.J's focused turned towards school. His family (mum and granny, no father around) saw it fit to encourage S.J to concentrate on academic and sporting accomplishments as a means of keeping him out of the streets of the rough neighbourhood in which they lived. Music came to the forefront in his life once again as a teenager in 1994. Hearing for the first time on local radio, a song from homegrown artists GrassRuutz, re-ignited the spark in S.J's heart and he began writing rhymes once more. In 1996, S.J teamed with a group of like minded brothers from his school and surrounding neighbourhood to form a Hip Hop collective called Chaotic Tendencies (now known as Element Sound). That was the beginning of the saga in which we now find ourselves embroiled. His sojourn with Chaotic Tendencies caused him to attain a reputation as a lyricist and producer under the name Mr. Strategy, and to establish links with many other rising Barbadian Hip Hop camps including The Poundas, G-Sharp Crew, Venus Wolf, Killa Squadron, Levi, Dunnz and Double O Squad. Fast forward to 2005-2006, S.J was not only an infamous underground hip hop producer (self taught) but a university graduate with a cushy bank job. Cushyness aside, the job was stress-filled and unfulfilling. In 2005, while still at the bank, S.J produced a track for longtime friends Levi and Dunnz called Get Ya Money Up. This song received massive radio play and critical acclaim and was nominated for a Barbados Music Award in 2006. The video for this song went on to be equallt successful. This provided the inspiration needed for S.J aka Mr. Strategy to quit his job and start his own studio. Hence, Triple E Studios was born. S.J Carter is now on a mission to bring about the rebirth of soulful, lyrical, meaningful Hip Hop music, of course with a Barbadian twist. His debut solo album, The Renaissance of S.J Carter, is slated for release in September 2008. Content wise, listeners can expect strong socially conscious, black conscious lyrics and heavy soulful beats, mixing old school boom bap with new school flavours and Caribbean rhythms and accents. Mr. Strategy is known across the island for producing hardcore, street-styled beats. Expect even more...Here he comes World.

Artist Mission

Music Influences

Alternative Links

• S.J Carter on Myspace!