i-Octane
{{Infobox person
| name = I Octane
| image = I-Octane in Jamaica .jpg
| caption = Portrait photograph of I Octane
| other_names =
| birth_name = Byiome Muir
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|04|29}}
| birth_place = May Pen Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
| awards =
| years_active = 2000–present
| citizenship = Jamaican
| education = Knox Community College
| occupation = {{hlist|singer|songwriter}}
| partner =
| children =
| works =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist |embed=yes
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| instruments =
| label =
| past_member_of =
| website =
}}
| signature =
| signature_size =
}}
{{Short description|Jamaican reggae and dancehall recording artist}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
Byiome Muir (born 29 April 1984), better known by his stage name I-Octane, is a Jamaican reggae dancehall recording artist from Clarendon Parish, Jamaica. He is known for integrating positive and socially conscious subject matter into his music, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and Rastafarian teachings.{{cite news |title=I-Octane, Rising Dancehall Star, Poised to Break Through |first=Patricia |last=Meschino |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1099585/i-octane-rising-dancehall-star-poised-to-break-through |newspaper=Billboard |date=6 Jan 2012 |access-date=4 Apr 2013}}{{cite news |title=Flexxing with: I-Octane |first=Ian |last=Williams |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/teenage/TA-Mar-2-flexx-I-Octane_7455529 |newspaper=Jamaica Observer |date=2 Mar 2010 |access-date=4 Apr 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217023417/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/teenage/TA-Mar-2-flexx-I-Octane_7455529 |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}
Biography
Byiome Muir grew up in Sandy Bay, a small community east of May Pen in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica. Muir attended Palmers Cross All-Age School and then Garvey Maceo High School, and would often sing and make noises during class. Muir briefly attended Knox Community College with a focus on architecture, but dropped out to pursue his recording career full-time.{{cite news |title=Big Names Back I-Octane's Summer Effort |first=Leighton |last=Levy |url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110522/ent/ent3.html |newspaper=Jamaica Gleaner |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=4 Apr 2013}}{{Cite episode |title=I-Octane |series=Noisey Jamaica |author1=Snoop Lion |author-link=Snoop Lion |author2=Andy Capper |author2-link=Andy Capper |author3=Codine Williams |author4=Trevor Silmser |network=Vice |date=26 Feb 2013 |number=6 |url=http://noisey.vice.com/noisey-jamaica/tommy-lee-sparta |access-date=7 Apr 2013}}
Muir began his recording career at the age of 16, when he was introduced to Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records, then manager of such artists as Buju Banton and Assassin.{{cite news |title=I-Octane explosion |first=Tanola |last=Jackson |url=http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20080229/ent/ent5.html |newspaper=Jamaica Star |date=29 Feb 2008 |access-date=4 Apr 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527062648/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20080229/ent/ent5.html |archive-date=27 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }} Muir released his first singles, "Oh Jah" and "Stepp a Seed", in 2000 at Penthouse Records under the moniker Richie Rich. After meeting Junior Arrows of the Arrows Recording Company, Muir signed onto the Kingston label under the new name I-Octane, a play on high-octane fuel and the Rastafarian use of I.{{cite news |title=I-Octane Crying to the Nation Review |first=David |last=Katz |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/w4m5 |newspaper=BBC Music |date=7 Mar 2012 |access-date=4 Apr 2013}} I-Octane's initial acclaim came in 2007 for his social commentary works such as the roots reggae track "Stab Vampire" which climbed to the top of several Jamaican charts.{{cite news |title=Fuel Your Lady's Love With Reggae Superstar, I-Octane |first=Halley |last=Bondy |url=http://www.mtviggy.com/articles/fuel-your-ladys-love-with-reggae-superstar-i-octane/ |newspaper=MTV Iggy |date=13 Feb 2012 |access-date=16 Apr 2013}} In 2009, I-Octane topped the charts again with his emotional songs "Mama You Alone" and "Lose A Friend", and the latter of which was later adapted as a tribute to those who died during the police manhunt for Christopher "Dudus" Coke in Tivoli Gardens.
When I-Octane left Arrows over financial disputes, the artist came under the guidance of Robert Livingston, a veteran producer who had been responsible for the success of such artists as Super Cat and Shaggy. I-Octane gained further traction in 2010 with a string of hits produced by Cashflow Records, including "No Love Inna Dem" and the cannabis anthem "Puff It," which was named as one of NPR's Top 5 Dancehall Tracks of 2011.{{cite news |title=The Top 5 Dancehall Tracks Of 2011 |first=Baz |last=Dreisinger |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/01/143016082/the-top-5-dancehall-tracks-of-2011 |newspaper=NPR |date=27 Dec 2011 |access-date=4 Apr 2013}} He also topped the charts once again with the contemplative "My Life" produced by DJ Frass, and was featured in the April–May issue of the hip hop magazine Vibe. The same year, he also signed on as Brand Ambassador for the telecommunications firm Digicel, and as of 2013 he remains employed as a representative of the company.{{cite news |title=I-Octane re-signed as Digicel brand ambassador |first=Curtis |last=Campbell |url=http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130125/ent/ent2.html |newspaper=Jamaica Star |date=25 Jan 2013 |access-date=4 Apr 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205065759/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130125/ent/ent2.html |archive-date=5 February 2013 |df=dmy-all }} I-Octane has also been the Brand Ambassador for the [http://www.goldeneaglejamaica.com Golden Eagle Brand] in Jamaica since 2015.
In 2011, I-Octane announced he would be starting his own record label, Conquer The Globe Productions, which would serve to produce instrumentals for him and promote him as an artist. He also said the label's first release would be an extended play in December of that year to be followed by an album in early 2012. The six-song EP, "Straight From The Heart," was released on 7 December as a primarily digital release, with distribution by TuneCore. The EP was marketed towards a global audience and three of its songs were recorded in the U.S., a first for the artist. The EP's lead single "Burn Dem Bridge," produced by Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor, topped several charts in Jamaica and received significant radio airplay, including on international stations such as New York's Hot 97.
I-Octane's debut album, Crying To The Nation, was released on 13 February 2012 through Robert Livingston's Scikron Entertainment in the Caribbean and VP Records internationally. The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Rick Anderson of AllMusic praised the record as a "solid winner", but mentioned it relied a little too strongly on Auto-Tune, and David Katz of BBC Music called the album "a surprisingly varied set, comprising mostly new roots reggae in the one drop style, along with a couple of rougher-edged tracks in full-on dancehall mode".{{cite news |title= I-Octane Crying to the Nation |first=Rick |last=Anderson |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/crying-to-the-nation-mw0002279145 |newspaper=AllMusic |date=13 Feb 2013 |access-date=4 Apr 2013}} The album's lead single was the lovers rock ballad "L.O.V.E. Y.O.U.", which was marketed to international audiences but also did well domestically. I-Octane followed the album with a tour of the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and ended the year strong with a string of hit singles, including "Badmind Dem A Pree", a collaboration with Bounty Killer produced by Buju Banton's son Markus Myrie, the summer hit "Love Di Vibes", and the Seanizzle-produced "Gal A Gimmi Bun", a song in which I-Octane laments his partner's infidelity.{{cite news |title=I-Octane wraps up Canadian leg of tour |url=http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20120514/ent/ent3.html |newspaper=Jamaica Star |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=4 Apr 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519100035/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20120514/ent/ent3.html |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=I-Octane continues to dominate dancehall scene |url=http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20121129/ent/ent3.html |newspaper=Jamaica Star |date=29 Nov 2012 |access-date=4 Apr 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222150717/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20121129/ent/ent3.html |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=I-Octane laments 'getting bun' in new single |url=http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130111/ent/ent2.html |newspaper=Jamaica Star |date=11 Jan 2013 |access-date=4 Apr 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603070716/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130111/ent/ent2.html |archive-date=3 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=I-Octane still on a high ... following memorable performance at YVAs |url=http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130207/ent/ent2.html |newspaper=Jamaica Star |date=7 Feb 2013 |access-date=7 Apr 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213123828/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20130207/ent/ent2.html |archive-date=13 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}
In March 2013, I-Octane was selected as brand ambassador for the Caribbean soft drink Busta, a product of S. M. Jaleel and Company.{{cite news |title= Busta To Connect With Customers Through I-Octane |first=Curtis |last=Campbell |url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130311/ent/ent3.html |newspaper=Jamaica Gleaner |date=11 Mar 2011 |access-date=10 Apr 2013}}
His second album, the DJ Frass-produced My Journey, was released in March 2014 on Tad's International Records.Campbell, Howard (2014) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/New-Journey_16046456 New Journey: I-Octane to take fans on new voyage]", Jamaica Observer, 14 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014Daley, Rory (2014) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/I-Octane-begins-Journey_16211033 I-Octane Begins Journey]", Jamaica Observer, 8 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014 He continued to work with DJ Frass on the 2015 EP New Chapter."[http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20150827/i-octane-writes-new-chapter I-Octane Writes A ‘New Chapter’]", Jamaica Gleaner, 27 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015
In March 2018, I-Octane's Love and Life album was released and debuted at #3 on the reggae Billboard where it stayed for 3 weeks. The Album was produced executively by I-Octane under his Conquer The Globe Production label, he worked with a new of producers and artistes.
In 2021 he released the album Moods, followed by I am Great (2022), which was preceded by the single "Sorry".Perry, Kediesha (2022) "[https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/i-octane-is-Sorry_245505?profile=1116 I-Octane is Sorry]", Jamaica Observer, 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022
Discography
=Albums=
- 2012: Crying To The Nation (VP/Scikron)
- 2014: My Journey (Tad's International)
- 2018: Love and Life (Conquer The Globe Productions)
- 2021: Moods
- 2022: I Am Great
=Singles=
- 2008: "Stab Vampire" (Arrows records) Tears Riddim
- 2009: "Lose A Friend"
- 2010: "Think A Likkle Time" (Alter Ego Riddim) / "My Life" (Dj Frass Records)
- 2011: "Burn Dem Bridge" (Di Genius Productions)
- 2012: "L.O.V.E." (VP Records)
- 2013: "Buss A Blank" (Produced by Armz House Records), Gal A Gimmi Bun (Produced by Seanizzle Records), Wine And Jiggle (Produced by Seanizzle Records), Happy Time (produced by Good Good Productions), Love You Like I Do (Produced by Dj Frass Records)
- 2014: "Your Eyes" (Produced by Markus Records), Cyaa Do It featuring Vanessa Bling (Produced by Dj Frass Records)
- 2015: "Hurt By Friends" (produced by Troyton Records), Gyal Ting (produce by Chimney Records)
- 2016: "No Shaky Link" (produced by Mineral Boss Records), Know Yuh Girl (Produced by LeeMiller Records)
- 2017: "One Chance" (produce by BigA), Break-thru (produced by Mineral Boss Records)
- 2018: "Unfair Games" (produced by Good Good Productions), Weh Di Fire gone (produced by Young Pow Records)
- 2019: "Plutocrat" (Produced by Aicon Records and Conquer The Globe Productions)
- 2022: "Sorry"
=Extended plays=
- 2011: My Life (Tad's Re/cord)
- 2011: Straight From The Heart (Conquer The Globe)
- 2015: New Chapter
- 2017: Vegas Mode Riddim (Conquer The Globe Productions)