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Here is the original story behind the group Imajin!
Imagine four
richly talented teenage boys with awesome instrumental and vocal
prowess. Imagine an artistic vision which encompasses R & B,
hip-hop and soul. Imagine a fresh blend of urban pop, written and
arranged by these boys. Imagine a musical powerhouse simply
called IMAJIN.
Inspired by the Jackson Five, New Edition, Hi-Five, Immature and
Mint Condition, IMAJIN consists of four uncommonly gifted,
musically diverse teens: Jamal Hampton, Talib Kareem Olamid
Faison and John Fitch. They all possess the vision to become a
group of very young, exceptionally talented musicians as they
create and perform their own music.
The idea for IMAJIN began when producer Bert Price met a then
pre-teen Jamal several years back. A New York native born into a
family of singers and musicians, 17 year-old Jamal has been a
singer and drummer since the age of four. A featured vocalist in
his church choir, he was selected as one of the finalists of the
93-94 McDonald's Gospel Choir Competition. At 12, Jamal was hired
as a touring drummer for the legendary R & B group Blue
Magic. Impressed with Jamal's explosive talent, Price began his
search for other similarly accomplished boys to form a group.
A musical prodigy who has played piano since the age of five,
15-year-old Talib, first gained Price's confidence with a
blistering rendition of Scott Joplin's classic "Maple Leaf
Rag." A native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Talib is a
player and composer who has studied jazz and classical music at
the Settlement School in Philadelphia and has performed with
Grover Washington, Jr. in a jazz master class. As the leader of
his family band "The Kareems," Talib has performed at
their monthly engagement at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Atlantic City.
The Kareems have also been the house band for the Children's
Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre. At the tender age of 15,
Talib currently owns a recording studio and production company.
Fourteen year old Olamidé, whose Yoruba dialect name means
"one who brings honor to his family," was born and
raised in New York City and is the younger brother of actor
Donald Faison (Clueless, Waiting To Exhale). Since childhood he
has been an entertainer, appearing on "Sesame Street"
and in the HBO movie "Rebound," as well as in many
television commercials including spots for Pizza Hut, Chevy
trucks and Mattel toys. He contributed lead vocals for the theme
song from the Cartoon Network's show "Big Bag." He now
sings and plays guitar in IMAJIN.
Born and raised in New Orleans, at sixteen John has shared in an
enormous musical heritage since childhood; his father, mother and
older brother are all professional musicians. He has explored
musical styles ranging from R & B and jazz to classical with
his rich singing voice and impressive keyboard skills and has
performed at New Orleans prestigious annual Jazz and Heritage
Festival. During the last two years he has commuted to New York
every weekend to perform with IMAJIN.
A natural artistic chemistry emerged when Price finally put the
four boys together and they recorded their first track with
Gerald LeVert in December, 1996. Since then, IMAJIN has performed
at the Apollo Theatre Children's Amateur night and various local
community events, high schools and festivals in the New York
area. After their performance at the 1998 NBA All-Star Weekend's
nationally televised "Team Up Celebration," along with
LL Cool J, Wycleff and the Refugee Camp All Stars, Salt 'N Pepa
and others, they were mobbed by hundreds of autograph seeking
fans.
Currently IMAJIN's band rehearsal, recording and school schedule
reads like the script from a sitcom, with nearly every hour of
every day packed with what they consider fun things to do.
"While most of it is fun, it is hard work and we work well
together. It's like a little brotherhood," Olamidé says.
Here is da 411 on Imajin straight from Talib himself!
Let's start with Olamidé.
Olamid has 2 sides of him. He has a innocent side and a sneaky
side. Olamide always plays around and tricks you. It's funny
sometimes, but it can get annoying.:) Olamidé also is a good
lyricist. He writes songs on the plane and in his spare time.
Here's a little secret about Olamidé...he is very built. He got
mad muscules for his age!
Talib(me)
I'm very creative. I like to draw. I use to make comic books when
I was younger. I use to write stories also. I have a recording
stuido now and production company. I spend a lot of spare time
producing. Also in my spare time I like to go on the internet,
play my Nintendo 64, and talk to girls on the phone. I am very
friendly, and I would call myself very talented.
John
Here is one thing about John that a lot of people don't know. He
use to play the keyboard like me, but now he is learning to play
the bass guitar. John didn't want to be in the group at first,
because he wanted to play in his marching band. I know he would
of regreted it now. John is cool, laid back, but can get
impatient sometimes. He also likes to take charge of things and
be in control. He's very bossy. Here's a secret about about
John...he loves puerto rican girls.
Jamal
Jamal is a talented member in Imajin. Although he can bug you and
get on your nerves sometimes. Jamal is a very great drummer and
singer. Jamal is very, very athletic he plays basketball a lot.
Here's something about Imajin. Jamal and I always share rooms in
a hotel, and Olamide and John share a room. It's not that Jamal
and I are closer than others, but it just ends up that way in the
hotel.
Well I think I said enough.
Peace, Talib
Here is some MORE 411 from BOP magazine
IMAJIN: Dreams
Do Come True
Imagine your whole life changing because of a series of happy
coincidences. Well that's exactly how the new musical group
Imajin came to be. You see, Four talented musicians-Jamal
Hampton,16, Talib Kareem, 15, Olamide Faison, 13, and John Fitch,
15-were all singing and performing separately in different parts
of the United States when a producer named Bert Price plucked
them out of their hometowns and brought them together. They
formed a band-and presto!-they have a hot new album called Imajin
This.
Even though they were strangers at first, the new groupmates, who
play their own instruments as well as sing and dance, bonded
instantly. "It's like a brotherhood," guitarist
Olamide, whose real big brother happens to be Clueless star
Donald Faison, tells BOP. The others agree with Olamide-and their
bandmate bonding shows through in their music, such as their
singles "Shorty (You Keep Playing With My Mind)" and
"I Got What You Need" (which just so happens to be
featured on the BOP BOYS! album).
The super-talented foursome tell us that the music they make
together is the glue that holds Imajin all together.
"Playing together is my favorite," keyboardist John
explains enthusiastically. "Because we really work well
together and our sound is nice together."
Don't let their smooth grooves fool you, though-these guys didn't
just wake up in the morning and have all the right stuff it takes
to be professional entertainers. "It was hard,"
keyboardist Talib admits, adding that they are always working to
become even better. "It's kind of tiring, but we have to do
it."
Jamal agrees that life in a band is hard work. Worst of all, it
cuts into his fave playtime activities, like shooting hoops and
hanging out with friends. "I can't really get out like a
regular kid 'cause I'm working," the band's drummer says.
"But it's okay, [music] is still fun anyway."
Imajin are looking forward to playing lots of concert
dates-jamming together for live audiences is tops on their list
of favorite things- and meeting all of their new fans. They now
the they will have to work hard and juggle their hectic
schedules, but they say it's all worth it. "I know it's a
lot," John says excitedly. "But we're ready for
whatever is coming ahead of us."
Keep your eye on Imajin. They are looking forward to blowing your
mind with their talent!
Click on the member's pic to get da personal 411 on each member
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