Real Name: Desmond Mendize

Birth Month: April

How did you get started in the business?

Charly Black: In the country you can't really buss, you haffi buss inna Kingston. What happen was that I couldn't sit by and wait on dat buss so I end up playing a sound system in a go-go club - a female, specific, kind. I really recorded my first song back in 2004 for Tree Top Recording but it neva get dat much promotion. In 2006 I start do more recording and did Gal A Request Me and brought it to GT Taylor who heard me for the first time and start playing the song. In 2007 I did Buddy Buddy which did well.

What has been your greatest challenge in the business yet?

Charly Black: My greatest challenge in di business is to mek people know who Charly Black is cause people still don't know. I still need to work on my career cause people only know me to do women songs until I came out wid Rich Dis Year and then people started giving me a different listen. So I have to promote myself and my music.

What have you been up to lately?

Charly Black: I'm now in the process of editing my Money Dreamer video. The video was done by Nordia Rose and edited by Troytan.

I recently did a song for Coppershot called Whining Lyad.

Do you look up to any specific artiste and why?

Charly Black: Look up to more dan one artiste, but Bounty Killer is a deejay weh mi have a link wid from sound system days. When Killer hear mi start deejay, him sey mi mus continue write and him always a gimme advice, which means a lot to me. But big up people like Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie and Kartel.

Are you happy with the way things are going for your musical career right now?

Charly Black: Very overwhelmed but I am good, don't mek hype get to me.

Do you have any advice for young artistes coming up?

Charly Black: Always remember di Almighty father, don't forget your family and don't hype when you start hear your song a play, always stay focussed. Mek sure you tek your own song go promote and don't rely on no producer to do it for you.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Charly Blacks: I see myself still working hard to do good music and always try keep di girls dem bubbling, and spending more time wid my kids, hopefully.

- Krista Henry

" Look up to more dan one artiste, but Bounty Killer is a deejay weh mi have a link wid from sound system days. When Killer hear mi start deejay, him sey mi mus continue write and him always a gimme advice, which means a lot to me. But big up people like Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Beenie and Kartel".