Tami Chynn (born Tammar Anika Chin) is a singer, songwriter and dancer from Kingston, Jamaica.

Early years

Tami Chynn (born June 14, 1984) was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her father, Richard Chin, is of Chinese descent with Cherokee ancestry and her mother, Christine Chin is of half Afro-Jamaican and half-British ancestry.. Her parents were in a band called The Carnations and her younger sister, Tessanne Chin, is also a reggae fusion singer and former member of the group 'Mile High'.

Tami grew up in the parish of St. Andrew and attended St. Peter and Paul Preparatory School. She later attended Campion College in St. Andrew, Jamaica. In 1998, at age 14, she moved to Leamington Spa, UK where she spent three years studying the performing arts and in 2001, at age 17, moved back to Jamaica where she worked on her music career and recorded her first single "Rock U".

Music career

2005-2007: Beginnings and Out of Many... One

Before pursuing music, she toured with fellow Jamaican artist Shaggy as a back up dancer on his Caught Red Handed Tour. In early 2005 she travelled to Los Angeles,California, USA to perform for Universal Motown Records and in May she was signed to the major label,at age 24, for a four album deal[6]. Before releasing her debut album in the US she appeared in recordings with international Reggae stars Sean Paul on his album The Trinity for the track "All on Me", Beenie Man and Lady Saw.

In March 2006 she was nominated for Best New Entertainer Award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards but lost the award to reggae artist Matisyahu. Leading up to the release of her debut album Out of Many...One she toured clubs around the US for promotion.

Later in 2006 she released her first US single "Hyperventialting" which became a hit on the internet that summer but wasn't a mainstream success. During that summer she released her first album Out of Many...One which also failed to chart in the US but managed to peak at #41 on the Japanese Oricon charts. In 2007 her song "Over and Over Again" appeared on the compilations Biggest One Drop Anthems 2007 (released October 8, 2007 on the Greensleeves label) and Strictly The Best Vol. 38 (released November 20, 2007 through VP Records)

2008: New record label and Prima Donna

In 2008 Tami received notice by artist Akon who signed her up to his label Konvict Muzik and began production of her sophomore album Prima Donna. Recording of the album began in January in Akon's Atlanta studios with Akon and RedOne executive producing the album[16]. The lead single for the album, "Frozen" (featuring Akon), was released in August, 2008. In March she toured the UK and made an appearance on the BBC Radio show 1Xtra Live, on March 22, 2008 with Akon and performed Frozen.

In September 2008, she starred in a Pepsi commercial along side Verne Troyer, T-Pain and Shaggy[19] and made a cover of Kung Fu Fighting for the commercial which is based on Kung Fu. During October, 2008 she opened for New Kids on the Block on their New Kids on the Block Tour along side Lady GaGa, Natasha Bedingfield and Colby O'Donis. She also appeared in the video "I'm So Paid" by Akon.

2009: Cutting ties with Universal, back in Jamaica

On the Jamaican early morning program, 'TVJ Smile Jamaica' May 4, 2009, Tami announced she is in the process of amicably cutting ties with Universal music after trying to promote her most recent works with the Company for over one year. Even though she was signed to KonVict Muzik, her music was still under the control of Universal. Tami noted that Universal found it difficult to find a demographic market for her look and sound, which resulted in further difficulty in trying to release her second album 'Prima Donna'. This was also a factor with her debut album. "Frozen" (featuring Akon), the first single from her second album was not presented to radio stations across America which resulted in its failure to reach any mainstream airplay. She has not done any studio recording for the past four months. Now back in Jamaica, Tami is quoted as saying 'she is trying to fall in love again with music'. Tami also notes she is not interested in signing with another music studio at this time, but is focusing on doing more live performances locally.