Ras Handsome a.k.a ras the man

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Ras Handsome “Life Is a Journey, as we grow…”Building an empire is often not an easy task, but certainly not an impossible one to achieve. You have to be super-talented, driven like a team of horses, hard-working, diligent and extremely focused. Just ask Donsome Records’ CEO and Owner, Ras Handsome, a man who is well on his way to reaching and possibly surpassing that very aspiration.This gifted Sagittarian was born Adrian Dwayne Hanson on December 7th, in Longwood, Vere in the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, W.I. Given the pet-name “Handsome” by his mother, Ras Handsome was brought forward with an inborn love and passion for music. With his infinite love of music in tow, he was destined to become a master at his craft. “Bwoy, mi use to kick ahn play music like a drum inna mi mother’s belly.” says the heartical Ras Handsome. “Musically, from age four, me a music. Music deh all over me, I just had a gift for music on a whole. Those times mi ah run guh Missah Morgan’s jukebox, just fi ‘ear di nex’ song weh a punch in.” He used to recite the songs he heard like “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” and Bob Marley’s “One Love”.By the tender age of ten, Ras Handsome began to realize his love for music. Multi-talented, he would write out songs and rhyme during his spare time. However, it was the art of Production that really interested this young man. While his classmates flocked to the mic and focused on becoming the next big Dancehall artiste on the charts, Ras Handsome concentrated on honing his studio skills. “Mi school yute breddren dem, dem yute deh did talented still, but no one wanted to be the Producer. Every one ah dem wanted to rhyme”. he remembers. “If dem fi be the artiste, me haffi be di Producer. So me jus’ tun Producer/Artiste true sey mi have the talent fi do both”. Ras Handsome originally started to write music at around fourteen years old. People did not take him seriously as a Writer, as he was still quite young. “But mi could write, rhyme and Produce, so mi soon ketch dem attention.” the confident artiste states.While envisioning his life as a big Producer, Ras Handsome quickly realized that he needed adequate studio facilities in order to work in Production. Always determined and headstrong, he never stifled himself with that notion. “Bwoy, mi never get di chance fi really Produce tracks fully right away. Being a Producer had to be put on hold fi a likkle while, cah mi ah get ah likkle older and food affi eat”. he says.Even though Music was his first love, Ras Handsome started out as a star footballer in school. An exceptional athlete straight from the beginning, Ras Handsome played football for Kemps Hill Comprehensive High School, he represented Lennon Comprehensive High in the “DaCosta Cup Competition” and in Longwood United in Clarendon Division One, as well as for Clarendon’s parish itself. He was a Goal Keeper and moved swiftly to different positions throughout his career. Also an athletic Runner, Ras Handsome perfected his craft as a Sprinter in the 100 metre and 200 metre dash. He also ran the 400 relay and was an ardent High Jumper. Despite these athletic achievements, Ras Handsome’s love for music was still number one. It was during this time, the 6’2” Ras Handsome would work alongside his older brother, Heardley, who was a Dance Promoter with his own Hanson Promotions in the late ‘80’s - mid‘90’s. Handsome learned a lot about “the business of business” from his big brother. He uses most of the business techniques that he learned from Heardley in his own business strategy today.During the end of Ras Handsome’s athletic career, to put food pon di table, he went to Culinary School and became a waiter and eventually moved up the ranks to Master Chef. Being a man of many diverse talents, Handsome excelled as a Chef, and was very much sought after by some of the leading hotels and restaurants around Kingston. It was during this time that Handsome would meet Claudette Kemp, Capleton’s Manager. She heard Handsome’s tunes and encouraged him to continue writing. “Claudette told me to keep writing.” he says. It was that encouragement that gave Ras Handsome the push to start his own Label, Donsome Records in 2004.Ras Handsome spent two years (2004 – 2006) perfecting the art of Studio Production. He kept the company of many well-known, local Producers who in turn showed Ras Handsome the ropes. In that two year span, he wrote over 60 odd tunes, all the while taking notes on how his Record Label would make a difference in the Game that we have come to know as the Music Industry.In 2006, Ras Handsome attended Donovan Cole’s Music School for voice-training and guitar lessons. It was there that he met Erasto. Erasto introduced Ras Handsome to his brother BoBo and BoBo’s business partner, Marley. Both gentlemen admired the business savvy of Ras Handsome, and asked him to set-up their Company, BoBo Productions. Ras Handsome became the Managing Director of BoBo Productions, got the Production Company started off in the Industry, set them on their feet, and worked BoBo Productions through Donsome Records. Ras Handsome signed his first artiste, JADO shortly after that. During this time, Ras Handsome voiced his first single, “Life Is A Journey”, a collaboration with well-known Dancehall artiste, Dr. Marshall. “Life Is A Journey” was penned on the “Life Journey” riddim, which spawned the onset of videos named “Life Journey Medley” (which received regular rotation on CVM, RE-TV, and Plush-TV), that included snippets of the Label’s singles, “Poverty” by JADO, “Future of Tomorrow” by Erasto, “Speedy” by Jah Mason and of course, “Life Is A Journey”. All of these singles were released on BoBo Productions/Donsome Records. “It was a joy that Erasto and I really hit it off so well. I also taught Erasto the rules of the Game, and how to start up his own company, D-Rock Productions.” states Handsome. Ras Handsome also acts as the Managing Director to D-Rock Productions, another company which he has signed to Donsome Records. Ras Handsome incorporated heavy-weight musicians such as Sly Dunbar and Dean Fraser to work on a track called the “Hard Rock” riddim, in which Ras Handsome produced. Two other riddims produced by Ras Handsome in this time included, “Galchesta” and “Kill Dem”.Coming full circle in 2007, the sky-is-the-limit for Ras Handsome as his Label’s roster is currently growing by leaps and bounds. Alongside JADO and Erasto, Donsome Records boasts the talents of newly-signed artiste, singer Aloevera. These three artistes are managed by Ras Handsome. Donsome Records also has a joint venture deal with Film/Music Video/Production company Anwar Films, run by Andy Warner. Ras Handsome also voices himself periodically, is currently in the Studio producing new tracks, and serves as a consultant to Toronto Cultural DJ Mavriq. If that were not enough, he is grooming his young son Javyon in the family business early on, and Quashie~Boo!!! serves as the Company’s internal/external Publicist. Not bad for a Record Label that is barely three years old!!!So look out for Ras Handsome and more cultural chart-toppers from his Record Label, Donsome Records. Feel free to check out Donsome Records at MySpace.com/Donsomerecords and MySpace.com/Donsomerecordsmusic.Ras Handsome’s “journey” as a Music Mogul, Producer and successful Recording Artiste is shorter away than you may think!!