Notch (musician)

Norman Howell (born May 11, 1974, Hartford, Connecticut), better known as Notch, is an R&B, reggae, dancehall, and reggaeton artist. He was the former lead vocalist and one of the creative forces behind the hip-hop/reggae group Born Jamericans.[1]

Notch
Birth name	Norman Howell
Born	(1974-05-11) May 11, 1974
Origin	Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Genres	Reggae, R&B, dancehall, reggaeton
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Delicious Vinyl/Eastwest Records
Associated acts	Born Jamericans, Beenie Man, Thievery Corporation, Daddy Yankee, Pitbull, Luny Tunes, Voltio, Baby Ranks, Sublime,

He has featured on albums such as Mas Flow 2, Mas Flow 2.5, Chosen Few II: El Documental, Barrio Fino, and The Cosmic Game. His first solo album, Raised by the People, was released in May 2007.

Biography

Early life

Notch's mother is of African-American, Native American, and Portuguese descent, however his brothers and sisters, from the same mother but different father, are of Puerto Rican and African-American descent. His father was born in Jamaica and is of Afro-Cuban and French descent. Howell's parents separated when he was still an infant. He spent his early years with his mother, living in Hartford, Connecticut. Howell grew up in a multicultural neighborhood and learned Spanish because most of his friends at that time were of Hispanic descent. He left Connecticut to live with his father in Washington, D.C., when he was nine years old. Notch also spent a short time in Bermuda before moving back to Washington, D.C., where he lived until his early twenties.

Career

Notch is fluent in American English, Jamaican Patois, and Spanglish. He mixes all three dialects and languages in some songs, a mixture he calls "Spatoinglish". Notch has worked with Daddy Yankee, Luny Tunes, Voltio, Baby Ranks, Thievery Corporation, Sublime, Pitbull, T-Weaponz, and Rascalz.

Notch has provided vocals on several Thievery Corporation songs, including the title track of The Richest Man in Babylon, "Amerimacka", "Blasting Through the City" and "Strike the Root". Four songs also appear on Thievery's Corporation's "The Temple of I & I" including "Strike the Root," "True Sons of Zion," "Weapons of Distraction," and "Drop Your Guns."

Discography

Born Jamericans

• "Boom Shak-a-Tack" (1993)
• "Cease & Seckle" (1994)
• Kids from Foreign (1994)
• Yardcore (1997)

Solo work

Raised by the People
Studio album by Notch
Released	May 22, 2007
Recorded	2006/2007
Genre	Reggaeton Hip hop
Label	Cinco Por Cinco Records Machete Music
Producer	Supa Dups

• Raised by the People (2007)
  1. Intro/ Hay Que Bueno
  2. Dale Pa' Tra (Back It Up)
  3. Algarete
  4. Guaya Guaya
  5. Que Te Pica
  6. Layaway Love
  7. Layaway Love Remix (feat. Fatman Scoop)
  8. Rosalinda
  9. Traemelo
  10. Tocame
  11. Más De Ti
  12. Ella Se Fue
  13. Castigo
  14. No Problema
  15. Jah Mexi Cali
  16. Mano y Mano
  17. Verme (Remix) - (with Baby Ranks & Jabba)
  18. Chévere (Remix) - (with Voltio)
  19. Bailar Reggae
  20. Bun Out Bad Mind
  21. Hay Que Bueno
  22. Tú 'Tá Loco

References

1. Cordor, Cyril. "Biography: Notch". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 June 2010.

External links

• PopMatters.com - Review of Thievery Corporation's album "The Richest Man in Babylon".