Miami|SGG Media Staff
Jamaican born Klassik Frescobar draws his musical inspiration from a variety of genres including American Rap and Hip-hop, Jamaican Soca and Calypso, Reggae, and Dancehall. That unique mix is winning him legions of fans from Jamaica to New York and Miami.
Kamaal Burrowes, Klassik’s real name, was born in New York, but raised by his grandparents in Kingston, Jamaica. It was there where he fell in love with the local music genres Soca and Calypso which regularly played on the radio. He would also listen to artists like Sean Paul, Bounty Killa, and Beanie Man on his mom’s cassette player without knowing that these artists were not from Jamaica.
When he was 13 he returned to New York, where he spent most of his time in the Bronx listening to hip hop and taking part in battle rap. He wrote his own songs and called himself Sikk. Later he changed the Sikk to Klassik and added the word Frescobar –Spanish for “fresh”, and “bar”, which is a musical term.
By the time he was 17, he started thinking about a career in music. He never forgot his roots though and regularly went to Dancehall parties. It was during this time that he met the Jamaican Singer/DJ Ricky Blaze.
Klassik describes his music as multi-dimensional. “I write about love, hate, drugs, streets and everything in between. As long as it’s real and from the heart, people will love it.”
In 2009 the talented artist released his mixtape “Back for Revenge,” which was hosted by DJ Diggz, DJ Lust and Evil Empire. It was a hit with his fans in the Bronx and they gave him the nickname “The Bronx Hiroshima” because he was the bomb. Following the success of “Back for Revenge,” he released “Sleep When I Die,“ in 2010.
Unfortunately that same year he was arrested and sentenced for a robbery. But he made it clear to his fans that this setback was not the end of his musical career. He released the “Free Klassik EP.” His loyal fans took pictures wearing “Free Klassik” gear and posted it on social media.
Despite New York being his “favorite place in the world,” Klassik moved to Miami in 2014 because he was attracted to the large Caribbean community in South Florida. “The fans love my music because it’s high energy. It’s soca-fused with the dancehall and the hip-hop influences I grew up on. I focus on exciting the people and making them dance,” he said.
He thanks Guyanese rapper Red Café and others who helped to establish him in Miami. And he credits LL Cool Blaze for encouraging him to make the transition to soca. “He did this by inviting me to get on a rhythm, the ‘Bad Boys Riddim,’ Klassik said. He took Blaze’s advice and five years later he achieved success with his single ‘Boom on the Fuego riddim.’
Klassik said some of his favorite musicians include dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, because “he’s extremely talented and very determined.” His favorite soca artist is Patrice Roberts because “despite her thriving career and longevity she still puts out music constantly. ” And he also admires Problem Child & Mical Teja for “their incredible songwriting abilities.”
In 2020 the remix of his hit “Looking Good,” charted number 1 on iTunes’ Top 100 Reggae Songs. The Soca artists Kisha, Trinidad Ghost, Marzville, and Trinidad Madman worked with him on the remix. This year his song “Too Much,” charted on the Barbados Top 200 Shazams as well as on the Bermuda Top 200.
Klassik Frescobar’s music is a great blend that encompasses his Jamaican Roots, love of American Rap and Hip Hop, Soca, Reggae and Dancehall. With so much sameness in the music industry, his creative mix is a welcome groove.
Check out Klassik Frescobar’s Like Dat REMIX : “[feat. GBM Nutron x DJ Spider] on YouTube