News: A Talk with Gentleman

"Stage Name: Gentleman

Real Name: Tielman Otto

How did you get started in the business?:

"Reggae music was always in my family. My brother had a nice selection of reggae music. I first came to Jamaica when I was 17 and carried back dancehall records. We rented a PA system and started to play them in Germany and I started singing over the rhythm."

What challenges have you faced in the business?:

"People don't see the difference between a real musician and someone who a hustle the music."

Most memorable moment: "There are a lot of moments. I was always dreaming to perform on Sting, but is a bottle fling. Me talk too long. Me talk too much, the people did not know me yet."

Most embarrassing moment: "I don't believe in embarrassment. I have never been embarrassed in my life. That only happen when you have a lot of ego. I keep ego out of this."

Do you like the direction reggae and dancehall music is going?: "It is changing. When I listen to the radio I hear a lot of roots reggae. That is where it is coming from and that is where it is going to."

What have you been up to lately?: "Performing on the German summer festival circuit. I did Summerjam last week, with 30,000 people, and I did Solid Ace the day before that. The song Superior, the first single from the album Confidence is on the Reggae Gold 2005 album.""

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