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Jonathan Emile

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Jonathan Emile
Emile during a recording session in 2019
Emile during a recording session in 2019
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Whyte Potter-Mäl
Also known asJon E
Born (1986-02-19) February 19, 1986 (age 38)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
OriginSavanna-la-Mar, Jamaica
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • poet
  • singer-songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2009–present
Labels
Websitehttp://www.mindpeacelove.com http://www.jonathanemile.com

Jonathan Whyte Potter-Mäl (born February 19, 1986), known by his stage name Jonathan Emile (or Jon E), is a Jamaican Canadian, reggae & hip-hop recording artist from Montreal, Quebec. He is a rapper, singer, producer, activist and a cancer survivor.[1] In October 2015, Emile released his first studio album, The Lover/Fighter Document LP, which incorporates elements of reggae, jazz, R&B and electro-pop. The independent album features collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Murs and Buckshot.[2] His debut reggae album Spaces-in-Between was released in 2020 by MindPeaceLove & Tuff Gong.[3]

Life and career

Early life and cancer years

Jonathan Whyte Potter-Mäl[4] was raised in LaSalle, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal[5] and attended Selwyn House School. [6]

Emile's family originates from Savanna-la-Mar, the main town and capital of Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica and where he spent his some of his formative years. His single "Savanna" is a reference to his hometown. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, he said: "The song tries to capture and communicate this and the love I feel for a place I call home."[7]

Emile was trained at The Black Theatre Workshop youth initiative in Montreal aspiring to be an actor. During and after his cancer treatment, he independently developed his music knowledge on studio production, vocal training, guitar, keyboard, and musical composition.[8]

Cancer years

At the age of 18, Jonathan Emile was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive and highly malignant form of cancer. [9]. He went through one year of chemotherapy treatments, followed by radiation. The treatments drained him physically and emotionally. He turned to music and writing for solace. For the next two years, Jonathan Emile employed his philosophy of Mindpeacelove creating music, in the hospital and between his treatments. He finished treatment in December 2005 and completed his remission in December 2010.[10]

2009–2018: The Lover/Fighter Document EP, LP and Phantom Pain

In 2009, Emile released The Lover/Fighter Document EP.[11] The EP was placed on the first ballot of the 2011 Grammy Nominations for "Rap Album of The Year". In 2013, Emile made his theatrical debut in the Montreal production of Broadway musical Aint Misbehavin'.[12] His performance achieved broad critical acclaim from both English and French media for his performance of André De Shields original role and his notable interpretation of "The Viper's Drag".[13][14]

Emile released The Lover/Fighter Document LP on October 9, 2015. He worked and toured with material from the album while attending McGill University as a Philosophy & Political Science major.[15] He released "Heaven Help Dem" as a separate release featuring vocals by Kendrick Lamar taken from his album.[16][17][18]

In 2011, he appeared in a TEDxMcGill broadcast from Montreal's McGill University. During the event, he performed direct his creations "Frequency" and "Oh My Stars!".

In October 2015, Emile released his first studio album, The Lover/Fighter Document LP, which incorporates elements of reggae, jazz, R&B and electro-pop. It includes collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Murs and Buckshot.

In December 2016, he released Phantom Pain also made available as a 35-minute album stream of 8 tracks. It includes collaborations with Ezra Lewis, Cee and Natasha Marie.[19][20]

2019–present: Spaces-in-Between

Emile performing in Smiths Falls, Ontario in 2019

Emile recorded his third album, titled Spaces-in-Between, which was released on January 24, 2020.[21][22] The 10-track album produced and co-composed by Paul Cargnello, contains all original compositions and collaborations with Ezra Lewis and Chanda T. Holmes. He is the first Québecois artist to sign a deal with Bob Marley's Tuff Gong International label for distribution. Spaces-in-Between showcases styles of Jamaican reggae from the 1960s to 1990s including ska, rocksteady, dancehall and rock. He is planning release of a hip-hop album with some reggae influences, and another live reggae album imminently.[3] Singles from the album included "Savanna",[23] "Moses"[24] and "Try A Likkle More".[25] In 2020 he released his first French-language single "Solidarité", a french adaptation of "Keep On Fighting".[26]

Artistry

Emile composes and performs in the genres of hip hop, reggae, R&B and electro-pop. His vocal performance and recording style includes singing, rapping, freestyling and scatting in English, French and Jamaican Patois.[27] Emile is concerned largely with creating contemporary popular hip hop and reggae fused with soul music that addresses social, spiritual and moral issues.[28]

MindPeaceLove

He has founded his own record label MindPeaceLove Ent. and signed a number of artists (singers, songwriters, producers, sound engineers). He declared that he would continue to use his MindPeacLove label as a platform to support new artistes and to keep his musical creations flowing because as he says in a public interview: "My art, my life is not a lifestyle, it's a philosophy that reflects truth and promotes humanism and social justice."[29]

Artists associated with the label include Chanda T. Holmes, Kellyssa, Cee, Maeva, Notion, Noa Angell, Ezra Lewis, Jasmine Bleile, Paul Cargnello, Angela Nashed, and other musicians, composers and producers like Cali, Fabrice Jean, Shaun Ryan, Marc-Olivier Vézina, Wali Muhammad, Jason Selman, Modibo Keita, Franco Proietti, BØBLHEAD, Christopher Cargnello, David Osei-Afrira, Evans Baptiste, Juliano etc.[30]

Activism and philanthropy

Emile has shared his experiences, ambition and music offering mentoring and giving workshops to urban youth on various occasions.[31]

As a Jamaican Canadian and a member of the black community, Jonathan Emile performs and participates in Black History Month and other community events.[32][33][34] In 2013, he engaged on a "Songs of Freedom" tour of Montreal-area schools with the motto of "music as a tool for communication and social change". The tour included 15 different venues.[35]

Controversy with Kendrick Lamar

In the aftermath of death of 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva, who was shot and killed by Montreal Police in 2008, Emile recorded "Heaven Help Dem" that featured Kendrick Lamar. The song addressed urban violence and police brutality against visible minorities, naming Villanueva and many other victims like Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell amongst others.[36] Lamar was on the verge of signing a deal with a big record label, but agreed to contribute to the track, and delivered his verse in 2012. When Emile included the track on his debut album The Lover/Fighter Document and posted it online, many Canadian media outlets ran interviews with Emile including CBC Radio One, CTV and Global News about the issue and release of "Heaven Help Dem".[37][38][39] The interviews coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, 2015, the actual date of release of the single "Heaven Help Dem".[40]

But when Henry posted the song online, Lamar's management Top Dawg Entertainment just 8 days later demanded pulling off of the track from the internet on a claim of copyright infringement.[41] Emile disputed this with YouTube and SoundCloud who had both withdrawn the song on demands by Lamar's management. He clarified to Billboard magazine saying: "We paid Kendrick Lamar for a feature, and once we paid them, they basically stopped communicating with us altogether."[42] The music outlets agreed to put the song back two months after its removal, but the damage had been done and the song's image had been tarnished as Henry explained.[43] The Montreal courts agreed Lamar's action was a violation of Emile's rights and judged for monetary compensation to be paid by Lamar's management Top Dawg Entertainment as well as by Interscope Records and Universal Music Group to Emile.[44][45] Billboard magazine reported that Emile had won his small claims case and was awarded Can$8,000, plus five percent interest (total amount equivalent to U.S.$6,400). Emile declared that the verdict was a matter of vindication of what is right and not a strictly monetary issue.[46] Following further legal threats by Lamar's management, Emile penned an open letter to Kendrick Lamar about the matter.[47]

Discography

Studio albums

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details
The Lover/Fighter Document LP
Phantom Pain
  • Released: December 27, 2016[49]
  • Label: Mindpeacelove
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
Spaces-in-Between
  • Released: January 24, 2020[50]
  • Label: Mindpeacelove, Tuff Gong
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details
The Lover/Fighter Document EP
  • Released: March 17, 2009[51]
  • Label: Mindpeacelove
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Album
"Heaven Help Dem"[52]
(featuring Kendrick Lamar) 		2015 The Lover/Fighter Document LP
"Viva Fidel!"[53] 2016 Phantom Pain
"Where We Go from Here"[54]
"Searching"[55] Non-album singles
"Limit"[56]
(featuring Ezra Lewis)
"Do You Feel Me?"[57]
(featuring Tristan D. Lalla and Tek Luciano) 		2017
"Wilderness"[58] 2018
"Savanna"[59] 2019 Spaces-in-Between
"Moses"[60]
"Canopy (Remix)"[A][61]
(featuring Etana) 		2020
"Solidarité"[B][62]
Title Year Album
"Ramadan (Appropriated Remix)"[63]
(Cee featuring Jonathan Emile, Notion and Natasha Marie) 		2017 Non-album singles
"Bold & Bright"[64]
(Kellyssa featuring Ezra Lewis and Jonathan Emile) 		2018

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Never Looking Back"[65] 2013 joBlow, Shae Nicole Poor People Music
"This Is All I Know"[66] 2014 Cee This Is All I Know
"After Dark"[67] Gabriel Teodros, SoulChef Evidence of Things Not Seen
"What It Is"[68] 2016 Skinny Bros, KRS-One, James Di Salvio Party Gras
"Real Talk"[69] 2017 Notion, I L Lvibe Heart on My Sleeve

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
Film
2011 Look Again Prospective buyer Television film
2013 The Horse Latitudes Male nurse Short film
2016 Serialized Officer Bradford Television film
2018 On the Basis of Sex Courier Feature film
Television
2012 Being Human Tall Orderly Episode: "When I Think About You I Shred Myself"
2016 Fatal Vows Detective Kip Young Episode: "The Clark Case"
2017 Lost Generation Van Episode: "Good Learner"
2018 Jack Ryan Members Only Episode: "The Boy"
2019 Deadly Secrets Lonnie Episode: "A Killer Hand"

References

Notes
  1. ^ Only the original (solo) version appears on Spaces-in-Between.
  2. ^ Appears on Spaces-in-Between in English as "Keep on Fighting".
Citations
  1. ^ Lurie, Robert (June 21, 2012). "Jonathan Emile Report CTV National & Local News". CTV News: CTV Globemedia.
  2. ^ Emile, Jonathan (October 9, 2015). "Jonathan Emile – Music". iTunes Store.
  3. ^ a b JaSupreme (January 27, 2020). "Reggae Singer Jonathan Emile Releases New Album "Spaces-In-Between"". TheUrbanMusicScene.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Quebec Court Awards Damages to Canadian Artist for Wrongful Copyright Takedown Notice by Record Companies". Fasken. November 29, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  5. ^ Carl, Sincennes (February 10, 2020). "Un LaSallois sous l'étiquette de Bob Marley". Le Journal Metro: Le Messager Lasalle. Retrieved May 3, 2020. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |2= (help)
  6. ^ Jonathan Emile: Music a tool for communication and social change, February 12, 2020, retrieved May 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "Jonathan Emile takes aim". Jamaica Observer. October 28, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  8. ^ 2019 IBSC Annual Conference: Plenary Session - Jonathan Emile: His Story. His Voice.
  9. ^ Carl, Sincennes (February 10, 2020). "Un LaSallois sous l'étiquette de Bob Marley". Le Journal Metro: Le Messager Lasalle. Retrieved May 3, 2020. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |2= (help)
  10. ^ Weng, Lucy (January 18, 2015). "Mindpeacelove With Jonathan Emile". Dress To Kill Men Magazine. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  11. ^ Earshot: National Campus and Community Radio Report Chart Appearances (Canada), June 30, 2009
  12. ^ Donnelly, Pat (October 3, 2013). "Review: Ain't Misbehavin': From music to dance moves, this one's a winner". The Gazette.
  13. ^ LeMay, Daniel (October 4, 2013). "Ain't Misbehavin' : pas de révolution, que du plaisir!: From music to dance moves, this one's a winner". The Presse.
  14. ^ Pearson, Meghan (October 17, 2013). "Ain't Misbehavin' Brings Down the House at the Segal Centre". BroadwayWorld.com.
  15. ^ Macdonald, Darcy (October 9, 2015). "Jonathan Emile drops a record today". CULT MTL. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  16. ^ Erik Leijon (February 6, 2015). "Jonathan Emile's bittersweet song of peace". The Gazette.
  17. ^ Slava Pastuk. "Why Can't You Listen to That New Kendrick Lamar Verse on Jonathan Emile's "Heaven Help Dem"? (interview)". Vice.
  18. ^ Emmanuel C.M. (January 13, 2015). "Kendrick Lamar And Jonathan Emile 'Heaven Help Dem'". XXL.
  19. ^ Brock Thiessen (December 21, 2016). "Jonathan Emile Details His 'Phantom Pain'". Exclaim. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  20. ^ Brock Thiessen (December 27, 2016). "Jonathan Emile - 'Phantom Pain' (album stream)". Exclaim. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  21. ^ Pauze Radio: Jonathan Emile – Spaces-in-Between – Review
  22. ^ Philippe Renaud (February 7, 2020). "Spaces-In-Between, Jonathan Émile" (in French). Le Devoir. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  23. ^ William Ruben Helms (February 22, 2020). "Montreal's Jonathan Emile releases an infectious dancehall banger". Joy of Violent Movement.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  24. ^ Kim Muncie (January 11, 2020). ""Moses" by Jonathan Emile". Nue Futur. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "Jonathan Emile is back with 2 new Singles". TheIndieMusic.com. February 25, 2020.
  26. ^ JaSupreme (March 23, 2020). "Singer Jonathan Emile Releases New Single "Solidarité"". The Urban Music Scene.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  27. ^ Labri-Aissa, Sonia (September 1, 2015). "Lover, fighter, and artist on the rise". McGill Daily.
  28. ^ Grant, Andre (October 19, 2015). "Jonathan Emile Survived Cancer & Kendrick Lamar, But Can He Get Us To Listen To "The Lover/Fighter Document?"". HipHopDX.com.
  29. ^ "Jonathan Emile launches full length reggae album". Montreal Community Contact. February 25, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  30. ^ MindPeaceLove artists page
  31. ^ Kersey, Molly. "Bexley School Celebrates Black History Month". Bexley Times. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  32. ^ Okeke, Shari (December 17, 2014). "Union United Church Seeks $600K in Funding for Urgent Repairs". CBC News.
  33. ^ Ambroziak, Alycia (February 17, 2015). "Black History Month in Full Gear in The West Island". Montreal West Island Chronicle.
  34. ^ CTV Global News: Jonathan Emile on Black History Month (25 February 2015)
  35. ^ Kathryn Greenaway (January 29, 2013). "Jonathan Emile brings soul to school". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  36. ^ Adam Fleischer (January 14, 2015). "Kendrick Lamar addresses the murders of black youths on "Heaven Help Dem"". MTV. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  37. ^ Jonathan Emile - Heaven Help Dem feat. Kendrick Lamar (CBC) Interview
  38. ^ Jonathan Emile - Heaven Help Dem feat. Kendrick Lamar (GLOBAL) Interview
  39. ^ Jonathan Emile - Heaven Help Dem feat. Kendrick Lamar (CTV) Interview
  40. ^ Rebecca Ugolini (January 19, 2015). "Jonathan Emile teams up with Kendrick Lamar on Martin Luther King Day release". CBC Montreal. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  41. ^ Slava Pastuk (January 23, 2015). "Why Can't You Listen to that New Kendrick Lamar Verse on Jonathan Emile's "Heaven Help Dem"?". Vicemagazine. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  42. ^ Vernon Coleman II (November 24, 2016). "Top Dawg Entertainment Loses Lawsuit to Canadian Rapper". XXL. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  43. ^ "Jonathan Emile vs. record label". CTV News. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  44. ^ Kamila Hinkson (November 24, 2016). "Montreal artist wins legal battle against label of hip hop giant Kendrick Lamar". CBC. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  45. ^ Brock Thiessen (November 22, 2016). "Montreal Rapper Jonathan Emile Wins Court Case Against Kendrick Lamar's Top Dawg Entertainment". Exclaim. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  46. ^ "Canadian Rapper Wins Suit Against Kendrick Lamar's Label Top Dawg Entertainment, Just to Prove a Point". Billboard magazine. November 22, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  47. ^ Brock Thiessen (November 22, 2020). "Montreal Rapper Jonathan Emile Wins Court Case Against Kendrick Lamar's Top Dawg Entertainment". Exclaim. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  48. ^ "The Lover / Fighter Document LP by Jonathan Emile". October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  49. ^ Thiessen, Brock (December 27, 2016). "Jonathan Emile 'Phantom Pain' (album stream)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  50. ^ "Spaces-in-Between by Jonathan Emile". January 24, 2020. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  51. ^ "The Lover/Fighter Document by Jonathan Emile". March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  52. ^ "Heaven Help Dem (feat. Kendrick Lamar) - Single by Jonathan Emile". January 19, 2015. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  53. ^ "Viva Fidel - Single by Jonathan Emile". March 21, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  54. ^ "Where We Go From Here by Jonathan Emile". May 9, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Spotify.
  55. ^ "Searching - Single by Jonathan Emile". June 22, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  56. ^ "Limit (feat. Ezra Lewis) - Single by Jonathan Emile". November 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  57. ^ "Do You Feel Me? (feat. Tristan D. Lalla & Tek Luciano) - Single by Jonathan Emile". July 10, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  58. ^ "Wilderness - Single by Jonathan Emile". September 14, 2018. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  59. ^ "Savanna - Single by Jonathan Emile". October 25, 2019. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  60. ^ "Moses - Single by Jonathan Emile". December 5, 2019. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  61. ^ "Canopy (Remix) [feat. Etana] - Single by Jonathan Emile". February 14, 2020. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  62. ^ "Solidarité - Single by Jonathan Emile". March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  63. ^ "‎Ramadan (Appropriated Remix) [feat. Jonathan Emile, Notion & Natasha Marie] - Single by Cee". March 24, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  64. ^ "Bold & Bright (feat. Ezra Lewis & Jonathan Emile) - Single by Kellyssa". October 4, 2018. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  65. ^ "Poor People Music | joBlow". August 18, 2013. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Bandcamp.
  66. ^ "This Is All I Know by Cee". April 10, 2014. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  67. ^ "Evidence of Things Not Seen by SoulChef & Gabriel Teodros". October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  68. ^ "Party Gras by Skinny Bros". February 16, 2016. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
  69. ^ "Heart On My Sleeve by Notion". April 28, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Apple Music.
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