Jimmy O

Jean Jimmy Alexandre ((1974-03-09)March 9, 1974 – (2010-01-12)January 12, 2010), better known by his stage name Jimmy O, was a Haitian hip hop artist[1] who was born in Port-au-Prince and lived in New York City.[2] He was involved with Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti Foundation.[1] Jimmy O performed his music in Haitian Creole.[3]

Jimmy O
Background information
Birth nameJean Jimmy Alexandre
Born(1974-03-09)March 9, 1974
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
OriginNew York City, New York, USA
DiedJanuary 12, 2010(2010-01-12) (aged 35)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Musician
Singer-songwriter
Social activist
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano, drums
Years active1987–2010
LabelsSak Pasé Records

In 2006, he and Jean held a hip-hop performance in the Bel Air suburb of Port-au-Prince that was part of the USAID-funded Clean Streets project.[4] The following year, he and other Haitian artists held a concert in the Champ de Mars, the largest public square in the capital, along with Wyclef Jean, Akon, and Matt Damon.[5]

On January 12, 2010, at age 35, Jimmy O was crushed inside a vehicle he was apparently driving in downtown Port-au-Prince during the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[1] His mother, his wife, two of his three children, his agent, and a CNN crew were present when Jimmy O's body was discovered and identified three days later.[6][7] His agent said that the loss of Jimmy O "will be tremendous in Haiti."[8]

At the time of his death he was preparing to release his debut album Destiny in the United States.[9]

References
  1. Candiotti, Susan (January 15, 2010). "Haitian hip-hop artist, charity worker found dead after quake". The Marquee Blog. CNN. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  2. Benjy Eisen (January 15, 2010). "Jimmy O, Haitian Hip-Hop Artist, Confirmed Dead". spinner.com.
  3. "Rap Creole". Last FM. January 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  4. Amy Bracken (March 21, 2006). "Hip-hop star brings help – and hope – to Haiti". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
  5. "Haïti-Musique : Wyclef Jean, Akon et Matt Damon en concert au Champ de Mars" (in French). AlterPresse. December 14, 2007.
  6. "Haiti Earthquake: Friday news updates". CNN.com. CNN. January 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  7. "Rapper Jimmy O Dies in Haiti Earthquake". 3threat Media. January 16, 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
  8. Kaufman, Gail (January 15, 2010). "Haitian Rapper Jimmy O Killed In Earthquake". MTV.
  9. Devi, Sharmila; Thorne, John (January 22, 2010). "Victims of Haitian earthquake whose contribution to the nation will be greatly missed". The National (Abu Dhabi).


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