Jamin Lewis Hines Aka, Fame Holiday

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Gotta Believe, gotta believe in yourself, If you wanna live this life, You gotta believe in yourself.” Fame Holiday

The Massacre. This American hip-hop artist 50 Cent’s second album was released on March 3^rd, 2005, by Shady Records, G-Unit Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. This album debuted and peaked at #1 on the US Billboard 200 selling 1.15 million copies in its first week. It is this album that connected myself to a 24-year-old rising hip-hop phenomenon.

I was speaking to Jamin Lewis Hines, more popularly known as Fame Holiday. I had been watching this young man for months. There was something about his style, his energy. I had taken the time to listen to some of his music. From the high energy on his song, “Bring it Back,” to the Afro-Caribbean vibes on “Tonight,” the baby making vibes of the song “Intoxicated,” and his songs that were written to represent the struggle, Fame continues to show the world that not only is he the hottest artist on the rise, he is also the most versatile.

One could say that Fame’s music is an original mix of hip-hop and RnB; that is if you are looking at his music on a surface level. If you really listen to his music, and move past the catchy hooks, you will hear the profound message that resonates throughout his music.  From his songs: “One more Time,” “No Way,” “Let’s Just Fly,” and “Gotta Believe,” any music lover will be able to find a song that they can bop their head to.

The say music can cross over generations, and after my interview with Fame, I now completely understand what that means. We had just learned that we both loved 50 Cent’s Album Massacre. When he told me he discovered it at the age of six, I had to chuckle to myself. I was about 22 when the Massacre came out, and I found it hilarious that we both loved an album, and we were generations apart.

“Most artists are trying to sell people a dream, I just want to be myself. I don’t have to be fake.”

I really enjoyed speaking to Fame. He was gracious, and well mannered. You could tell he had been raised well.

“I was born in Etobicoke, lived in Scarborough, and moved to Mississauga at six years old,” Fame began. My mom is mixed (white, black, Jamaican), and my Dad is from Barbados. My mom had me at sixteen years old. We grew up together. I won’t say it was hard, but I wouldn’t say it was easy either, just different.  My little sister and I used to compete against each other during talent shows we would do at home. My mom would never say that one of us won over the other. It was always a tie.

It got to the point that my mom would have me performing for guests. She saw something in me, and she wanted the world to see.”

Fame continued on in his musical pursuits. When 50 Cent’s Massacre came out, he told me that it changed his life.

“Even at that age, I related to his passion. 50 Cent inspired me to write my music. Music became a way for me to vent. It was like talking about my feelings.

I wanted to feel that. I wanted to feel that Superman. When I was fourteen years old, I dropped my first song on YouTube. “Green Goblin.” I knew I had something, so I uploaded my music on any website that would allow me to upload.”

“The name Fame Holiday; where did it come from?” I inquired.

“I went through several names,” Fame tells me, “JL, JK, Young Fame. I wanted to find a name that suited my personality, my vibe. One of the older heads told me, don’t force your name, your name will find you.

 I released my first freestyle at fourteen years old. Facebook Group reached out to me (Team Holiday), you can change your name and be a part of us. I like what they were doing. I changed my name to Fame Holiday.

 Once I did that the name stuck. People would come up to me and be like, “Your Fame from Facebook!” When the group fell apart. I stuck with it. It made sense, it felt right, and so I stuck with it.”

“Sometimes it can come quick, sometimes it can take long.”

Fame started high school, and he kept releasing music. One thing that he did not do is let his music get ahead of school. He went to school and practiced his music whenever he had a chance. The shift in his life happened when he went to his cousin’s house one day.

“My cousin’s name is Romeo Wilson. He is a little older than me, but he invited me over one day to hear my music. He asked me to drop a ting, so I did. He must have liked what I heard, because he called his friends to tell them, wow this kid has skills!

This was the birth of the Other Side of Toronto. We represent all of the talent outside of Toronto. We want people to know that they can represent their own city.”

I had taken the time to listen to his music, so when he told me that he had older people connect to his music, I understood.

“They respect that I don’t give up, regardless of what I am doing I don’t quit. It is almost like they are living vicariously through me.”

Fame’s rise has taught him a lot about changes, so when the pandemic hit, he had to adjust to the way the world was going.

“I had to figure out how to market myself more. How do I diversify? I had to sit down and brainstorm. It was a lot of trial and error. It was the best year to connect to my fan base. I had a lot of challenges last year, but I kept going.

I started a YouTube Channel. I want people to feel like they are on this journey with me. I’m that odd person in the bunch. I am not what people expect. I go against it. I want to be an example, be dedicated to what I do. Keep your vision; people won’t see your vision. You have to show it to them.

This took me to my next, and latest project “Take me Away,” directed by Trey Timeless. I also have merchandise that I will be releasing in February. The theme is “Black Lives Matter, Now and Forever,” Half of the proceeds from all merchandise sold will be donated to the organization Stolen from Africa. Giving back to my community is important.”

At the end of our interview, Fame shared a special moment with me. “I met my dad for the first time when I was 22 years old. I didn’t know I was Bajan until I met him. I am thankful to have him in my life. When the opportunity was presented, I could have made a decision to be angry, or give him an opportunity, and get to know him.

I took the mature route, and it has been history ever since. Our relationship has grown. He is my dude.”

I must say; this young man has a future. He is passionate, dedicated, and hopeful for the future. You can find his song “Take me Away,” on all major platforms. The song was born from generations of people struggling for a voice, for Fame, he knows that together we are stronger.