Vivienne Tanya Stephens, better known by her stage name Tanya Stephens
(born 2 July 1973, Kingston, Jamaica) is an influential reggae
artist who emerged in the late 1990s. Stephens is most known for
her hits "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" — the single
was later featured on the Reggae Gold 1997 compilation album — and "It's
a Pity", which achieved Tanya international recognition.
Stephens was born in 1973 and grew up in St. Mary and St. Ann, attending
Zion Hill and Ocho Rios primary schools and St Mary High.
Her album Rebelution was released in August 2006, and the first
single "These Streets" was a number one hit in the Caribbean
staying on Tempo's Chart at number 1 for more than 4 weeks. The album
was totally sold out in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean.
The track "Rosa" is a tribute to Rosa Parks.
Her early material was lyrically typical of dancehall and drew comparisons
with Lady Saw, along with whom she was proclaimed "the top
female artists in Jamaica" in 1998 by the Washington Post,
but later developed beyond what she called "the same old four
topics" to 'reality' themes and even lyrics critical of homophobia.
Social scientist Clinton Hutton said of her: "She is very intuitively
intelligent and deftly tackles relevant social issues".
In 2007, Stephens was awarded a scholarship by Resource Development
International to study for a Business Management degree via the internet
from the University of Sunderland.
Her latest album Infallible, was released in 2010.
Stephens has a daughter, Kelly, born in 1994.
Bedouin Soundclash reference Tanya's hit "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi
Dis Yet" in "Living In Jungles" from the album Sounding
a Mosaic.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Big Things A Gwaan RUNNetherlands 1994
Too Hype VP Records 1997
Ruff Rider VP Records 1998
Sintoxicated Warner 2001
Gangsta Blues VP Records 2004 Top Reggae Albums: #10
Rebelution VP Records 2006 Top Reggae Albums: #11
Infallible Tarantula Records 2010
[edit] Singles
"It's A Pity" (Doctor's Darling Riddim)
"Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet"
"Cherry Brandy"
"Draw fi Mi Finger"
"Freaky Type"
"Cry and Bawl"
"Boom Wuk"
"These Streets"
"Dance 4 Me" (Mark Morrison featuring Tanya Stephens)