Editing Eek-A-Mouse

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Eek-A-Mouse
| image               = Eek-A-Mouse 3 in concert Belgium Leuven Het Depot May 7 2019 03.jpg
| caption             = Eek-A-Mouse performing in 2019 in [[Leuven]], [[Belgium]]
| image_size          = 
| landscape           = yes
| background          = solo_singer
| birth_name          = Ripton Joseph Hylton
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1957|11|19|df=y}}
| origin              = [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
| genre               = [[Reggae]], [[dancehall]]
| years_active        = 1975&ndash;present
}}

'''Eek-A-Mouse''' is the stage name of '''Ripton Joseph Hylton''' (born 19 November 1957), a Jamaican [[reggae]] musician. He is one of the earliest artists to be described as a [[singjay]].{{efn|Eek-A-Mouse often softly disregards notions of himself being a deejay and singjay in live-performances, especially during his prime in the 1980s.}}<ref name="Barrow">{{cite book| last1= Barrow| first1= Steve| last2= Dalton| first2= Peter |year= 2004| title= The Rough Guide To Reggae| edition= 3rd| publisher= [[Rough Guides]] |isbn= 1-84353-329-4}}</ref> He is known for pioneering his own style of [[Scat singing|scatting]], differing from the-then [[Toasting (Jamaican music)|toasting]] [[deejays]] in the 1980s. Apart from his distinctive vocal style, Eek-A-Mouse has been noted for often wearing flashy and eccentric costumes during his performances.<ref name= "ny bok" /> In a 1985 interview, he explained: "Entertaining is not just singing and rapping to audiences. People want to see you in costume and dancing."<ref name="SPIN85">{{cite magazine| last= Snowden| first= Don|editor1-last= Berens|editor1-first= Jessica| date= August 1985| title= FLASH: Fishbone; Meat Puppets; Eek-A-Mouse; Wendy Chambers; Krush Groove; World Beat; Who is Elizabeth Daily?| pages=10|url= https://archive.org/details/spin-04-august-1985/page/10/mode/1up| magazine= SPIN| location= New York| access-date = 22 April 2024}}</ref>

==Early life, family and education==
Ripton Joseph Hylton was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. He attended college.

==Career==
Hylton began his music career when he was in college, releasing two [[roots reggae]] singles under his own name, which were produced by his mathematics tutor, Mr. Dehaney. These early works were influenced by the music of [[Pablo Moses]].<ref name="Barrow" /><ref name= "Thompson">{{cite book| last= Thompson| first= Dave |year= 2002| title= Reggae & Caribbean Music| publisher= Backbeat Books |isbn= 0-87930-655-6}}</ref> Hylton worked for various [[Sound system (Jamaican)|sound systems]] over the next few years and also released a few more singles. He adopted his [[stage name]] in 1979 after betting on a racehorse of that name;<ref name= "ny bok">{{cite web| url= https://www.mitti.se/nyheter/eekamouse-aktuell-med-ny-bok-om-pandemiaret-i-dalen-6.27.12689.1cba74223d | title= Eek-A-Mouse aktuell med ny bok om pandemiåret i Dalen| trans-title= Eek-A-Mouse has new book about the pandemic year in Dalen | website= mitti.se| publisher= | language= sv| date= 2021-10-08| access-date= 2025-05-21}}</ref> it was a nickname his friends had used for some time.<ref name="Thompson" /><ref name="Larkin">{{cite encyclopedia| last= Larkin| first= Colin| year= 1998| title= Eek-A-Mouse| encyclopedia= The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae| publisher= Virgin Books |isbn= 0-7535-0242-9| page= }}</ref><ref name="Greene">{{cite web| last= Greene| first= Jo-Ann [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p2882/biography|pure_url=yes}} Eek-A-Mouse Biography]", allmusic, Macrovision Corporation</ref> He began recording for [[Joe Gibbs (record producer)|Joe Gibbs]] in 1979, having a hit straight away with "Once a Virgin", now showing the influence of [[Ranking Joe]],<ref name="Barrow" /> and this was soon followed with "Wa-Do-Dem" (produced by Douglas Boothe), and "Modelling Queen", which began an association with [[Linval Thompson]], who produced his debut ''Bubble Up Yu Hip'' album.<ref name="Thompson" />

By the end of 1980, he was working with producer [[Henry "Junjo" Lawes]], with whom he had big hits in 1981 with the likes of "Virgin Girl" and a recut "Wa-Do-Dem".<ref name="Larkin" /> In 1981, he was the star of the [[Reggae Sunsplash]] Festival, cheering audiences still mourning over the death of reggae icon [[Bob Marley]].<ref name="Greene" /> His association with Lawes led to a string of successful singles and albums, and in 1982 his hits included "Wild Like a Tiger", "For Hire and Removal", "Do You Remember", and "Ganja Smuggling". The same year he released his second album, ''Wa Do Dem''.<ref name="Greene" /> The "Operation Eradication" single showed Hylton's serious side, the song inspired by the vigilante killing of close friend and fellow DJ [[Errol Shorter]].<ref name="Thompson" /><ref name="Greene" /><ref name="Lesser">Lesser, Beth (2008) ''Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture'', Soul Jazz, {{ISBN|978-0-9554817-1-0}}, p.37</ref> ''Skidip'' was released before the year was out.

Further albums followed: ''Mouse and the Man'' (1983), produced by Linval Thompson, and ''Mouseketeer'' (1984), produced by Junjo Lawes. Eek-A-Mouse also featured on several of the live dancehall albums from the era, including the ''Aces International'' and ''Live at Skateland'' collections.<ref name= "Thompson" /> In the second half of the decade his popularity began to wane slightly, and he targeted the United States with the ''Assassinator'' album in 1985 (his first US release), produced by Anthony and Ronald Welch.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Greene" /> He also travelled to the United Kingdom to record ''The King and I'' the same year, the album targeted at the [[Rock music|rock]] crossover audience to which he had begun to appeal.<ref name="Thompson" />

His 1988 album ''Eek-A-Nomics'' saw him begin to establish himself with an international audience, spawning a club hit with "The Freak", and he was signed by [[Island Records]] in 1989.<ref name="Greene" /> He returned to prominence with 1991's ''U-Neek'' album, which continued the rock-oriented style, including a [[cover version]] of [[Led Zeppelin]]'s "[[D'yer Mak'er]]", and from which the hit single "You're The One I Need" was taken.<ref name="Larkin" /><ref name="Greene" /> He went through a period of relative quietness before returning in 1996 with the ''Black Cowboy'' album.<ref name="Thompson" />

He also has a performance in the 1991 gangster movie ''[[New Jack City]]'',<ref name= "ny bok" /> playing a drug-dealing Rastafarian named Fat Smitty.<ref name="Thompson" /> That same year, he also had a performance in ''[[Out for Justice]]'' playing a chauffeur of a pimp.

Eek-A-Mouse was a regular performer at [[Reggae Sunsplash]], often teaming up with reggae duo [[Michigan & Smiley]]. An album of their 1982 performance was released by Sunsplash Records.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eek A Mouse* / Michigan & Smiley – Live At Reggae Sunsplash |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4154337-Eek-A-Mouse-Michigan-Smiley-Live-At-Reggae-Sunsplash |website=Discogs.com |access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>

He performed in Jamaica for the first time in eight years in August 2015 at the Marcus Garvey Festival in [[Ocho Rios]].<ref>{{cite web| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20151122182725/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Eek-A-Mouse-in-make-over-mode_19239735| last= Campbell |first= Howard |title=Eek-A-Mouse in make-over mode|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Eek-A-Mouse-in-make-over-mode_19239735 |work=[[Jamaica Observer]]| date=22 November 2015|accessdate=22 November 2015|archivedate=22 November 2015}}</ref>

== Collaborations ==
Eek guests on [[Roger Kellaway]]'s 1984 release ''Creation'', contributing his voice to the title track. He was also featured on [[nu metal]] group [[P.O.D.]]'s album ''[[Satellite (P.O.D. album)|Satellite]]'', lending his vocals to the rock-reggae track "Ridiculous." He can also be heard on [[OPM (band)|OPM]]'s album, ''[[ForThemAsses]]'', on the track "Perfect Day." Eek-A-Mouse recorded a song with hip-hop recording artist Ditch, called "Smoke it up" (2007, released in 2009), which is featured on Ditch's  CD ''Public Intoxication''. The song by Ditch and Eek-a-Mouse is featured on the Jack Herer documentary as well. Eek was featured with background vocals on the hit single "Khaki Suit", also featuring [[Bounty Killer]], from the [[Grammy]]-award winning album ''[[Welcome to Jamrock]]'' by [[Damian Marley]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=Claudia |title=‘It’s Gonna Be Real Dancehall,’ Damian Marley Is Executive Producer For Bounty Killer’s First Album In 18 Years |url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2020/06/25/news/its-gonna-be-real-dancehall-damian-marley-is-executive-producer-for-bounty-killers-first-album-in-18-years.html |website=Dancehall Mag |access-date=15 April 2024 |date=25 June 2020}}</ref> Eek was also part of the recording of one of the most important German hip hop albums ''[[Blauer Samt]]'' by [[Torch (German rapper)]]. He can be heard on the track "Auf der Flucht" ("On the run").

==Personal life==
As of 2021, Eek-A-Mouse has resided in [[Sweden]] with his partner since 2017.<ref name= "ny bok" /> He has eight offspring: five who reside in the US, and three who reside in Jamaica.<ref name= "ny bok" />

===Legal issues===
[[File:Eek-A-Mouse 1 in concert Belgium Leuven Het Depot May 7 2019 01.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|Eek-A-Mouse performing in 2019]]
[[File:Eek-A-Mouse (Swea reggae festival 2006).jpg|thumb|200 px|right|Eek-A-Mouse performing in 2006]]
On 16 August 2008, Eek-a-Mouse was arrested on charges of rape and narcotics possession in [[Dare County, North Carolina]] after a performance at the Port O'Call restaurant. Having fled the US, he failed to appear at his first hearing, so the court issued an "order to arrest".<ref name="OB">{{cite news |last1=Lay |first1=Russ |title=Details emerge in singer Eek-A-Mouse’s plea deal |url=https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/04/details-emerge-in-singer-eek-a-mouses-plea-deal/#:~:text=“Eek-A-Mouse”,a%20public%20place”%20in%202000. |access-date=15 April 2024 |publisher=The Outer Banks Voice |date=4 August 2013}}</ref> with a US$1 million bond issued.<ref name="kdhnc1">{{cite web |url= http://www.kdhnc.com/documents/12/CrimeBlotter_201211301439057852.pdf |title=Crime Blotter 201211301439057852 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130729185319/http://www.kdhnc.com/documents/12/CrimeBlotter_201211301439057852.pdf |archive-date=29 July 2013 |access-date= 2013-03-20}}</ref> He was discovered to be in the [[Netherlands]] in 2010, but was unable to travel due to either an expired visa or the [[2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull|volcanos in Iceland]].<ref name="OB"/>

On 21 November 2012, Eek-a-Mouse was found in [[Paraguay]] without a proper visa and was eventually extradited to the US.<ref name="kdhnc1"/> He was  charged with felony rape, felony kidnapping, felony cocaine charges and misdemeanor relating to possession of marijuana.<ref name="Free">{{Cite web |date=30 August 2013 |title=Eek-A-Mouse is a free man |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Eek-A-Mouse-is-a-free-man_14970312/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903032446/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Eek-A-Mouse-is-a-free-man_14970312/ |archive-date=3 September 2013 |access-date=31 August 2013 |website=Jamaica Observer}}</ref> In July 2013 he was released after a plea agreement, having pleaded [[no contest]] to misdemeanor charges for assault on a female and attempted [[crime against nature]], with his time already spent in jail covering his sentence.<ref name="Free" /> He was deported to [[Jamaica]].<ref name="OB"/>

==Discography ==
[[ File:Eek-A-Mouse with band (Swea reggae festival, 2006).jpg|thumb|200 px|Eek-A-Mouse with band performing in 2006]]
;Studio albums:
*''Bubble Up Yu Hip'' (1980), [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]]
*''Wa-Do-Dem'' (1981), [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]
*''Skidip!'' (1982), Shanachie
*''The Mouse and the Man'' (1983), Shanachie
*''Assassinator'' (1983), [[RAS Records|RAS]]
*''Mouseketeer'' (1984), Greensleeves
*''The King and I'' (1985), Original Sounds/(1986), RAS
*''[[Eek-A-Nomics]]'' (1988), RAS
*''[[U-Neek]]'' (1991), [[Island Records|Mango]]
*''Black Cowboy'' (1996), Explicit
*''Eeeksperience'' (2001), Coach House
*''Mouse Gone Wild'' (2004), Sanctuary
*''Eek-A-Speeka'' (2004), Greensleeves
*''Eekziled'' (2011)
*''Put Food On The Ghetto Youth Table'' (2022), Irie Ites

;Live albums:
*''Live At Reggae Sunsplash'' (1983), Sunsplash (with Michigan & Smiley)
*''Live in San Francisco'' (2006), 2B1

;Compilations:
*''[[Mouse-A-Mania]]'' (1987), RAS
*''The Very Best Of'' (1987), Greensleeves
*''Ras Portraits'' (1997), RAS
*''At His Best'' (1998)
*''The Very Best Of Vol.2'' (2003), Shanachie
*''Most Wanted'' (2009), Greensleeves
*''Ganja Smuggling'' (2009)
*''Reggae Anthology: Eek-Ology'' (2013), [[VP Records|VP]]

==See also==
*[[Hyman Wright]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{IMDb name|id=0250505| name=Eek-A-Mouse}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jamaican reggae musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Greensleeves Records artists]]