Introducing Mohombi

Universal Music is partnering with super producer RedOne (Michael Jackson, Sean Kingston, Enrique Iglesias, Akon, and Lady Gaga) on a new label, 2101 Records, and is launching with the unique powerhouse talent of Mohombi. The 23-year-old singer/songwriter was born to a Swedish mother and Congolese father, and draws on his diverse cultural heritage to create a musical style that is as distinctive as it is universal. Combining African influences with a global pop sensibility, Mohombi's style and sound - as well as his distinctive dance moves - are destined for worldwide success.

The undulating, dancehall grooves of first single "Bumpy Ride" serve as introduction to the urgency of Mohombi's sound as well as a parallel to his own life's "bumpy ride." Raised in Congo, Mohombi and his family escaped the war-torn country for Stockholm, Sweden in 1998. It was there that he and his brother, a local club DJ, formed the group Avalon, combining the dancehall and hip hop of the time with the distinctive African beats on which they were raised. From 2004 to 2008 the group sold over half a million records and won an African Grammy, while Mohombi became a prolific songwriter in his own right. At this point music was only a part-time job, and looking for something more Mohombi headed to LA. There he was introduced through friends to producer RedOne, whose own background is Swedish-Morrocan. The two clicked instantly, and are now set to release the young star's debut album Movemeant early next year.

The video for "Bumpy Ride" was shot in Miami and was directed by Gil Green (Rick Ross, Lil Jon, Akon) and perfectly captures Mohombi's feel-good vibe. Experience his sound firsthand by watching the video, and visit Mohombi.com for all the latest updates. "Bumpy Ride" is available for download now on iTunes.