French dancehall singer Admiral T was born Christy Campbell on March 29, 1981, in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. A lifelong fan of the pioneering reggae of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, he also absorbed influences spanning from Caribbean zouk to salsa to traditional African music . At 16 he joined the DJ collective Karukéra Sound System, debuting on the 1997 LP Rapide and scoring a 2000 hit with "Gwadada." In mid-2003 Admiral T exited the KSS to mount a solo career, channeling the spirit of his native Creole culture for his debut album, Mozaik Kreyol. Originally released on the West Indian label Don's Music, the record proved a cult phenomenon and was reissued via the major label Universal in the autumn of 2004. After starring in Jean-Claude Flammand's 2005 feature film Nèg Maron, Admiral T issued his sophomore effort, Toucher l'Horizon, a year later.