HE MAY have catchy hits such as Beautiful Girls and Take You There playing incessantly on the radio, but reggae/hip-hop singer Sean Kingston is still your typical teenager.

The 18-year-old took a 10-minute break for a quick bite just before his interview with Life! on Wednesday, subsequently leaving a trail of Kentucky Fried Chicken packets on the table of Pan Pacific Hotel's Ocean 11 meeting room.

The ravenous rapper still had food on his mind when asked what he liked about Singapore: He replied excitedly that he enjoyed the barbecued sting ray and chilli beef he ate here.

Then, he suddenly turned weary, noting after a long pause that the weather here is similar to his home town of Jamaica.

After a late night performing a special showcase at the Ministry of Sound nightclub complex at Clarke Quay, he looked exhausted and - apart from his food reply - generally answered questions in an uninspired fashion.

This was a different side to the teenager seen smiling and bopping along in a video while singing his infectious debut tune, Beautiful Girls.

The single, released last year, topped the local radio charts on Power 98 and 987FM. His self-titled album debuted on the American Billboard 200 charts at No. 6.

He told Life! that his songs are meant to be enjoyable, although his lyrics include observations of life on the streets or in ghettoes because of 'what I saw growing up'.

Although his songs are about love and heartbreak, the artist, who is single, said he had never been in a bad relationship. He said that for inspiration, he imagines himself in those situations.

In his free time, he listens to fellow hip-hop artists such as A-Kon and Jay-Z and is also a fan of Stevie Wonder, soul singer Lauryn Hill and R&B singer John Legend.

On his next album, he said it will be the same type of music but the sound will be more mature: 'I've been around the world and I'm 18 now, so I try to keep the songs and lyrics real.'

And he promised to make his way back here in October for a proper concert, adding: 'I want to say thanks to all my fans in Singapore for supporting me, and I will continue to make good music. Much love, God bless.'

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'I've been around the world and I'm 18 now, so I try to keep the songs and lyrics real'

Singer Sean Kingston on his next album, which he says will be more mature