Spin D Music - Entertainment News

Leftside... dancehall artistes are seen as role models so we have a responsibility to the young people

Kingston, Jamaica: May 24th 2008
Source: jamaicaobserver.com

The dancehall hotshot talks exclusively to Splash about ending a bad musical partnership, finding success and happiness as a solo artiste and why dancehall artistes need to clean up their act.

BEFORE he even utters a word, his street-steeped swagger announces his arrival inside the New Kingston family home he's known all his life. It's a few minutes after 4:00 pm on a postcard-perfect May afternoon and as he pushes the air with his shoulders to find a seat on the couch, he resembles the ultimate dancehall poster-boy, one with an insatiable hunger for mega-success and all the trappings that come with it. He's late for his interview but with good reason. For the man known as Leftside (or Mr Evil) to fans, these are ultra-busy days coloured with a range of family-oriented and professional concerns.

"I'm working on my album so that is taking up a lot of my time right now," he offers, dressed in a black muscle tee, blue denim jeans, a brand new du-rag and silver jewellery.

Like any new kid on the block, making a memorable entrance into the world of albums and album sales is foremost on the 29-year-old artiste's mind. After all, these days the competition is fierce with a new 'star on the rise' being anointed in the dancehall every week.

"For me, right now there's a lot of ground to cover. It's all about constant growth for me, and I'm glad for all the support I've been receiving from the public, radio and TV. It's just for me to now take it to that next level. In this biz, there's never room for complacency," he wisely puts it.

But he modestly says all this before mentioning that he has one of the hottest new singles, Back It Up (featuring Sean Paul) currently climbing the charts and taking over the clubs and music video playlists. Having been tight with SP for years, it was only a matter of time before a collaboration materialised.

"Sean and I have been friends for years. I produced tracks for his Stage One album and used to go on the road with him a lot before his international success and all the platinum sales. So when he heard that I got a record deal, we decided to do a collabo for the album. It's all good," he says.

And with artistes like Sean Paul offering support for his upcoming project, Leftside says his expectations of a smash success are even bigger.

HOUSE OF MUSIC

The son of famous vintage musician, Lloyd Parkes (frontman of the We The People Band), Craig 'Leftside' Parkes was born and raised in St Andrew "with music in my bloodstream". Over the years, the Ardenne High grad has proven himself to be a savvy music progeny with big dreams of a career in the industry. Along the way, he has gained invaluable first-hand experience and increased his knowledge, playing drums for his father's band, working with a sound system (Syndicate Disco) to producing tracks for a who's who of dancehall artistes.

So, the million-dollar question many are asking? Just how did this one-time behind-the-scenes man go from being virtually unknown to becoming one of dancehall's most popular and potent lyricists and a superstar-in-the-making? Good, old-fashioned ambition.

"I have learnt a lot from just watching older and more experienced artistes do their thing. So since becoming an artiste, that has helped me in promoting my music and my career. It took a big transition but I think it all flowed smoothly for me," he explains, sounding like the true hustler who's proud to have learnt the ropes of the biz quite early.

Nowadays, with female fans galore and a string of catchy and flavourful hit singles under his belt, Leftside seems to represent the triumph of pure talent over manufactured industry hype.

These days greater success seems assured for the artiste, who admits that it was only a matter of time before fame and the celebrity spotlight came knocking on his door. And he refused to let the 2007 collapse of his groundbreaking partnership with long-time friend Matthew 'Esco' Thompson derail his ascension to stardom.

"We have known each other for many years and we both worked as selectors with Syndicate Disco," Leftside tells Splash. He goes on to explain that after being selectors for a while, they decided to form the self-named duo, sacrificing "the sound thing" to start working together on singles. The chart-topper Tuck Een Yuh Belly came shortly after and several other club-ready singles followed. But after close to four years, the atmosphere changed.

"We had internal differences and sometimes our personalities would clash so that was one problem. Then a record deal came about so I had to decide whether I was going to take it up or continue with the group. So we just decided to end it there because things were not going the best possible way," he explains. "There is no animosity between us but we don't really keep a strong link like one time. But if we see each other, we hail up and that's it."

Choosing to leave the duo, Leftside got off the proverbial boat so he could test the waters (however deep), taking his drive and commitment to excellence with him. But his new solo journey has not been without its share of obstacles.

"The hardest part about being a solo artiste now is doing everything - building rhythms, recording and doing street promotion - by myself. I wasn't accustomed to that. So I had to form a team, with my brother (Noel) as my road manager. That way I can worry less and focus on making music."

ME, MYSELF AND I

The many sides of Craig Parkes will play out on his upcoming album Split Personality (via New York-based Ultra Records), which is scheduled to drop in late August and boasts an all-star lineup, including Sean Paul, Elephant Man, Aidonia and newcomer Tash Simmonds. It's a lyrical sparring between the always-dapper brother we know as Leftside and his mischievously comical flip side Mr Evil, a name he doesn't want to be interpreted the wrong way.

"It's all about fun and everybody likes to laugh. So I don't want people to think that I am promoting anything bad. If you listen to my Mr Evil character you will realise that it's just about fun and comedy," he says, explaining the alter ego he adopted from the popular Austin Powers movie. "Leftside is the smooth character, the ladies' man while Mr Evil is the more fun and lyrical side. So they complement each other," he adds.

No doubt his fans can relate. Fans including his famous pop, who has nothing but encouragement for his son.

"He's successful because he knows what he's doing. He just needs to stay conscious and keep focused," Lloyd Parkes tells Splash, taking a break from some music he's working on.

Avoiding personal drama at all costs is one thing Leftside has vowed to do. That's probably why he's put relationships aside to focus full-time on his music career and his five-year-old son, Jehlani (from a past relationship with his high school sweetheart).

"I'm single at the moment because relationships can be distracting when you're trying to focus on something you want to accomplish. So I'm keeping that area of my life clear right now," he says. "My music and my son are my main focus right now."

An unabashed nature lover, non-smoker, non-drinker, regular gym-goer and part-time basketball pro, Leftside believes dancehall artistes and other stakeholders in the industry need to do take their roles as people of influence more seriously.

"Dancehall artistes are seen as role models so we have a responsibility to our country and the young people. We need to help bring back some level of control to society in any way we can. A lot of people don't understand how powerful music is, and young people are easily misled so we have to take our responsibility seriously," he insists.

From all indications, Leftside's got a firm grip on the baton. But is he dancehall's saving grace or just the flavour du jour? Only time will tell. In the meantime, the multi-talented star is determined to find the inner strength and the will to keep on his quest for prosperity.

"I am looking for the kind of longevity that Jay Z and Mariah Carey have by singing songs that people can relate to. It's going good for me, so right now, it's all about maintaining the energy and creativity," he says in a confident tone. Did I mention that he's much, much taller than on TV? .