I love when you find out that an artist you are speaking with is someone you have definitely seen before, but have no idea where. I had that happen to me at the end of 2007, when Panama hit me up. He had sent me some of his tracks earlier in 2007, but it wasn't until late 2007 that we spoke on doing this interview. Funny thing is, I was watching season 4 of The Wire, and had just watched the episode where Bubbles gets beat up and robbed, and finally two and two got put together: Panama was dude fucking Bubbles up! Come to find out, dude is a lot more than a hood who whups on smackheads - he is both an up and coming MC, as well as a man trying to get a fashion line and label going. I am kicking myself for not getting this up during the final season of The Wire, but things just happen that way. In any case, peep game:khal: First off, can you tell the people a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How did you get involved in rhyming, acting, clothing design? Who are you affiliated with?
Panama: My name is Panama aka Da Spanish Kid, Mr. “North Dat Crusie wit Da Souf” (out now), Mr. “Come see more u need more when u step foot in B’more”, I just happen to be that dude according to the public lol. I was born in NYC and partially rasied in the Bronx & Baltimore, but if cats want me to get technical I’m originally from Panama, the real jungle. I’m from where kids will pop you for a peak of the fridge or simply a dollar, it gets that ugly. I got involved in rhyming when my cousins told me I was nice at it at an early age, like 15 or 16; it’s more like a hobby not something I wanted to do on some real shit!! If people don’t know, I am an actor first before a rapper; this is the craft I will do for free because it’s my passion. The clothing line came from a good friend of mine: he started it up and I wanted in - I figured he had something hot and I wanted to help to see him prosper, and to keep it real with my fans… I wanted to get some free shit at first!! Now that I’m part owner, I am so happy I made that decision early.
khal: What is it about you that’s different than other entrepreneurs in the game?
Panama: The difference between me and other entrepreneurs in the game (is that) I have loyalty, respect and I am a true grinder - I really does this 24/7… I’m here to build relationships and start a movement. Sometimes, I think people get caught up in a lot of bullshit. I move with intelligence and caution. I can’t lie and say I don’t want to benefit from my craft or ideas that I put out, but I’m not trying to get over on people (that) I want to bring along on my journey.
khal: For those who have never heard your style before, could you describe it in 3 words?
Panama: You know, it’s quite funny that you ask that question, because I don’t feel I have a style, but let me take a stab at it. I consider myself a true artist and a natural born entertainer, but here are my three words that may describe my style: poetic, pure and fresh.khal: I also hear you are a co-CEO of YE Records. What is YE all about? How many artists are up under your label?
Panama: Yes indeed I am co-CEO of YE Records. YE is the foundation of my whole movement, it stands for Young Execs, where every man is a boss and you take orders. I run the label with my man Shawn Smith, Jr. and my cousin J’mar White. I don’t consider myself having people under me because everyone on this label is practically family, the label has 4 rappers including myself Barba, Dungin and MJ!!! At this current moment, I am YE records.
khal: Do you have any album projects coming from either yourself or other artists in the near future?
Panama: You already know that I’m grindin’. With that being said, I have a few projects coming out early 08!!! I have a tape with DJ Black Jesus from Dallas, TX entitled Street Money; to follow up that classic tape my producer/brother BlackJab teamed up with DJ Stacks and DJ Cause to drop another tape. To top all that, BlackJab and I are working on an official mix album entitled, RING SIDE SEATS: THE WEIGH IN that will have features from Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli, Vic Damone, Q Da Kid, Sparkdawg, Yungtexxus, etc. Not to mention I might squeeze another tape out before the official the mix album with DJ Ghost entitled Field Trip, so look out for that!!
khal: You spent your life growing up in two different spots on the East Coast: the Bronx and Baltimore. How did your time spent in both spots help shape the kind of guy you are, not only as an artist but as an overall person?
Panama: It shaped me up crazy: both cities are totally different, not so much the cities but the people around me. Being from New York, it made me a big competitor and a tremendous grinder, but when I came down to B’more I was able to become a man. This city is where I fought most and built relationships with some of the coolest cats you will ever meet, which today is known as YE and Bottom Line!!! I have a balance, but honestly speaking, it wasn’t these spots that molded the kid, it was my country Panama, the realest of the real, where I seen and lived in true poverty and real ghettos. Today, I stand as a young man that don’t take life for granted and knows that there is no time to waste.
khal: Speaking of Baltimore, I think its crazy that I’ve seen your work without even knowing who you are: you were dude beating Bubbles’ ass during Season 4 of The Wire! How did you get involved with such a great show?
Panama: Well, I’m an actor at heart so don’t be surprise when u see the kid in mad films and
commercials because this is what I do for real. I am a college graduate with a BA. I have a manager (Linda Townsend) and she linked up with Pat Moran, who was casting the critically acclaimed series. My manager set up an audition for the kid and I went in and did what I had to do to land the part; truth be told, I was only promised one episode, but after the directors saw my performance, they continued to write my ass in the script and I became known to be the dude that was beating up Bubbles, big shouts to BUBS!!!khal: Do you have any further acting gigs that you can talk about?
Panama: I stay auditioning for acting gigs, what I can tell you is that I’m up for a role in a new movie with Russell Crowe entitled State Of Play…other than that, I’m goin’ hard with my music and my clothing line.
khal: What are the similarities between acting and being a rap artist? If you could only do one, which would you choose, and why?
Panama: Both crafts are very much alike: you are allowed to express yourself in many different ways. Look at this way: most rap artists have a character that they create for themselves in order to sell or feel comfortable in. It’s quite hard to find a real rap artist that is truly themselves. In both crafts you need to make the characters believable in order to be respected by those who watch or by those you are entertaining. If I could only do one, I will act; this a craft I went to school for and craft that I will do for free… true passion when I display this amazing talent God has given me.
khal: Tell the people a bit about your fashion line, Bmore Creative.
Panama: Bmore Creatives’ success is a result of hand quality art inspired by spontaneous ideas that come from emotions and personal moods. The customer is presented with the opportunity to wear affordable clothing while having a fly and fresh look of color schemes, quotes, and limited edition pieces that are created with a stroke of a brush. Artists such as Juelz Santana, Method Man and Lupe Fiasco “dare to be different”, following the motto of Bmore Creative, while displaying their own lyrical art. Bmore Creative specializes in quality art, not quantity; the clothing line can be found in Baltimore, MD and will soon extend its appeal to the world. Bmore Creative clothing is universal, with a marketing and advertising concept to unite both urban and suburban America.
khal: How far are you trying to take your music career? Do you want to be someone who’s well respected in the Rap Game, or someone who is getting that cheddar?
Panama: I’m tryna take my music career as far as it can go. There is no limits to what I can do and what I can accomplish. I plan to have a lengthy career in the music industry. I am a complete artist and I’m real to what I do and what I say out of my mouth. I have a passion for this: this is not a quick scheme for me to get money, even though I do want to benefit from my talent, I do music because I love music, I act because I love acting and I entertain because I enjoy people. I want to be respected in the game and become a household name, point blank. I figure if I’m a household name and I’m well respected there is no question that the kid is getting paid.khal: Where do you see yourself and your projects going in the next, say, 5 years?
Panama: I’m gonna keep this one short and sweet, on top of the game and nothin’ but classic material…I am poetic P and you got to respect poetry!!! It’s nothin’ like hearing a fresh sound and real shit…how can you deny that…if you do, you hating and that’s always good right? Lol…you don’t have to answer that!!!
khal: What can we expect from you in the immediate future?
Panama: Just expect more music and hot tapes from the kid and me signing to one of these labels that been calling me for the past few months!!! Also, expect my personal websites and if any of my fans have names for me, message me through MySpace and I will check it out… if I decide to use your name, I will send you an autographed box set of The Wire!!!
khal: Do you have any final words or shouts you’d like to kick to the people?
Panama: First and Foremost I will like to thank my fans, it’s a beautiful thing when you know you have fans and all that. Anyway all my fans and supporters can check the kid out on YouTube for my footage!!! For all my new listeners and fans come and check out my MySpace page and my clothing line. I will also like to thank a few sites that hold me down all diddy day, HipHopBase.net (Teks), Raptalk (Dub MD), HipHopRuckus (Corey, BadNews), Talk Dat Ish (Tionna Smalls), CrackAudio.com (Stun), hiphop.org (Adept, Owl), HHPulse, Rago Magazine, ONX2804.com (S.J. American way) etc.; I will like to thank you for taking interest in the kid, I really do appreciate everything. I do this music thing for y’all; I love what I do and I’m gonna do it ‘til I can’t anymore. I will like to thank my label , my partner Andre Williams, my camera man Alex P, my engineer Antonio Corcella and my dude Awthentik (Capitol Music); I want to send a big shout to my super producer BlackJab. Much respect to every artist I deal with like my dude Rated R (ESR), Lo Smooth, Sha Stimuli, Skyzoo, Q Da Kid, Agonee and my two cousins Sparkdawg and Yungtexxus… live well, love life and laugh often…other than that lets get it!! By the way if you are ever in B’more to party come party with my promotion team Jetset Mafia and Goodlife Productions… we have the city on lock down – it’s not a game!!!
related links:
Panama on MySpace
Bmore Creative
Xclusives Zone feature
Sucker Freestyle:
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