Independent Artist Spotlight: Panama

Most actors that try to cross over into rapping usually get a lot of flack but, Panama has been showed nothing but, love. It could be because he played a character in the very popular TV series, The Wire. Regardless Panama definitely has skills in both fields. He has been very busy working on movies and his new mixtape but, he took some time out to tell me about his music and how it is being both an actor and rapper.


Where are you from and where did you grow up?

Going back to my family I’m from Panama. I was born in Brooklyn around the Crown Heights area. I’ve been raised all over but, I don’t really claim too many places. I have to put Baltimore on the map because I went to high school and college there. I feel like that’s where I became a man. My clothing line, acting career, and music started there.

Can you tell me about your music and what you’re currently working on right now?

My sound is really heartfelt music. It’s soulful, very passionate, and very emotional. I also give a variety because I want to fill my fan base and go global. That’s the major agenda. I’m working on many projects. As far as my acting side I have a couple films in hand. They’re called 818, The Rothstein Diamond, and Holler Back.

Musically I’m about to drop this mixtape called Ring Side Seats: The Weight In. It features artists like Esso, Skyzoo, Sha Stimulii, Vic Damone, andYungtexxus. All tracks are produced by Blackjab. I’m about 1 or 2 tracks away from completion. Right now I’m pushing a single called “Make it Last”. It’s on MTV Jams, MTV2, Spike TV, and VH1. It’s also on Itunes.


In addition to rapping you’re an actor. What were you doing first?

I was acting first. I went to magnet schools and got accepted to Julliard Baltimore School for the Arts. I got accepted to NYU for acting but, went to UMBC. That’s my passion. That’s something that I can say I will still do for free. Acting is my number 1 thing. I’m always involved in some type of project either behind the scenes or in the scenes.

How do you balance the two?

They both coincide with each other. Hollywood doesn’t really take a chance with the new Black face. That’s why you see a lot of rappers go and play actors. It’s not really by choice its mandatory because they have an audience from the music. You have Ludacris, T.I., Nick Cannon, Bow Wow, and Method Man. Rick Ross just got picked for a feature. Lil Wayne will soon be in movies. So you have all these guys that have an audience already and it’s better because they’re audience is going to follow the crowd and watch that movie (in terms of the urban market).

So when music comes along I just try to focus and build my brand. Once they say, “Yo are you interested in this flick” what’s going to make it so special is that I’m already an actor at heart. So when they see me really act they’re going to think, “Oh this kid is really an actor”. I’m going to pull a Mos Def. People really don’t know that Mos Def started as an actor but, he popped as a rapper first. When he got back to acting people were like, “Yo Mos Def can really act”. That’s because he was an actor first.

Sometimes rappers or music artists get a lot of flack for trying to cross over into show biz or vice versa. How you feel about that?

If you understand both crafts then so be it. If you can really dedicate yourself to both crafts then go for it. I’m not going to just shut down a rapper that’s trying to act. If he understands it like, Andre 3000 (he actually takes the time to really go in) then I respect it. Also, like Ice Cube and LL Cool J. I respect them. They understand that it’s still a craft. They’re not just rappers trying to be in a movie. So if that’s the intention then yes. If it’s not and they’re just trying to pick up a check then I’m not for it. I’m definitely not supporting that movement because it’s millions of actors out here that are trying to do their thing and they can’t break through because their competition is already poppin’.


How long have you been rapping?

I’ve been rapping since I was 15. I took it seriously like 2 or 3 years ago. I started spittin’ my rhymes to my cousins and they said, “You’re alright. You’re not the bomb but, you’re alright.” With that minor compliment it lead to me continue. I started perfecting my skills and it went from a hobby to a profession. So I’ve been doing it professionally for 3 years.

How long have you been acting?

I want to give you the cliché answer and say all of my life (laughs). I’ve been acting for 7 years. I’ve been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 2004. My breakout point was the Wire during Season 1 and 4.

Felcia “Snoop” Pearson who is also on The Wire is an actor/rapper as well. Have you two ever collaborated?

No we’ve never collaborated. Honestly, I don’t really know Felicia like that. When you’re on a set different scenes come at different times. She was a drug dealer and I was a crackhead so we were in two different scenes. She was more killing people at night and I was more taking dope shots during the day. So we would never really see each other. I do know we’ve bumped heads but, I can’t call her up and say “Yo what up I was on The Wire with you”. I’m not really “buddy buddy” with a lot of characters on the set. I’m only cool with a few of them.

Besides The Wire are there any other shows that we should look out for you on?

I’m always getting opportunities to audition for different pilots. Just because you might be in a pilot doesn’t mean you’ll actually be in the series. I had auditioned for Three Rivers. Hopefully I’ll get a call for that. It’s more big movies right now on my end. I’ve been offered movies more than TV series.

Do you think that some of your fans from acting will cross over for you musically?

Yes, that was my platform. I was an Emcee coming into New York after I graduated. New York is very competitive and they don’t really want outside dudes. Being on The Wire was the platform for me. I would mention The Wire and they [rappers] would become my fan. So I was just able to launch off and milk it as far as I could. DJ Khaled and 50 cent actually came up to me and asked what character did I play. The conversation was much smoother then for me to say just say, “Yo, I rap.”


You find out more about Panama at:
www.myspace.com/daspanishkid
www.myspace.com/bmorecreative
www.youtube.com/itspanamababy

COMING VERY SOON
www.itspanamababy.com