RESPECT. Interview: A Conversation with PanamaDaPrince

“Rapper. Zombie. Brooklynite. Prophet.”

These four words, amongst others, encapsulate the illuminating presence of East New York’s own PanamaDaPrince. The same charismatic light is featured just as much in the artist’s interviews as they are in his music. Panama sat with a straight back and straight face and looked through his phone. Upon arrival, he dapped up a few of his friends, completed a transaction for one of his ALPHA hats, and took up a seat across from me, all done with a confident glow and routine manner, suggesting that impromptu meetings with friends and business deals are all customary.

Panama put his phone face down, looked up and grinned, and said “You ready?”

RESPECT.: What are you afraid of?

PanamaDaPrince: Failure- the fear of not succeeding. Ya know, when you invest so much time and energy in something, and for that to not work out, is scary. I actually also fear being normal. I know I have potential to influence others.

RESPECT.: So, say rapping never picked up for you. You released one music video but decided you weren’t feeling it anymore. What would you be doing instead?

There is no alternative. What you’re insinuating is that there is a Plan B. But, a Plan B is just a distraction for Plan A, you know? I’d branch out, but all of that would just stem from my one passion- music. All of that. I would never not do music.

RESPECT.: What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?

To find a job that’s gonna have a good pension, so I could retire at 45.

RESPECT.: Alright, but why is that the worst piece of advice?

The simple fact that someone telling me that sentence is someone telling me to sell myself short. For me to sell myself short, I’m limiting the influence I possibly could have- limiting the doors I could possibly open, not just for myself, but for other people. The most I could do for someone if I had a pension job is passing on their resume (chuckles). Doing this, on the other hand, I could open up doors and open up opportunities for other people. It’s not only what you can create, but what you can contribute to someone else, and someone else’s creations. It’s not even about me, it’s about the people around me, and people I haven’t even met yet (pauses and checks his phone).

See, it’s funny you asked that f*cking question (laughs). This email right here says, “bro, I need this digitized.” You see?! Like I’m trying to help out other people. With that pension job I would’ve been like, nah bro, I don’t know what to do. But now, I have the tools to assist other people when they’re in need. It’s a great feeling.

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RESPECT.: Since you like talking about that pension job a lot (laughs), where do you see yourself at age 60?

Being a mentor to a host of other artists- opening doors for them and sharing my knowledge for them so they can have a bit of insight on the do’s and don’ts of the music industry. Not only that, but how to be your own entrepreneur, with or without a signing. Establishing yourself and making yourself a staple within your community. Once you have that, no corporation can take that away from you- you have loyalty. Loyalty to your brand, loyalty to your music, all that.

But of course, being extremely successful, being extremely wealthy, too (laughs). But really, I just wanna make an impact. The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that never dies. So at age 60 that’s what I wanted to have made.

RESPECT.: What’s the first thing you would ask, or have asked, your music idol?

It’s funny haha. I already met my idol (laughs).

RESPECT.: That’s Kanye right?

(laughs) Yeah. I met Kanye like four years back, and the first thing I asked him was, and quote this, “Yo…. Do you have two minutes?” And he said “Nah I ain’t got time, I’m headed to dinner and I ain’t got time.” Then he said “What are you a rapper or something?” But before I could even finish the one syllable word answer, yes, he pointed with his finger and said “Go.” I’ve never been so starstruck in my entire life. I get though my first sixteen bars rapping to him, and he’s not really paying attention- looking at his phone and whatever- but I just kept rapping. When I went to my next 16 though, he started bumping his head and vibing and called one of his entourage over. It’s crazy seeing someone enjoy what you enjoy doing. And you know damn well Kanye don’t laugh or smile for s**t (laughs). And after that, we had a nice three to five minute conversation, and in it he assured me that this was what I was supposed to be doing. He walks up the block, but then he walks back halfway, and says “Yo, what’s your name?” And my dumbass gave him my government name like this n**ga was the IRS (laughs). I quickly corrected myself though. I’ve been around celebrities and normal people alike all my life, but it’s just those 7 minutes man. When I got to rap for Kanye. Damn, now I keep replaying it in my head (chuckles).

RESPECT.: How old were you?

(pauses to think, withdrawing from his flashback) 21.

RESPECT.: Alright, well just like Kanye, you’re very fashion oriented- where do you draw influence from? Is fashion something you wanna pursue as a sidebar?

I enjoy fashion, and it’s something I enjoy, and something I’m really good at, but I’m in love with music.

RESPECT.: So what’s a goal that isn’t music related then?

(thinks, then laughs) I would love to get Rihanna to wear one of my ALPHA hats, which by the way you could cop at my website. I just think her whole aura’s dope, and my hat’s are dope, so I mean I would just love to see her in an ALPHA hat.

RESPECT.: Has your environment had any positive or negative influences on you?

Oh absolutely. Listen man, I come from a real rough part of Brooklyn- I’m from East New York. So obviously there’s a lot of violence, a lot of drug dealing, a lot of police activity, police discrimination- and I’ve been a victim of all that s**t. Even though all that negativity comes from where I come from, I just take it as lessons in things I shouldn’t do. I’ll never regret being brought up there. Not for a second. It made me street smart. I don’t believe you’re always a product of your environment- if that were the case, why do we have willpower? Where you’re from doesn’t make or break you. I prefer to be from a rough neighborhood than from an upscale one.

RESPECT.: How come?

Because now I know how to play on both sides of the field. Because of my art and my creativity, and just being acquainted with people from different cultures and backgrounds, I know how to dibble and dabble in both. I have rich friends that never had to work a day in their life, and I have friends who hustle every day in their life, but I know how to interact with both circles.

RESPECT.: About two months ago, I saw on your Snapchat that you were shooting your “Tim Duncan” video in Miami. When is that coming out?

Everyone’s been anticipating this video man, and it’s coming soon. And when it drops I hope RESPECT. is gonna be the one to debut it. It’s coming soon.

On July 30th, the visual for “Tim Duncan” finally arrived. You can watch the video below, and check out more music from PanamaDaPrince at his SoundCloud.