INTERVIEW

Interview & pictures : Filip Flatau on Sunday, November 12th 2000 - 10 841 views  Print        Reactions  (0)    Born Patrick Ricardo Jackson, Harry Toddler was the former leader of the Scare dem Crew with Elephant Man, Nitty Kuchie and Boom Dandymite, before he converted to Christianity and announced his wish to leave the group. Harry Toddler made his name with his first hit: "Bad Man Nuh Dress Like Girl". His solo work really allowed him to blow up artistically, adding a string of tunes to his name. According to some rumours, a reconciliation within the Scare dem Crew seems to be on the horizon. Reggaefrance / Can you tell me about your beginnings? Harry Toddler / I come from St Andrew. I started singing at the age of 14. I was inspired by Grammy Kidds, and Barka D, who was Shabba Ranks' best friend (and committed suicide), and Devon Clarke too. How did you meet the other members of the Scare Dem Crew (Boom Dandymite, Nitty Kutchi, Elephant Man)? I was at King Jammys when I met Boom Dandymite, who needed to do a combination. Nitty Kutchie was already at Jammys. I met Elephant Man at Mixing Lab and we told him we were at Jammys. All four of us met and formed a group. What was Bounty's role in your career? Well, Bounty did a song "Big Gun Scare Dem" and we just took the name and created the Scare Dem Crew... You converted to Christianity a year ago... (He interrupts) They killed my child and my friends. I became frustrated with this violence, so I went to church to meditate and pray. You know, they kill your family, your friends, your children, in the street... I couldn't go on in such conditions. That's why I left the Scare Dem to put my faith in God and work in peace. You've created a new style, a new dance, a new name... Yes, a new style, a new image. Everything is new in Jamaica. Harry Toddler changed Jamaica. Harry Toddler changed the rules of the business. The dance: Dance of the Angel is number 1 in New York, it was number 1 in Jamaica, it was knocked off and now it's number 1 again. Can you describe the new Harry Toddler? I'm cuter than before: when the girls see me they dig me. My hair is short, no style, just curly. It's still coloured, you might spot me with white, orange or yellow hair. You also launched the style "Nah Nah Nah" Yes, but that one's gone: now it's "Jah Jah Jah" What are your plans for the future? My CD is called "Dance With The Angel", because Toddler is an angel. It will have 20 songs and will come out at the end of December. You recently re-recorded a song with Boom Dandymite (a former member of the Scare Dem Crew)? Yes, we recorded it not long ago. It's called "Cut dem Of". The aim of the song is to get rid of the wicked man so as to live clean. So there's a strong possibility that the Scare Dem will re-form? Yes, we're thinking about it at the moment, because next year I'm launching my project of creating a new label called "Star Angel". So will you record with Elephant Man and Nitty Kutchie again? Yes, soon Do you have a message for your fans in Europe? Harry Toddler See Dem Soon. Tell them they'll see me in Europe soon, very soon. God Is Over Devil.  Print       Reactions (0)

REACTIONS

No comment