Barbados has Rihanna, Trinidad lays claim to Nicki Minaj -- then there are the many stars who have Caribbean heritage flowing through their veins -- people to whom many talented Bahamian youth look up to and dream of being like. They fantasize about the opportunity to be the one who fans worldwide adore. Many try to make their dream of stardom in the music industry a reality, but as they attempt to do so they should also be aware of the fact that to ensure longevity they have to be wise according to Doug E. Fresh, legendary beat boxer, rapper and Apollo Live judge.
Known for his crazy beat-boxing skills and signature two-step, Doug E. Fresh has made a lasting impression on pop culture. Ever since he teamed up with rap legend Slick Rick for smash hits like "The Show" and "La Di Da Di", he's been carving his path as rap royalty. With almost 30 years in the business, Hip Hop's human beat box continues to rock shows. And whether he's making television appearances, giving back to communities or teaching the world how to Dougie, the 47-year-old pioneering emcee remains an influential force in the world of hip hop, as evidenced by his surprise appearances to much acclaim, during a number of sets at the recent 9th Annual Jazz in the Gardens at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. Doug E. Fresh took to the stage with Stanley Clarke, and Jamie Foxx. He even showed up for The Daz Band and the S.O.S. Band during the Old School Party.
Despite the glitz and glamor that is the industry, Doug E. Fresh says young people should educate themselves about the game. He does what he can in that arena by speaking to rising stars to make them aware. Any young person looking to get into the business he said should ensure that they aren't "blinded" by the bright lights that is the industry. And there's no better teacher, according to the man who is known as the world's greatest entertainer than experience.
"One of the things I share with the youth that want to be in the game are my experiences," he said. "When you go for a job and you get an internship, you run around and try to learn the ropes because no matter how much you learn in the books, there's a certain level of practical knowledge that you can only learn by going through the experience. So because I have so much experience, I try to share with them, to get publishing right, control, understand the way the numbers break down to make some money at the end."
He also said they should try to understand the tax game, get a good accountant, and try to deal with people they can trust. We've all heard the stories about people making it big -- of albums going platinum and the millions of dollars made from album sales, but the artist eventually declaring that they are broke.
"I tell them things that I've seen hurt people and things that affected me too. So I try to tell them from my experiences so that they can apply that," said Doug E. "And I've talked to different artists on the phone personally. I've talked to Drake, I've talked to Ross...Wayne -- cause I feel they need to hear wisdom if they want longevity, cause the money you make today may not be there tomorrow if you're not wise."'
Caribbean to the core
Even though he's an American, Doug E. Fresh is a Caribbean native to the core, having been born in Christ Church Parish, Barbados. The biggest misconception he says people make about him is thinking he has Jamaican heritage.
Recalling a trip to Jamaica where he was pulled over for speeding, he recalled even the police officer telling him he was Jamaican -- even when he tried to tell the officer he was Bajan.
"I get out the car and he says 'Who are you?' I say I'm Doug E. Fresh. 'He says,' You're Doug E. Fresh, you're Jamaican'. I say, 'No, I'm from Barbados'. He says, 'I said you Jamaican'. I say, 'Yea, mon.'" Doug E. says he got back into the car and left -- sans ticket.
"So basically," he said. "I don't claim no particular island or anything like that. I claim people, and I claim love as far as wherever I go."
He's been visiting Jamaica since 1990 with a number of sojourns to The Bahamas in between. He loves his conch.
"It just comes down to being able to embrace anybody, anyplace, anywhere, and that's the same way I perform," he said. "I perform in a way that it doesn't matter what age you are, what color you are, the one common denominator is art and fun. If you like art, and if you like to have fun, you and I will always connect."
The reason he popped up on so many artists set during the recent Miami music festival he said was because sometimes as an artist you forget it's about being an artist and not always about a check.
"When you started you always did it because you wanted to show your art and if you forget that's why you did it, you lose the gift. So I try to share it," said the entertainer born Douglas E. Davis, but is, of course, better known by his stage name, Doug. E. Fresh.
He said his goal is audience enjoyment.
"This Jazz in the Gardens was very important to kind of show how you don't know what to expect and what would happen. You don't know who is going to come out with whom. That's bigger to me than you paying me for everything that I do. The payment is in you'll enjoying yourself," he said.
And while he was definitely a surprise it was not his intention to take over any other artist's set.
"My intention whenever I perform with someone is to always try to add the piece that may not be there. For example, if Jamie [Foxx] is going left, then there has to be something done for the right. So I don't look at shows from a competitive [aspect] or of taking something from someone," he said. "I'm always looking at it as how can I complement something to make it bigger and make it better, because I never want anybody walking away saying I was good, but the show wasn't good. It doesn't work for me. What works for me is them walking away saying the show was good."
Mr. La Di Da Di
Doug E. Fresh's first appearance came in 1983 with a single on Top Flight Records called "Pass the Boo-Dah" based on "Pass the Dutchy" with Spoonie Gee and DJ Spivey. His first solo release came in 1984 with "Just Having Fun" on Soundmakers/Enjoy Records and "Original Human Beatbox" on Vintertainment. By 1985, Doug E. Fresh was one of the biggest names in rap music and his first single for Reality, "The Show/La Di Da Di" became a hip hop classic. It was recorded with the Get Fresh Crew that included MC Ricky D (only later to gain fame as Slick Rick), along with Barry Bee and Chill Will. His first LP, 1987's "Oh, My God!" featured most of his showpieces like "Play This Only at Night" and "All the Way to Heaven". His second album, 1988's "The World's Greatest Entertainer" broke into the Billboard charts thanks to the hot single "Keep Risin' To The Top".
Even though he was a 1980s household name, Doug E. Fresh does not believe that there is any era that reigns. He's a firm believer in creativity reigning and that creativity is endless and ageless.
"The only thing that matters is if something is good, it's good. So any artist that knows how to stay humble, how to stay creative and always give thanks will reign. The artist that becomes arrogant, egotistical, [and] everything is about a check and think that they can't be removed, they will be removed," he said.
As for his still youthful appearance, Doug E. Fresh says he does not allow people to stress him out.
"When you allow people to stress you out it wears you out," he said. He's learned to develop patience. And his mother's Alzheimer's disease affliction helped him on the road to developing that patience.
"Alzheimer's is a disease in which people forget, so sometimes if you don't know they have it you can flip because the person can get you upset. Being around my mother and taking care of my mother and dealing with her, it made me develop a tremendous amount of patience because I knew if I didn't have patience I couldn't take care of my mother. So I apply that same patience in every situation. I basically try to develop more patience with people. For example, somebody wants to take a picture, they don't know how to work their camera, which is common and you're just holding that smile. Instead of me bugging out, I understand that you don't know how to work the camera. So we're going to get someone who knows how to work the camera, rather than me looking at you like I'm upset. I think sometimes people get so hotheaded they just jump off and don't have no patience," he said.
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