WE ARE PANAMA 🇵🇦 FEAT. SHANA VEE , LEE MAJOR & DIANNE GIBBS - PANAMA CULTURE & PANAMANIAN IN BK

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]We are Flatbush.

[00:00:01]>> Been talking a lot of [ __ ] since I've been here.

[00:00:03]>> No, you've been talking some realistic [ __ ] >> So we are Flatbush >> and we are what?

[00:00:09]>> We are Panameian.

[00:00:10]>> We are Paname. We are Panameanian to the bone. Rainbow City, >> Colent period >> right there. That's where it stop.

[00:00:22]So you know it go. Make sure you we are FL. Make sure you support the thing cuz if you don't support the thing, YOU SUPPORT THE THING.

[00:00:31]>> So you had the coolest legend, the cool the DJ alert. Flatbush. That's all I got to say. One word. Flatbush. Enough said.

[00:00:40]>> Flatbush. What's good?

[00:00:42]>> We are Flatbush.

[00:00:42]>> I know you.

[00:00:43]>> We are Flatbush.

[00:00:45]>> You already know what's going on. We are Flatbush.

[00:00:48]>> We are Flatbush all day, every day, twice on [ __ ] Sunday. [ __ ] out of here. The views and opinions of the guest on We Are Flapbush does not reflect the views and opinions of the platform. We do not instigate, propagate, or glorify anything. It's all educational and entertainment purposes only. Please enjoy and thank you for watching. It's your boy Popey represent for We Are Flush. And today we having a conversation about Panama, the history of Panama. And we're going to talk about the history of Panama in New York City, especially Flapish and Crown Heights.

[00:01:23]and we going to take it down to the regular home. So today we got my sis Diane, we got Shauna, and we have Lee Major. You know what I mean?

[00:01:31]>> The general.

[00:01:33]>> Definitely the general right there. So today we going to start off with my sister Diane. Talk to the people, Diane.

[00:01:39]Let the people know why we here today.

[00:01:41]>> So today we wanted to address the topic of growing up Panamanian in our Caribbean community in Flatbush. Um my father was Panamanian. Um, I was heavily influenced by Panameanian culture.

[00:01:55]Although many of you may not know that because my mother's Trinidadian, but my father is Panameanian from Colon and came to this country at 5 years old speaking Spanish. He left this earth speaking no Spanish, only English. So that whole evolution is um what brought me to Shauna's page because she was talking about the influence of Panameanian music, Panameanian culture, >> and also the Caribbean influence within Panama and how we're all connected.

[00:02:23]>> So if you want to introduce yourself, that would be great. Um, so my name on Instagram is I am Shaina V and I make content about everything Panama, living in Panama history, Panama history, especially when it comes to black Panameanian history. Not that I not that I don't love Panameanian history, but I love black Panameanian history.

[00:02:47]>> Well, I'm glad you said that. You say black Panameanian history.

[00:02:51]>> Yes.

[00:02:51]>> What is black panameanian history? Okay.

[00:02:54]So, black Panameanian history in Panama is very layered, right? There's different. So, in Panama, there are subcultures and then they are there's a culture, sorry. Then there's a subculture and then what I like to call micro cultures. So, within those cultures, there's other many cultures, >> right? Um, and as a Panameanian that grew up in New York City, Brooklyn to be exact, that is another part of the culture of the global culture, >> right? Um, to answer your question, what was like what what was it like growing up in New York City back then? Back then, the Panameans had Brooklyn on lock. All right. Panameans, we was outside. We were there was so many activities to go to. There was no place that you would go where someone wouldn't ask you, "Are you Panama?" Because you would either have the earrings, the chain, the jewelry, either the gold teeth.

[00:03:51]>> I was just about to say the gold [laughter] teeth on the left hand side.

[00:03:54]That's a must. That's a must.

[00:03:56]>> The black ball with the the initial. I have one and I don't know what it's called.

[00:03:59]>> Um so that's the um it's a they call it a Oh, but it's like a they it's I think I I don't remember but it's like the ball the eye of a bull.

[00:04:07]>> Yes. Yes. Yes.

[00:04:09]>> Um and so that that's not in style no more. That was back then.

[00:04:14]>> That's not in style.

[00:04:16]>> But every if you was a Panama girl in high school, you had it. If you were if you had a friend that was from Panama, you either had the earrings, >> you know, the name play earring or the name pl you everybody knew. Like for me there was a lot of pride growing up. My mom made sure we knew exactly where we were coming from. We were I used to dance um Panameanian folklore which at the time I just thought it was dancing but now that I'm older I realize this was history lessons. My my mom was instilling history in me through dancing and movement. I didn't know that then >> but I know it now.

[00:04:52]>> Thank you for spreading the knowledge because I think we all need that. Um like I said I grew up in a household with a Panameanian father, grandmother and aunt that spoke and wrote English fluently.

[00:05:03]>> Yeah. and I speak no Spanish and because of the lack of the language is what kept me from embracing that part of the culture, >> right? So, learning through your platform, it engaged me immediately.

[00:05:17]>> And my my my childhood friend here who we grew up together, we went to to um >> public school together. One PS 198.

[00:05:26]>> Yeah.

[00:05:27]>> Showing y'all a show.

[00:05:30]>> There a lot of people that didn't even make it this this far. So, you know, he's a legend in his own right as a >> Yes. Sure. Say what you want to say.

[00:05:39]>> I could say as a dance hall, DJ, producer.

[00:05:42]>> Yes.

[00:05:43]>> But many people I think Yeah. They they associate you with being Jamaican.

[00:05:48]>> Yes.

[00:05:48]>> But actually, Randy is from Panama.

[00:05:50]>> Yes.

[00:05:51]>> Can you explain that?

[00:05:53]>> Let's talk about that.

[00:05:54]>> Okay. So in in when we started right when I started it's such a long story but to get to the point um I was one of those that broke the barriers of being a panameanian to go into the culture. So people used to familiarize me and said I was Jamaican.

[00:06:13]I would deny it. I would definitely deny 100% cuz I thought it was disrespect to my family plus my culture. But people was like, "Yo, you might as well be Jamaican because you do everything like a Jamaican."

[00:06:25]>> I thought you was Jamaican. I knew until now I >> You didn't know that?

[00:06:28]>> I never knew you was No. No cap.

[00:06:30]>> Never knew you. No cap. I always thought you >> So I said to him when we was talking, I said, "You got number."

[00:06:35]>> Okay.

[00:06:35]>> You got you got lead number. [laughter] >> You could edit that out, but you do you have lean number, right? And and I was like, he's >> I'll be honest. And we going to talk about >> sounds so good. You being a club.

[00:06:48][laughter] And from beginning we used to play in Builmore.

[00:06:53]>> Yeah.

[00:06:54]>> Way before Bill.

[00:06:55]>> Well, true. I I think I came to one of your first basement party.

[00:06:58]>> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Basement party with red light special.

[00:07:01]>> 37th Street.

[00:07:05]>> You know, >> I said let's let's bring Lee in on the conversation because I think you have the knowledge especially from the Brooklyn side like how Panameanians show up, right? and how Panameanian culture influenced this genre called reggae tone as I've learned from >> Shaina. Yeah, I thought reggae tone was um created in Puerto Rico.

[00:07:27]>> Okay.

[00:07:28]>> I mean I being honest I just usually hear that but now I'm hearing the back the backstory of it is really came from Panama.

[00:07:36]>> Yes.

[00:07:36]>> Can you break that down? It's an ongoing battle with that. But >> okay, >> I like how she she breaks it down very professionally [clears throat] and then she gets into cuz we all need to know this when we have kids >> sometimes we have to go to their level not on no disrespect to understand them.

[00:07:52]This nice young lady here she goes up to higher than she comes right down to your your level to understand and comprehend on the culture. So please passionate about her history.

[00:08:02]>> In order to understand how we even got there you have to understand the history. Right.

[00:08:07]>> So, in the 1900s, there was a huge recruitment from the American government to build this canal.

[00:08:14]>> So, what they did was they sent people out into the Caribbean to recruit people, right?

[00:08:21]>> It was deceptive because they sent a man, and this is story, and this is documented. Anybody can look this up, okay? My parents, my father actually told me the story, and I looked it up myself, and it's true. What they would do is they would send a black man with a gold tooth because gold tooth back in the day, which was not a black thing, by the way, just to put that out. It was a a sign of of wealth.

[00:08:41]>> Okay?

[00:08:42]>> So, they send this black man out into the Caribbeans. He has a gold tooth. And he was dressed real well, dressed apart.

[00:08:48]He looked like a money man.

[00:08:49]>> And they would send these black men out to the Caribbean, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Martineique, to all these different places and say, "Hey, basically, come to Panama. There's work.

[00:09:01]Now, you come from nothing and they'll they'll they'll go to the plantation field where these people are working, sugarcane fields, these places, >> and you see this black man like you don't have no hope. Imagine you being a black man. You don't see nothing else.

[00:09:14]You have no hope. Now, all of a sudden, you see somebody like you and you see they're making money, >> right?

[00:09:18]>> Right.

[00:09:19]>> Make you a believer.

[00:09:20]>> Make you a [clears throat] believer.

[00:09:22]>> Oh, I could go to Panama and I could look like this. So, they they packed up these men these men in these ships in these deckers. That's why they would call these men deckers. Okay?

[00:09:32]>> And they shipped them to Panama. When when they got to Panama now, >> the reality of what was expected wasn't really what it was.

[00:09:40]>> Okay? They were expecting we just going to work. When they got there, they gave these men the worst jobs.

[00:09:47]>> Most dangerous.

[00:09:48]>> The most dangerous jobs.

[00:09:49]>> Okay?

[00:09:50]>> They were working with dynamite. So, some of these men lost their lives. The story is is that if you were given the task for dynamite, the men would pack up all their belongings and give it to their friends and say, "Hey, >> I might not make it up.

[00:10:02]>> I might not make it. So, if I die, give this to my family."

[00:10:06]>> Wow.

[00:10:07]>> They worked with mudslides. They experienced uh yellow fever, malaria, all these different diseases, right?

[00:10:14]>> To make matters worse, they were paid less. So, they had the gold role and the silver role. White people were paid in gold in the gold ro and black people were paid in silver. So while the white people were getting let's say 20 cents an hour they were getting paid 10 cents an hour.

[00:10:35]>> Okay. So with that being said with the migration from all these people from the West Indies and the different Caribbean islands what happens? They leave their culture into this place. Now the reason why they called the man the symbol cuz people keep on saying well you keep on talking about cologne. What I want people to understand is when I say the Colong man, it's a it's it's a symbol.

[00:10:55]This man was a symbol of what it would be like if you came to Panama to Colon to work. That's why they call the salesperson, the recruiter, the cologne man.

[00:11:08]>> I'm learning something today. Preach.

[00:11:10]And people don't understand that like they take the thing about social media is that sometimes and as an English teacher I wonder to myself this cannot be the way of we the critical thinking people's critical thinking is out the window.

[00:11:23]>> Yeah.

[00:11:23]>> Right. So when I speak about the Cologne man I'm not speaking specifically about Cologne. I'm talking about the symbol of this man and what he represented.

[00:11:33]Okay to these people. Fast forward these men worked in in Cologne. That's where the port was obviously >> and guess what? They leave their traditions.

[00:11:44]>> So you have Jamaicans, they never went back, which is also a problem in Panama because they thought, okay, we were just going to bring these people to this country and then they would go back where they came from, >> but they never went back.

[00:11:53]>> They never went back.

[00:11:54]>> They made a home.

[00:11:54]>> So now you have an influx of who? Black people. More black people than what they expected. Remember Panama is a Spanish-sp speakaking country, >> right?

[00:12:03]>> Okay. It was colonized by Spaniards.

[00:12:07]Yeah, there were black people there that were were imported through the ports through the trans transatlantic tra uh slave trade, but they separated themselves because they were called something else. They thought I might get flaxist for saying this, but other people have said that there was a division because they thought they were better because they spoke Spanish and they had Spanish last names even though they were black. What they don't understand is that doesn't matter if you are uh in order for slaves, let's specifically talk about slaves. The slave master would give the slaves their last name so that people knew who they belong to. So you got you got these names because you was your you are property.

[00:12:50]>> Same as the Americas.

[00:12:51]>> Exactly. Same.

[00:12:52]>> I don't have a Spanish last name because I am Yes. We all are descendants of Africa. Yes. My slave master probably was an English man. Right. However, what they don't understand is that we all we still from Africa. But anyway, we're going all over the place.

[00:13:07]So now these people, they come here, they leave their traditions. You have Jamaican people, you have the French people, you have all these different cultures there, right? But Jamaican Barbados was the highest.

[00:13:18]>> Yeah.

[00:13:18]>> Before Panama, before reggae music was calypso.

[00:13:22]>> Yeah.

[00:13:22]>> Right. So calypso was already rooted in Panama already from Calypso. Now these people had children.

[00:13:30]right now their children are now listening to the way they speak and then guess what came out reggae >> so now reggae comes around they listening to this and what people also don't know is that I was telling um the great DJ here >> right that >> there was I interviewed Renato Renato was the first um he was the pioneer I will say of regga in Spanish which is rean espanol I Love the way y'all say that.

[00:14:01][laughter] >> There are >> and and you this actually is documented.

[00:14:10]Okay. He said that the first time he heard an artist sing a reggae or mixed reggae and Spanish was uh a Jamaican artist actually.

[00:14:23]>> His name was Peter Metro. Ah, no. Metro, >> right? And Peter Metro had a song I think it was like fisherman hunt or something like that where he when he opens up the song he's singing Spanish and when he heard that he's like oh I could do that right but at the time Regga already had hit Panama now and there was an artist that was singing re in English his name is Regga Sam.

[00:14:49]Now these are all descendants of West Indian people. So, the fact that when when people are saying, "Oh, like Puerto Ricans." Let's be honest. If you grew up in New York City, Puerto Ricans really wasn't messing with black people like that, >> to be very honest with you.

[00:15:03]>> No, not really.

[00:15:04]>> They were not.

[00:15:05]>> They were not. They were not.

[00:15:07]>> It was a separation. It was a separation.

[00:15:09]>> It was all different. It was a West Indian. Yeah. Segregated.

[00:15:12]>> What I'm saying is they were not >> embedded in West Indian culture.

[00:15:17]>> That's a fact. That's what I'm saying.

[00:15:18]It wasn't.

[00:15:19]>> They were not. You couldn't catch a a Spanish person if you living in Brooklyn. Spanish people in Bushwick. It wasn't even Bushwickset.

[00:15:27]Now, let me say I'm not let this by saying I'm not saying they that all Puerto Ricans are racist, okay? Cuz that's not the case. What I'm saying is just to be clear, this is on the record.

[00:15:38]They were not in dance hall parties.

[00:15:40]They were not in our spaces is basically what I'm saying.

[00:15:43]>> That's a fact. So it's only natural in places like Panama where their descendants are West Indian people and their parents speak English that they would understand the music. When did you see the the the turn?

[00:15:57]>> When did you see or what is your recolleation of hearing this music from the flapper side from a from our New York view? father my uncles my uncles um and then of course in you know the area but really my uncles who influencing me western peace uncle neesto testo what happened was he used to play music and we because we had like Saturdays of course if you from the west Indian central America no matter Saturdays was a day of cleaning the house so we used to have to clean the house we like yo we went to school from Monday to Friday now we got to get up early again on Saturday bro. So, you know what I'm saying? So, we had to get up, you know what I mean? And then music was playing. We used to open the doors.

[00:16:40]We used to put the speaker in front of the house and we jamming.

[00:16:43]>> I witnessed that.

[00:16:44]>> Yeah. You [laughter] question. We were jamming and it was like >> it's like the the m what what happened was cuz I used to rap. I used to be a rapper.

[00:16:54]>> Wait, stop.

[00:16:54]>> That's You sound just like the picture out with the curl.

[00:17:00]>> Right. Right. They used to call me Juice.

[00:17:02]>> Right.

[00:17:03]>> Right. Right. Hey, you got the pajama jerk.

[00:17:05]>> I HAD JERKS.

[00:17:08]>> This is we all flappers. This is we all flappers and we do not passive.

[00:17:14]>> We major [laughter] dance selector say he was a rapper and he had cherry now. [laughter] >> FOLLOW THE TRIP.

[00:17:29]>> BUT RANDY, LISTEN. when we grew up and I and I said this to you the other day that >> the Caribbean children now in Flatbush they're so proud and you know I'm Jamaican, I'm Haitian, I'm this. When we was coming up in Flatbush, right, being Caribbean wasn't cool.

[00:17:45]>> We had to assimilate to American culture. You know what I'm saying? Like if your clothes wasn't right, you know, my mother would send me to school, y'all, in knitted socks skirt with a with a with a with a pin on it and a nice, [laughter] you know, fancy like we going to church and I'm trying to tell I just need a le >> and >> some sneakers. That's so I I don't need to go to school like this, right? So we would get teased like we had to assimilate to >> that's a big fact >> black American culture. So they don't realize that we We had to figure it out >> at home. We was Caribbean >> and at school, >> oh, you better get rid of that accent real quick >> because you know, truth be told, right, and like you said, a lot of people don't want to hear this, but Jamaicans and Panameanians was at war a lot. I was just about to get to that >> at war. But before you even get >> half before you even get to that, like the war part, right?

[00:18:44]The panameans had the streets before the Jamaicans.

[00:18:51]You know what I mean? And a lot of people don't get to know that >> because if you really want to think about it, you know, we talking about, you know, the yade of food and all of that.

[00:18:58]>> Yeah.

[00:19:00]>> Black people had no links to that.

[00:19:01]>> That [ __ ] coming from more Spanish countries.

[00:19:03]>> Facts.

[00:19:04]>> You understand?

[00:19:05]>> So my, you know, my uncle had one of a a club.

[00:19:09]>> What's his name?

[00:19:09]>> It was called the townhouse. So, Town Hill. It was around the corner from Tindland Hall.

[00:19:15]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:19:16]>> Yeah. His name was Ricardo Alexander, >> right?

[00:19:18]>> You know, big up to him. He was Roberto Duran's translator.

[00:19:22]>> Oh, wow. Because, you know, even a story with that even Roberto Duran, Roberto Duran taught me how to box.

[00:19:28]>> I used to be a boxer, too. So, >> Jack has to be >> cuz the meeting grounds as a Panameanian, if you ain't you ain't Panameanian if you don't know where the meeting ground, meeting grounds is on Franklin Avenue.

[00:19:41]>> Okay. [cheering and applause] [laughter] taking all my questions away.

[00:19:46]>> Yo, >> we all had to check in.

[00:19:49]>> Tell that's I wanted to get to that now.

[00:19:53]Frank despand >> right >> at one time like you said Franklin Union Park was new Kirk first was >> them Parkside was them 21st.

[00:20:08]>> How about this one? The Chinese restaurant in those neighborhoods used to sell panamania.

[00:20:15]They still do right there on Church of Snider.

[00:20:17]>> SO YOU KNOW THAT'S HOW you say it cuz you say it led.

[00:20:23][laughter] Yes.

[00:20:30]>> Yeah. And yeah for real deep.

[00:20:34]>> The numbers.

[00:20:35]>> The number.

[00:20:36]>> My grandmother had a number lady used to come to our house. Oh, m chance. I forgot. My uncle used to do Yeah. You know, [laughter] Joe, >> you better have But she sent you downstairs.

[00:20:47]>> But you know what it is and what I miss about that era is that Panameans were >> even though they would be beefing with each other. You would have beef. But they were so united. So the reason why Flatbush Avenue was so lit like that was because there was a Panameanian lady in that lived in one of those houses that used to sell Panamean food there.

[00:21:05]>> Yeah. You was telling me about that story. I was I think her name was Omida.

[00:21:09]>> You know a lot [laughter] a lot.

[00:21:12]>> Yeah. I mean I'm sorry BUT SHE IS THE PANAME.

[00:21:16]>> She's a Liberian.

[00:21:17]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] >> But I'm learning >> the Panamean lady. She used to sell um food there. So in Pan like when you come so this is how it was. So let's say I came to Panama, right?

[00:21:28]>> And then I know somebody that >> was looking for a job. I'mma hook up somebody else with a job and they will always look out for each other and help each other out.

[00:21:37]>> But but no, but in a real life all cultures do.

[00:21:40]>> Yeah, that's true. That's true.

[00:21:41]>> Now, like once you go into a spot and you talk like Spanish, everybody cling on. Jamaican, everybody cling on. I'm not going to agree to that to the fullest.

[00:21:49]>> Jamaican?

[00:21:50]>> No, not.

[00:21:52]So, let's talk about it.

[00:21:53]>> Let's talk about it. So back in the day >> when when the migration and certain pockets of Caribbean people started coming they did do that. That was that was the only the G would be one place like what he's saying basically is like >> like what I said to you the other day like when Mars passed away >> when I seen >> floods of Paname I seen They going to come >> like, "Yo, now there's more people that that knew Mars, >> right?

[00:22:27]>> You understand?" But I'm not saying, but I'm saying like >> I I think Panameans, Haitians, >> far as the Caribbean, they stick together the most the most.

[00:22:36]>> Hold on. Let me let me let me hold on.

[00:22:38]Hold on. Let's get perspective, right?

[00:22:40]Please, because this is very serious.

[00:22:42]>> Put it in the comments.

[00:22:43]>> This I don't want the people to to get it. We're Central American, right? So when you say Caribbean, people get it and they're going to say, "Look, they trying to be Caribbean. We are Central."

[00:22:55]Yes, we are Central American.

[00:22:56]>> Central American Guyana.

[00:22:58]>> No, Guyana is South American. We have Hold on. Hold on. The historian has correction.

[00:23:05]>> CORRECTION GOES UP. HISTORIAN RAISED HER [laughter] HAND.

[00:23:09]>> LET ME hear what >> we stand corrected.

[00:23:12]>> Two things can be true. Okay.

[00:23:14]>> Okay. I will say this though. Although Panama is in Central America, >> yes, >> Panama has two sides.

[00:23:20]>> They have the Caribbean side and they have the Pacific side.

[00:23:24]>> Okay.

[00:23:24]>> The Caribbean side and the Pacific side has two separate cultures.

[00:23:27]>> Okay. Culturally, >> explain that to me because I never understood that.

[00:23:30]>> So, boast too. That's on the Caribbean side. Okay. So, you're going to get more car. That's where you're going to get the people that talk like this.

[00:23:42]GOING LONG you girl child come here >> I talking to you I'm talking to you why you look so you >> why you look so >> pick UP PICK UP YOUR SHOES then that's what you going to get now on the Pacific side you're going to get oh >> very much proper very much lightkinned very much the Hispanic Or some of them even look white passing.

[00:24:13]>> I'm going to ask you this question again.

[00:24:15]>> So when people say, "Oh, Panama's not in the Caribbean." Depends on what what part of Panama you from.

[00:24:23]>> I mean, I should put it in that perspect perspective, but >> people will argue with me and say, "Speak English, PLEASE."

[00:24:35]>> NO. WELL, I WANT TO HEAR LEE Maker talk Spanish because he speaks Spanish fluently.

[00:24:39]>> Yeah, but you know, >> he too Jamaican. But >> no, I'm not [laughter] I'm not Jamaican.

[00:24:45]>> I'm exposing expos.

[00:24:53][laughter] >> No, Panama.

[00:24:57]>> No, sorry. Rainbow City. Let me be corrected.

[00:24:59]>> Oh, Alcois.

[00:25:00]>> Yes. Okay.

[00:25:01]>> Oh my god.

[00:25:02]>> Rainbow City. Um, [laughter] let me ask y'all a question about y'all both had the meanings, right?

[00:25:08]>> Right. Well, I sorry. Um, it was very super difficult for me.

[00:25:12]>> All right. That's what I want to ask.

[00:25:14]When y'all came to the country, how how it was for y'all too.

[00:25:18]>> Okay.

[00:25:19]>> You go first cuz you >> Yeah, because because um I'm still um what you call it? Traumatized.

[00:25:25]>> Okay. by the Caucasians >> because I mean as you see I mean I'm still black but I'm fair skinned but I'm black 100% black >> but they used to tell we can't play I don't know if I can say that we can't play with the [ __ ] we can't play with the and they used to they used >> that's how flatish was >> yes they >> PS198 did it to me right so they used to they used to outcast me and then you know when what they talk about what's his name um Kapparin >> I was the first black man I can remember when they was doing I pledge allegiance to the flag. Yo, I got suspended for that because I would one nation under God individual you. What? How does that work? And because I'm black, I'm called blackie. I can't do certain things and I can't certain things. What? What?

[00:26:12]>> So when we started migrating in Flabbish or living in Flabbish, Flavbish was still a community of white people.

[00:26:18]>> Yes.

[00:26:19]>> We could not be caught at King's Plaza after 8:00 p.m.

[00:26:21]>> That's more our side. That's more our side. No, where we grew up was white.

[00:26:26]>> Close to our side. You go if you go further.

[00:26:28]>> We right there. We in the van. We right next to go to our side. It was it dominate like we're closer to the white people.

[00:26:36]>> So, we paid some prices for for for the generations to come up after us and, you know, represent Caribbean so loud and proud.

[00:26:45]>> We had to fight our way out of >> We are definitely they >> don't pass the billions >> and the Italians outside drinking.

[00:26:51]>> Oh my gosh. They ready for us as soon as [laughter] they see us.

[00:26:53]>> You remember campus quarters and >> you could certain places you could not go.

[00:26:57]>> Yeah.

[00:26:58]>> I remember all that.

[00:27:00]>> So [laughter] we we fought a lot of dynamics. We couldn't get caught in Brownsville either.

[00:27:05]>> Remember >> like cuz we had to know where we was going. You had to know how to navigate until you start making friends in black commun in black American communities.

[00:27:14]Then you can you could you could jump in.

[00:27:17]>> But as a Caribbean person like you had you had to fight your way out. Remember, we had two stripes against us, you know, and more. But the two obvious ones is our color and we was considered coconut.

[00:27:27]>> Right. Right.

[00:27:28]>> We was considered black Americans, whites, everybody coconuts.

[00:27:33]>> That part, >> right?

[00:27:34]>> I want to ask you how to code switch.

[00:27:37]>> Yeah. Earlier, I want to ask you cuz we talked about clubs earlier through Flatboy, >> but one of the most the most panameanian club that sticks to me is Michelle's.

[00:27:47]>> Oh my god.

[00:27:48]>> What's that? What's that? That's different. But but we also had >> so much stories about Michelle. So much we also had the Walt across the street from Builtmore Ballroom, right? No um Starlight Bar on Church called Wirus.

[00:28:02]>> Okay. And then we had a place called a basement. Like panaminia was so embelled in this Brooklyn, New York culture that paname like like I was talking and we was I was talking to nice young lady and she it's not documented and and panas to me they be like yeah I used to do that but you know I don't do that no more. So why you don't talk about it bro? Why you don't talk about it sis? Like talk and that's why I shut up. I show up and I hear because I didn't know things. We were just talking before the camera was on and I'm like, "Yo, I need to like connect with you." So when I'm on the mic, I could advocate for my people because she's bringing knowledge to me.

[00:28:43]>> Each one teach one she >> stop hating on her. Stop saying them things in comments. We watching you.

[00:28:49]>> I mean, I don't So the thing is I've I lived in Panama for over a decade. So my son was born here, but he grew up in Panama. Meanwhile, my daughter was born in Panama, but she's growing up here.

[00:29:00]>> Wow.

[00:29:01]>> And being that I grew up here, I see both. I always say like, okay, I'm like the bridge between the two countries >> because growing up, honestly, >> you're never you're not Panamaean enough for Panameans.

[00:29:16]>> Yes.

[00:29:17]>> And when you're in Panama, >> you're not Pan Panama enough for them.

[00:29:21]>> Yes.

[00:29:22]>> I went to college here and I honestly I I had a identity issue. I didn't know where to fit in. Right.

[00:29:27]>> So why did they say that though? Why?

[00:29:28]>> Hold on. Not to cut you.

[00:29:30]>> Wait, wait, wait.

[00:29:30]>> Well, no, no, no. You just answer my question. What?

[00:29:33]>> No, you answer his question.

[00:29:35]>> You remember when he said, "So why everybody think you were Jamaican and this and that?" Because the the Panameanian wasn't accepting me >> and and so I said the same thing in one of my videos that they might recognize.

[00:29:45]>> No, because I wasn't I wasn't Panameanian like like to the core and the socks and the hairstyle and the swag. I wasn't pan. So they basically say you changed.

[00:29:56]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:29:57]>> I So, so even with me grow like going to school, I wasn't Hispanic enough either cuz I look black. But I am black, >> right?

[00:30:06]>> When people when But when you think about Hispanic people, you don't see you don't I'm not I'm not the image of a Hispanic woman, >> right? And even in Panama, >> and some people might not like to hear this, black men in Panama don't like black women.

[00:30:22]>> Get to that. That's what I want you to get to. I I >> black women in Panama don't like black men.

[00:30:27]>> You're saying >> colorism is >> So you say it's racism >> in Panama.

[00:30:32]>> Colorism.

[00:30:33]>> There's racism everywhere.

[00:30:34]>> I know. We understand that. I just want to know if there's racism in Panama.

[00:30:37]>> Yes, there is.

[00:30:37]>> So you telling me that my skin color and your skin color is a problem in Panama?

[00:30:42]>> Well, we live in America.

[00:30:43]>> No, I'm just saying the skin color. Skin color, man.

[00:30:45]>> What do you mean a problem?

[00:30:47]>> Like this skin color and this color, man.

[00:30:49]>> Light skin.

[00:30:49]>> Okay. So, it's more complex than that.

[00:30:51]It's not. So in America it's more direct. Oh, you're black. I'm not messing with you. It's more direct. In Panama, it's indirect. So it shows up in different ways. So it it will show up in classism, meaning who has access to what, who has access to money, who has access to the better jobs.

[00:31:10]>> Do you get what I'm saying?

[00:31:10]>> No, I get it.

[00:31:11]>> You're not going to walk down the street and somebody gonna say, "Oh, you mother." It's not going to be that. But it shows up in ways. If you want a job, they might not hire you because you don't look >> No. So basically, so basically like somewhere like >> I'mma be I'm I'mma just keep it real. So that's what we ask.

[00:31:26]>> In Panama, we my family we own beauty supply stores.

[00:31:29]>> Okay.

[00:31:30]>> Okay. And you would have people saying this is like early on like in the in 201 12 2013 13 they would say oh so they say oh I can't wear that hair because it's too hard >> it's too nappy. So >> so um you lived in Panama >> and America.

[00:31:55]>> Yes.

[00:31:56]>> And you raised your kids in both places.

[00:31:59]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:31:59]>> Can you explain that story to us?

[00:32:01]>> Like why I did it or just what was the experience like?

[00:32:05]>> So for me, I was just I I told you my parents opened up a business and I was working at this hospital and I was just over it and I was like, you know what?

[00:32:14]I'm just going to leave. And I left when it wasn't cool. It wasn't a cool thing to just pick up and leave.

[00:32:18]>> Why? Okay. Why you left?

[00:32:20]>> Um I just wanted to help my parents like build this business, >> build their business. my parents um they needed they needed that help. They needed that that young vibe. And then also I just didn't want to raise my son my black son in America. Now I will say for the most part I shield I where I was able to live I he was shielded from a lot of things.

[00:32:46]>> Okay.

[00:32:46]>> Right. However it did change his perspective on black women.

[00:32:51]>> It did.

[00:32:52]>> So what he dated white women? Well, not now, but in Panama, I started noticing that he was saying that he's attracted to a certain type of woman.

[00:33:02]>> Okay, I see what you're saying.

[00:33:03]>> Right.

[00:33:03]>> Cuz that's part of the culture, though.

[00:33:04]>> It is part of the culture. It's who he's surrounded by, his environment, right?

[00:33:09]>> Um, he has never told me that he dealt with anyone like making fun of him because of his race. But my son is also high yellow. So, um, but his hair is hard. So, I did notice that he wanted to texturize his hair more, >> right? So, I started seeing subtle things.

[00:33:25]>> So, you started seeing the change.

[00:33:27]>> Yeah. I started to see it.

[00:33:28]>> But he was adapting to the culture.

[00:33:30]>> He was adapting to the culture. But why can't you be proud of who you are? Why why do you need to put a texturizer in your hair? You get what I'm saying? You know what a texturizer is? He wanted to make his hair soft. He wanted his his hair to look soft. And then he would say things like, "Oh, I wish I had hair like like my daughter."

[00:33:43]>> Right.

[00:33:44]>> Right. And >> Yeah. Hair wool.

[00:33:47]>> Yes. And my daughter has curly hair.

[00:33:48]Like her hair is softer, thinner, and it's curly. So he like, "Oh, I I wish I had her here." Like he would say things like that.

[00:33:56]>> Then he got here >> and then his whole it's like his whole p his p his perspective changed completely cuz now he's in a school where there's black excellence.

[00:34:09]>> I want to say what school he goes to, but he's in a really [clears throat] good school cuz I he doesn't like this stuff, but he goes to a really good school and he's full of >> his peers.

[00:34:19]They're all taking AP classes and they're black. They look like >> So, do you see the compar the the difference?

[00:34:24]>> I see. I see. I see.

[00:34:25]>> So, in Panama, you're not seeing black excellence.

[00:34:29]>> So, what you aspire to be is, oh, I'm trying to be like this.

[00:34:33]>> The aesthetic. He's trying to fit this, right? You trying to fit into where you where you from.

[00:34:37]>> Now, you in this school and you surrounded by a whole bunch of melanated queens that are educated and smart and you like, "Oh, okay. First day first day of school, he got a girlfriend." I'm like, "You just got here." [laughter] >> I said, "I thought you said you didn't like." He's like, "Oh, I changed my mind." You know what I'm saying? It's your environment. Your environment makes who you are.

[00:34:59]>> So, as we're talking about black excellence, um, I wanted to lean to be, >> you know, I always say that sometimes, you know, the pioneers don't get recognition, especially if they don't follow the traditional road. Um, but you have to have all types of heroes.

[00:35:18]Correct.

[00:35:18]>> So, I wanted to lean to you to kind of give us a little >> memory, take us down memory lane of some of the street legends, especially coming out of Brooklyn from the Panameanian community, >> you know, the legends with some morals.

[00:35:32]>> Yeah. With some Okay. Well, if according to the to the culture, right, everybody, if you were like from Jamaica, America, everything, they'll call you Pana. So it could be it could be Jack, but that's Pana. So everybody was Pana Pana Pana cuz he was Panamania, right?

[00:35:52]>> Yeah. So the direct ones I I mean they had the they had the um B, right?

[00:35:59]>> They I'm not calling them Pacific Order, but these are some of them that you know B, Sergio, Scorpio. I mean, um, they had they had so much Panamaeanian legends that that that did road and did the streets and contributed, uh, in in aspects in different era, you know, differentreneurs, entrepreneurs, right?

[00:36:22]Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And um, it came from like, you know, just different pame. So like like I was saying to you, it could be Jack, but they said Pana Jack. is you know flatb they had them of course East New York they had so much of them but you know >> at the end of the day like they really like we had a like you saying like we had a unification [snorts] so we know that okay you come from Panama I come from Panama all right we going to make this bread and we going to I going to give you that price I get that big money that's not the beat I going take a little thing make >> that's not the Yeah.

[00:37:04][cheering] >> Shout out [applause] Shout out to Julito. Rest in peace to Jul.

[00:37:11]>> He was in the street. Rest in peace.

[00:37:13]Rico from up to first.

[00:37:14]>> You got to give a shout out to our dude.

[00:37:16]>> I do.

[00:37:17]>> Come on. We got to shout our dude out.

[00:37:19]You can't have this episode and not talk about >> Tik Tok.

[00:37:25]>> I mean, shout out to my man Tiptop.

[00:37:28]General >> um it's a lot I mean I mean but Tiptop was really behind my times I was talking about more guys but you know shout out to Tiptop he's another figure he's definitely a Panameanian figure that made things happen in black definitely definitely did that you know what I mean um who else we could say >> but but you see and a lot a lot a lot of Panameanians right a lot of these people out here are Panameanians But they don't want to be saying, "Yo, yo, I THINK YOU READ IN MY MIND. I'M ABOUT TO SAY IT.

[00:38:02]I'M ABOUT TO SAY IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE out there, but you know, it was a transition like when we was growing up in in and going to school. Do you know how many Haitian brothers and sisters that we had that would deny that?"

[00:38:16]>> But Haitians had it bad.

[00:38:18]>> No, I'm just saying. But they had to assimilate and and sometimes not say where we from, right?

[00:38:26]>> Yo, let me let me show you.

[00:38:28]>> All right. Like like like a a rap um the guy that hangs for 50 Cent. Why I can't remember his name right now? You know he's panic.

[00:38:36]>> Lloyd Max.

[00:38:38]>> No. What's the next dude?

[00:38:39]>> Who?

[00:38:39]>> From from from Pink Houses.

[00:38:41]>> Yeah.

[00:38:42]>> Um um Oh [ __ ] Uncle Murder.

[00:38:44]>> UNCLE MURDER'S PANAMANIA.

[00:38:45]>> UNCLE MURDER IS PAN.

[00:38:48]>> YOU KNOW WHAT? YEAH.

[00:38:49]>> AS YOU SAYING IT, >> LENNY GRE LOOK LIKE A PENNY MAN. LIKE A LITTLE GOAT [laughter] ON THE SIDE. YOU YOU >> I FEEL LIKE a lot of people in the entertainment industry deny or don't mention that they're panameanian.

[00:39:04]>> I went to >> I didn't even know you was paname.

[00:39:06]>> Oh my god. Yeah, that's true. Because when I went to I'm glad he's here.

[00:39:11]>> I didn't even know. And there's other DJs too that people don't know that they're panic. DJ Nori is a panamanian.

[00:39:19]>> DJ Nory is a panameanian.

[00:39:21]>> All right. So, I'm glad you say that.

[00:39:23]Can you name some people that you know that's pan that's in the game >> from Brooklyn that we don't know?

[00:39:30]>> Put them Put your name there first.

[00:39:32]>> Lee Major. Lee Major. Lee Major.

[00:39:35]>> I swear I did not know.

[00:39:36]>> You didn't know?

[00:39:37]>> No.

[00:39:37]>> We both didn't know.

[00:39:39]>> We both didn't know.

[00:39:40]>> He is. [laughter] >> They was on the phone. I was like he's I'm telling you.

[00:39:43]>> We both Okay. We both didn't know. You didn't know that? Okay. Of of course.

[00:39:48]Um, Black Steel, of course.

[00:39:50]>> Nesto.

[00:39:51]>> Neesto. Yeah. And Leo. Um, like I said, Uncle Murder, Panameanian. Um, DJ Nori, Panameanian. Rico Suave, Panameanian.

[00:40:01]>> Okay. Rico.

[00:40:02]>> Yeah. Panameanian. And there's some >> straight hate. My man, my partner, straight hate.

[00:40:07]>> Panamanian. There's a lot. And it's not to say, well, I'mma go out there and I sound kind of mean, but it's like >> I put it I put that flag in my bio every chance I get. But >> rest in peace money, but >> y gotta talk about Pop Smoke. I know Smoke Pop Smoke. Pop Smoke Panamean.

[00:40:24]There's a lot of >> West is pan.

[00:40:31]So they they have so much influence in this game that are Panameanian. It's not to say they ashamed, but at there's a point where like some people, you know, this vocal like >> Yeah. And myself, I mean, I would tell you and I would say when you start to mix me up in that kind of conversation like, "Yo, you you No, no, no, no.

[00:40:53]But that's not bueno." But just imagine, >> just imagine, >> right?

[00:40:58]>> You came on a sound and you START TALKING.

[00:41:02][screaming] >> LET ME tell you something. Let me tell you something. People [laughter] say you talking right then you talking >> people not would not accept that.

[00:41:09]>> They wouldn't accept that. Let me tell you something. When I when I started I I don't want to call a person's name but I I want to save it for the book.

[00:41:17]>> Okay.

[00:41:17]>> Right.

[00:41:18]>> Okay. Book.

[00:41:18]>> Yeah.

[00:41:20]Biography [laughter] books too. So we going to talk the ear.

[00:41:25]Yeah. So what happened was when I first when not first but when I was around a sound system they used to call me handicapped. still handicapped cuz I was panameanian.

[00:41:35]>> Why?

[00:41:36]>> Yeah. Yo, I got a beaten, bro. Nonstop up to today. I'm still getting a beaten and and and and Okay, let me tell you the New York legends. Whatever perspective you want to put it in, babyace nonJamaican, Sterofish non-Jamaican, Lee Major, non Jamaican. And not to disrespect nobody, but we contributed to the culture.

[00:42:00]>> DEFINITELY BIG TIME. GREEN man Panameanian.

[00:42:03]>> GREEN MAN. HOLD UP. HOLD UP. Green man is proud.

[00:42:06]>> But he's proud. He admits that he's proud.

[00:42:08]>> Proud and there's another Panameanian on here. Nobody talks about and we could debate this all day. Respect and honor gringo man. But Killer Ranks is the first person.

[00:42:22]>> That's true.

[00:42:22]>> From Panama, >> that's true.

[00:42:24]>> That started doing this Spanish reggae >> in New York.

[00:42:29]>> In New York City. Okay. one of the first. Hold up. You know why? Because when when he came here and >> argue on that part, >> he came here in 1982.

[00:42:38]>> There's a lot of >> killer killer ranks came here in 1982, right? Cuz this is with the panameanians right now. This is >> I started I was one. Yeah.

[00:42:48]>> 1982 Killer Killer Ranks came here and saw met me cuz we didn't know his family until we met each other and he started to do the Spanish, right? And I was like, "Yo, can I stop teaching people lyrics, man? to write your own lyrics.

[00:43:01]>> First of all, I got something to say about that.

[00:43:03]>> Hold on. Hold on. No, hold on. Listen.

[00:43:05]>> I'm about to We about to tussle.

[00:43:06]>> Oh, why not? Why not? Well, he was he was teaching people lyrics because he, you know, but that's I was like, "No, I'm going to help you write your own lyrics."

[00:43:14]>> Are we going to do it? You could do it in Spanish and I'm going to help you in English and and Killer Ranks took it to the world. But everybody's And what I don't like why Panameanians be fighting who's number one? Who started this? Who did this? All of we are one. Let we just take it to the world. Stop this.

[00:43:33]Capamean is like this thing called buchin or that means gossip.

[00:43:36]>> It ain't only pedameans.

[00:43:37]>> I MEAN EVERYBODY DOES IT. BUT I'M because we pan. We got to talk about us.

[00:43:43]>> Yes.

[00:43:43]>> You feel me? You feel me?

[00:43:47]>> Yeah. She got me started.

[00:43:50]>> Yo, they had a gun over here. Shoot.

[00:43:54]They had a gun RIGHT THERE.

[00:43:57]>> He is great though. But it's your environment. So if but I I just want to point out that other there's other races I mean not racist other uh communities that they experience the same thing.

[00:44:08]>> Like I hear Trinidadian people say yes she she >> died.

[00:44:13]All right. [laughter] I would say this.

[00:44:15]>> Big up being Let me tell you something. I would say this >> colonization >> yes >> has done a number on black people.

[00:44:25]That's why I always say that is the this is That was a trag. This was this was uh what's the word I want to say because I can't even explain how bad this is.

[00:44:36]>> Travesty >> against mankind.

[00:44:39]>> Yeah.

[00:44:40]>> Period. And the division, the divisiveness in between. Even like in Panama, he's right though. We do fight amongst each other. Listen, when I was in Panama, I was trying to throw Well, not I was I was throwing the same events I'm doing now. I was doing in Panama to bring back the Caribbean community.

[00:44:57]>> Talk about your event. Right.

[00:44:59]>> Talk about the event.

[00:45:00]>> Let me tell you something. I was the first person in Panama to ever even start doing day parties that was just full English because everywhere in Panama, you go to a party, they playing PLA, which is, you know, the the espanol plan, they playing this, they playing that. So, I was like, you know what?

[00:45:15]I'mma do something different. We just going to play SOA uh reggae, all the the songs from back in the day. John Brown in the ring. [laughter] >> There's a brown girl.

[00:45:34]>> Tell us about you. Cover it up.

[00:45:36]>> COME ON. TELL WHAT'S the name of this event? Rum.

[00:45:38]>> It's called Rum and Brunch.

[00:45:40]>> Rum and Brunch. What's the whole >> So, all Panameians, come on now.

[00:45:43]>> So, I was doing this in Panama. You know, somebody else tried to do the same exact thing.

[00:45:47]>> We're in Panama.

[00:45:48]>> In Panama. So this is what they this is this is why I say colonization did a number on us.

[00:45:53]>> Wait somebody doing the same event same name >> or concept.

[00:45:58]>> They took your concept.

[00:45:59]>> There was someone I'm not mentioning no names.

[00:46:01]>> Name them.

[00:46:03]>> No I'm not going to do that because they still pania and I don't want to do that.

[00:46:06]Right.

[00:46:06]>> You say they stole some of what you did and you created what you build.

[00:46:09]>> They know who they are. People that came to my >> people know what you created and who's taking what you do.

[00:46:14]>> So I created rum and brunch. So, so he's the person trying to kick.

[00:46:19]>> So, rum and brunch is supposed it was supposed to bring back the AfroCaribbean community to Panama because back in the day they used to have this thing called um what's the name? My grandma used to tell me she used to go to this club called Tropical, >> right? Night of fun.

[00:46:33]>> Nights of fun. Okay. That's what they used to do. So, I was trying to bring something back like that but made it make it a day party because everybody was doing night parties, right?

[00:46:42]All of a sudden, somebody else tries to do the same exact thing. And every time I would have it on this this particular day, they would literally wait for me to have it on that date to throw it on the same date. Now, this person is an influencer in Panama. So, they have more influence than me on those people. You understand what I'm saying? But this is what this is what happens >> in Panama, right?

[00:47:03]>> We're not going to let that happen for your event. What is it?

[00:47:06]>> Well, they not here. But July 26, okay, is Rum and Brunch uh New York City um first gen edition. But that does not mean that you have to be Panameanian to >> Okay. What I want and what what my hope is is so that everybody can experience Panamean AfroCaribbean culture. So yes, there's going to be a party, but we going to have a whole showcase. We're going to have what you call that.

[00:47:32]Yeah.

[00:47:33]>> What's that? What's that?

[00:47:33]>> Pork. Fried pork. It's fried pork. Fried pork.

[00:47:37]>> Yes.

[00:47:38]>> Okay. I want I want the rice and the chicken.

[00:47:40]>> That's So that's part of the brunch menu.

[00:47:42]>> Yeah. Give me that. The rice and the chicken. Let me >> So the brunch menu call.

[00:47:53]>> So we going to have So the on the brunch menu we going to have aros compoo. We going to have wat. You know one pot is one pot. Come on.

[00:48:00]>> One pot is a pot where they put all these different meats in it. So you have pigtail dip. But if you don't eat pigtail, you don't eat pork, you don't eat that. But you have, you don't have some conolong.

[00:48:11]>> No, we're not having conolong. We still got to get the >> the bottom of the rice bun bun.

[00:48:19]>> The bun bun.

[00:48:20]>> THE BUN BUN.

[00:48:20]>> SO WE But it's going to be a cultural ex like exhibition, but it's still going to be a party. So I'm going to have like it's going to be authentic Panameanian food. We're going to have congos. We're going to have the diab. We're going to have Yes, you guys.

[00:48:34]>> I got to eat. We going to have we haven't >> It's going to be an experience.

[00:48:39]>> No, she said she got away. I already tried to pull myself.

[00:48:41]>> No, you [laughter] didn't.

[00:48:42]>> I said no, you didn't. You >> said you was full. So coming to touch the table.

[00:48:50]>> Don't tell no lie. [laughter] Don't tell lies.

[00:48:53]>> I reserved that date already.

[00:48:57]>> She not doing nothing to me.

[00:49:00]>> But that's the point. That was the point of the event. And I'm hoping to bring back that community now because honestly speaking, I feel like the Panameanian community, especially for the young generation.

[00:49:09]>> Oh gosh, >> it don't exist.

[00:49:10]>> I got people in the comment section, please don't bring them all DJ them in the comment section. So, I'm trying to I I wanted to make it like, you know, >> yeah, >> let's just bring it up to the younger generation. I'm not saying I'm 15 or 16, but you know, our age group and cuz you know, Panama in Panama, everybody party with each other. No matter if you're young, you're old, you're everybody.

[00:49:32]>> You're on the chair sleeping.

[00:49:33]>> Yes, >> you're on the chair.

[00:49:34]>> So So that's that's the vibes I'm trying to bring back. So yes.

[00:49:38]>> And what you got going on, Lee?

[00:49:40]>> Oh my gosh. Um I'm still doing the sound system thing, but I'm mainly concentrating on um being an artist and a producer. So um I I do like a every month at the end of the month at this place called um something else. It's downtown Brooklyn, you know, the old Abby Square Mall.

[00:49:57]>> Yeah. And it's every I mean the last Friday of the month. So I give artists a chance to showcase their talents.

[00:50:03]>> Like downstairs in the basement.

[00:50:04]>> Yeah. In the basement. Right. So I'm you know I'm always advocating for the voices cuz what made me do that is because when I you know going out as a panameanian they didn't give me the microphone. They didn't give me an opportunity. What I had to do I had to wait till they packing up the sound system and at least like the last wire before it's going to be pulled out. I got a chance to get on the mic to [ __ ] Yeah. And then I had to lift up the speaker box so the next time they play out again, I could get a chance to get on the mic with one person in there. So every time I went to an event and that person was playing, I said I said two people stayed back. Three, four, five.

[00:50:41]Okay. I'm getting a whole gathering.

[00:50:43]Yeah.

[00:50:44]>> Start working on your marketing, >> right? And then you know I DJ for school events and stuff like that and basement parties. Oh yeah, by the way, you asked me who was this panameanian. Sorry.

[00:50:53]Steve Austin.

[00:50:55]Okay.

[00:50:56]He blowing up y'all spot.

[00:50:58]>> Okay, you done now, right?

[00:51:00]>> Hold up, man.

[00:51:02][laughter] Okay, Steve. You going to be mad with me now?

[00:51:05]>> You telling me Steve Wolf is Pame?

[00:51:07]>> Yes. He >> You telling me that dude got the blue, the white, and the red flag. He b from your place.

[00:51:13]>> Yes.

[00:51:13]>> You know Steve, >> she know she >> half half Jamaican.

[00:51:16]>> I mean, he got the blood.

[00:51:18]>> Yeah.

[00:51:18]>> I mean, most of that.

[00:51:20]>> But see, look, you see what she just said earlier from the how the canal >> canal and all of that. and a half. See that? All this is making sense.

[00:51:28]>> Yeah.

[00:51:28]>> So my grand So my grandparents migrated from Col.

[00:51:33]>> My grandmother was a uh >> You should work in a beauty parlor.

[00:51:37]>> You should remember that.

[00:51:38]>> So I got after all these years.

[00:51:40][laughter] >> My grandfather was a tailor.

[00:51:44]>> Um my grandfather hit the number.

[00:51:47]>> Hold on. My uncle was a Taylor, you know. So that's >> so we probably Yeah. Okay. Um, so I'm and when they [laughter] hit the number, my grandmother had a choice to buy a house in Panama or come to the United States.

[00:52:00]>> And she came to the United States and u you know the the skill set in Panama, >> you had the best of the best when it come to skills in Panama.

[00:52:10]>> It's still that way, >> right? And so they migrated here and um I stand on the shoulders of the Panaminian story, right? the opportunities that were afforded to me >> is from the sacrifices that they made.

[00:52:21]>> And I would I like to acknowledge that the Panameanians when we do the um Panameanian parade, we need to we need to more of us need to come out. And like you said, what you're doing now is excellent. So the younger generation could overstand the the the the importance of coming out. They they do it in October when it's nice and freezing. You know what I'm saying? So So at least we got a little panameania parade. You know what I mean? So we we did the younger the >> when is the panameanian parade and let me let me acknowledge two two great panameanians that's been doing the music and continue um big and and that's been holding the the banner >> oh my god [laughter] they're holding the panameanian banner in in the culture and and and definitely repping. So, I salute DJ Coochie and Big Mito. Y'all keep doing what y'all doing, my brothers.

[00:53:14]It's peer love.

[00:53:15]>> And I have to up my my godmother.

[00:53:18]>> Par, you got to say like this.

[00:53:20]>> Parad allowed me to embrace Panameanian culture.

[00:53:28]>> Okay.

[00:53:29]>> Growing up in a in a Trinidadian household.

[00:53:31]>> Um, that's great.

[00:53:32]>> So, you know, and I'm great. I'm honored to be sitting here with y'all. Now before we before we get out of here, I want to ask y'all one or two question.

[00:53:39]>> Yeah.

[00:53:40]>> What do flatbush mean to you?

[00:53:43]>> Flatbush means the world to me. Not because you here.

[00:53:46]>> I like that.

[00:53:47]>> Because because in you almost want me to get emotional. Flatbush is where where I grew. Flatbush is all I knew. I mean I go different parts of the world, right?

[00:53:59]But Flatbush, honest to God, is like a super passion to me because so much things, positive things happen to me.

[00:54:05]And the love for Flatbush is just beyond that. Even when papa and I had an interview, it's like it's overwhelming to talk about >> because you know it, we lived there. We went to school together, right?

[00:54:16]>> I remember we used to go to campus quarters. I remember there's times, right? Let me tell y'all some real G, right? We used to there was times that we used to run McDonald's. I had a week.

[00:54:26]Next man had the week. We used to just run McDonald's on the junction. You feel me? Where we we we collect the order. I mean, we wasn't take we wasn't doing no extortion. You know what I'm saying? But we were making sure that not even Midwood to Madison and we used to run the we used to run the bus. What was the the B8 and the 404 before? I think it's 44.

[00:54:45]Yeah. We ran the bus. So one week you ran the bus, the next week you ride the bus and we was back in the bus cuz I used to go to Andrew's hoodie. You feel me? And I used to go to [laughter] >> everybody. Everybody in Flatbush one time. So, here flatbush.

[00:54:59]>> What do flapish mean to you, >> D? Flatbush means everything. Flatbush gave me my foundation. Um, Flatbush was full of and still is full of diversity.

[00:55:08]>> Yes.

[00:55:08]>> Um, it also gave me my my tenacity of how to survive.

[00:55:13]>> Words.

[00:55:14]>> I got to get a dictionary.

[00:55:15]>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You know, I got to teach you something.

[00:55:18]>> Yeah. You got you got to speak in your head. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but no, Flatbush has given me my skills and and I can go anywhere with those skills and survive, you know, surviving Flatbush itself. We could do a whole documentary on surviving >> the culture, the the areas.

[00:55:36]>> Also, Flatbush made me into a movie, too. Big up Shaggy. It's called Bad Like Brooklyn Dance and myself was in it. Um, Red Fox, Screechy Done, Baby Face. A lot of us were in it talking about the culture of the >> I see that movie. I've never seen it.

[00:55:50]>> Yeah. Yeah, it's a documentary.

[00:55:52]>> I want to hear what Flatbush mean to you.

[00:55:54]>> For me, Flatbush is culture. Flatbush is family.

[00:55:57]>> Okay. Flatbush to me, even though I didn't grow up in Flatbush. Flatbush, I'm still a Flatbush girl cuz that's where I was 21st Street.

[00:56:10]>> Okay. Every day.

[00:56:11]>> That's all.

[00:56:12]>> All day. I used to go dance practice there. All my friends was there. My god sister that she's still on East 21st. I was always in her house all the time from Friday to Sunday. A lot >> of panas out there.

[00:56:24]>> That that that was family >> pap that's like the next two verses.

[00:56:30]>> My god sister >> my god sister went to hoodie >> the friend across the street on 21st she went to sheep said after hoodie they all went to sheep.

[00:56:39]>> Go Sharks.

[00:56:39]>> I went to Sheep Sharks.

[00:56:41]>> All the Panamean girls that I was friends with then that grew up with I'm still friends with them now. And they like, "Oh, remember when we used to go to um Funtime USA?" "Oh, remember?"

[00:56:51]Yeah. They used like, "Remember when you" And everybody knew. They're like, "Oh, those are the Panama Girls. They think they came out of Flatbush."

[00:56:57]>> I mean, the list is is you can't It goes forever.

[00:57:02]>> We can start with Barbara Stre. We could we could go all the way down the line.

[00:57:07]>> Go from SWV.

[00:57:09]>> Wait, wait, hold on. Shout out to my Lox crew. My boys from Lox. Okay. J my sorry I don't know if I should say big up special ed from 34th and >> shout out Eddie that's my >> you know what I'm saying >> but you know if we going to talk flap I can break it down a lot we going for special ed dwelling bust the rhymes star [ __ ] um Lord have mercy rampage bush babies I'm working with the bush babies check out they new music um chip food red cafe Cut the kid aka Scott King.

[00:57:46]Who?

[00:57:47]>> Bushwhackers.

[00:57:48]>> Bushwhacker. Rest in peace. Beady bugs.

[00:57:50]Fish B1. J Digger. I mean, it's so much in Flappy.

[00:57:53]>> We We say it.

[00:57:55]>> Red Fox and Screechy. All that.

[00:57:57]>> You know what I mean?

[00:57:58]>> Flappish was lit. I'm sorry.

[00:58:00]>> I'm ask one more thing.

[00:58:01]>> We love Brooklyn. Flapp these all flappers. Those skit questions I like to ask. Tell me your experience about a dollar event.

[00:58:10]>> Which ones? Wow. what it cost.

[00:58:13]>> First of all, they reckless. Reckless as hell. Okay. Yo, I remember one time again, so I we moved out of East Flatbush and we went to Konasi. But again, everybody that I grew up with lived in Flatbush.

[00:58:25]>> So, we had I had to take a dollar cab from from Glenwood to Junction, then from Junction to Flatbush. Yo, one day, right, I'm like, um, I'm trying to get a dollar cab, get a dollar cab, a dollar van. It wasn't a cab. Yo, I get in a dollar van. WE LIKE GO BACK. GO BACK. GO BACK. I'm like, yo, what is wrong with this man? Like, Jamaican or something.

[00:58:45]You know, Jamaicans sometimes they do, right?

[00:58:47]>> She said it got extra.

[00:58:52]>> So, anyway, I go to the back. I go all the way to the back to wait my seat, to wait my turn or whatever. Why would that the dollar driver and one of the passengers got into a big brawl? Yo, the man pulls over on the side of the road, pulls the guy off off the back, and they're like tustling on his thumb.

[00:59:10]>> Sounds accurate.

[00:59:11]>> That's not accurate. That's normal.

[00:59:13]>> After they done tussle, my man gets back in and starts driving like nothing happened. Normal.

[00:59:18]>> I was 16.

[00:59:20]>> That's normal. Normal life.

[00:59:21]>> You see, we all said that's normal.

[00:59:24]That's normal.

[00:59:24]>> At that point, I'm a Koski girl.

[00:59:29]>> She's a Koski girl.

[00:59:32]you over here with Hillbilly and B.

[00:59:34]>> I was like, what? What is happening?

[00:59:35]>> We could tight.

[00:59:37]Let me tell you something. I talking and let me say when I'm outside with my colleagues and someone calls my name a certain type of way.

[00:59:48][laughter] So, let me turn around and [laughter] >> they not they don't care who I'm with.

[00:59:56]Don't care who I'm with.

[00:59:58]>> Yo, D.

[01:00:00]>> Yeah, for sure. Sure.

[01:00:07]>> Not a dollar band [ __ ] [clears throat] >> Tell me your most tell me the most craziest story you ever seen in a dance hall party.

[01:00:14]>> Yeah, you got to have a good one.

[01:00:16]>> Oh, I got too much of that. You can't tell. That's a whole episode.

[01:00:19]>> That's a whole episode. But give us give us one that you know that you think about all the time. Oh, when when young man we used to take the garbage can and light the garbage can and throw it to side to side and everybody catch it. I run around his ass with a garbage can full of fire.

[01:00:39]>> I ain't never see that.

[01:00:40]>> I never addies. Yo, that was the most That dance is crazy.

[01:00:49]>> Bill used to get crazy.

[01:00:50]>> No. So, so we Yeah. They used to light your pants and put whatever and make it flammable and we used to run around and dance and to eat for the [ __ ] wrong [laughter] >> cuz I know you've seen a lot of artists when they first start their career >> in Bill Moore itself. there.

[01:01:16]>> Out of all the artists that you saw their development, >> which one was the most understated that you didn't think would make?

[01:01:24]>> That's a go. Oh, wow. That was a go down. Damn. Why you went there?

[01:01:29]>> I NEED THE PS1 198.

[01:01:32][laughter] That was a great >> And I'm here like this.

[01:01:38]>> I know. I SEE.

[01:01:39]>> WE ALL sit back here. He is.

[01:01:41]>> You know, sometimes a superstar is very humble. Go ahead. I mean, you seen them before they hit the world.

[01:01:46]>> Watch your words. Watch your words.

[01:01:48]>> LISTEN, I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I saw Jay-Z perform on the road rink on the south side of Atlanta. Okay. [laughter] We stood by the bar and spoke for a while. It's very unsuitable.

[01:02:00]>> Well, talk. You know what? I'm going to go here myself.

[01:02:06]I would say I would say that myself because in 199 1989 I wanted the DJ of the year in New York City. You know what I'm saying? And I just did it because you you and it grew and grew and >> it was more than love because what happened more than passion because what happened was cuz I I'm and up to today I'm proud to say like I'm very different. So they like I couldn't read at the time four or five years old and they used to give us records to play right and my uncle gave us records to play but me of course I go to the bottom I was supposed to go to the top when you do it in I can't >> and the girls used to come so it was like so I was in a safe place was me I didn't think I was going to reach this far and thank the father for reaching this far and my passion and there's more to reach and I'm the epitome of don't give up.

[01:03:08]>> Before we leave, man, let the people know what you got going on again. That one punch. Let the people know.

[01:03:12]>> Rum and brunch.

[01:03:13]>> Rub and brunch.

[01:03:14]>> Rum and brunch. Say it again.

[01:03:16]>> Rum and brunch.

[01:03:18]>> Say it in Spanish.

[01:03:18]>> Rum and branch. [laughter] >> What date? What the date? What the date?

[01:03:25]>> Uh July 26th.

[01:03:26]>> Rum and July 26. You come out with the family and everybody else. You come and eat some good food and then drink some some papa.

[01:03:48]You see pap.

[01:03:51]That's my boy Kabir mama. I mean, rest in peace, mama.

[01:03:54]>> Peace. [laughter] >> It's your boy Papey and we out. We are flat bush.

[01:03:59]>> That's you know we talking about >> big flat push. Big [music] flat bush.

[01:04:07]Big flat bush.

[01:04:10]We all flat push. We all flat push. We are flat bush. We [music] are big flat push. Big flat push. Big flat [music] push. [singing] >> Get it flat push. Get it flat. Get it flat. Get it.

[01:04:30]>> These FS that I throw up is not for the flossy. I'm from Flatbush. Like every [ __ ] POPS FROM THE NAZI guard MC money.

[01:04:39][music] East flatbush is flatbush. Stop the malarkey. I'm at every function from Empire to the junction. [music] I'm a rebel. would have thought I was from 93 ma sequar and free [music] birds and yellow till it's over until then we ball for all our fallen soldiers [music] I'm a ra put belt to eyes until a [ __ ] get the picture like we all do every day [music] all day we outside on vibes like cartel in the bar And we [music] won't stop. We keep making due time. We going to make flat push straight again. [music] >> I'm I'm campaigning my popping champ.

[01:05:30]I'm a [music] bush baby. I would never change it. And if you ain't from the hood, don't claim it. [music] [ __ ] getting [singing] it ain't a myth.