Music Connectz: [The Entertainment Center: Interviews] - Upcoming Hip-Hop Artist @LeekDaBarber

Meet Upcoming Hip-Hop Artist:
Leek

Biography Excerpts:

"Malik Parker- Hill aka Leek, was born December 8, 1986 in a Northside neighborhood of Philadelphia PA. He grew up in a single parent home in the inner city, one of 9 siblings. As the one of the younger children, Leek looked up to his older brothers who were into hip hop and rap in the early 90's. Some of his early influences were LL Cool J, Rakim, Run DMC, The Wu-Tang Clan, Rob Base and Kid n Play.

Leek and YNR have Opened for artist like Bay area Legend Yuk Mouth and Savage, and has featured on coast2coastmixtapes Vol. 90 along with artists T.I and J.Cole. Recently Leek has been working on a solo project with Indie Labels Concrete Office and Unkockable Ent. He can also be found hosting a local television program based in Salem Oregon called 'In The 503.'"

Our exclusive interview with Leek:

MP: Leek, please introduce yourself as an artist to the audience here at The MC Magazine and abroad.

L: What up yaw? My name is Leek aka "Charlie French." I bet your wondering where the Charlie French came from… It’s actually my alter ego, the smoother side of Leek. My team is Cypher Music Group and Concrete Office back on the East Coast (what up Henny!) My manager’s name is Bernard Powell, or “Pro” as I call him.

MP: When did you know that music was something that you wanted to make more than a hobby?

L: When I realized I can really move the crowd. I performed live with Marques Houston at the Barracuda. There were about 1,500 people there, and the crowd’s reaction to our performance really hit me and changed my outlook on music and making it a career. I began to realize that I can take it all the way so I started taking my music seriously and began treating it like a business, and started to create my image and brand.

MP: The Music industry is very competitive, what separates you from your competitors?

L: The music industry IS very competitive! I think what separates me from others on the local scene is that I really take what I do seriously, and I love just being myself. The music I make is me.

MP: What is your favorite part of doing music?

L: My favorite part of doing music… I’d have to say my favorite part of creating music would have to be the connections I make with the fans and seeing people vibe and relate to my music; whether I’m performing, or driving around with my boys and seeing them Maxxin out to my songs.

MP: Have you worked with any prestigious names so far? If so, who?

L: I sure have! I've worked with and opened up for numerous artist; Bone Thugs ‘N’ Harmony, Plies, Lloyd, Kirko Bangz, Kid Ink, The New Boys, Yg, Nipsey Hussle, Too Short, Yuk Mouth and Savage all in this past year.

MP: What is your greatest accomplishment so far that you're most proud of?

L: Well, definitely one of my greatest accomplishments would have to be opening up for Bone Thugs ‘N’ Harmony at the Roseland Theater in Portland. The show was sold out. The hypest crowd I’ve seen so far! After the show I had the opportunity to kick it with the guys and they’re legends in the game. That was definitely something special to me, like a personal milestone. And being in the green room and having people come down for the meet and greet with Bone Thugs and hearing them ask "Where's Leek at? I want to get a picture with him and an autograph!" That really humbled me. I’m thankful and grateful for everything that comes my way and this would have to be one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.

MP: Anything new/exciting coming in 2013 that The MC Magazine can get an exclusive sneak about?L: I got a lot of exciting things to come in 2013. There’s an independent film I'm co-starring in, I’m also dropping my first official album "A Day In The Life Of Charlie French" this year, and videos for at least 4 of the tracks on the project. My management is working on booking a city to city tour all around the NW, down into Cali and across to Vegas and Arizona. I’m also working with a couple of Investors who are interested in developing a clothing line based on some original ideas that I have. I can’t give you the name yet... But we are already working on designs.

MP: Where can people find your music?

L: On my reverbnation page, my fan page on Facebook, Datpiff.com, HotNewHipHop.com, Just type "Leek Da Barber" into Google and all pops up. I’m featured on like coast2coastmixtapes Vol. 91 on a song called ‘Fli Boi’ Ft. Francheyez. You can search "Black and White Rose Vol. 1" on Datpiff to download my collab mixtape with Rose City Gang. I’ve also got lots of stuff on YouTube.