Leftside

Leftside
Birth name Craig Parks
Born June 15, 1978
Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Dancehall, Reggae Fusion
Occupation(s) DJ, Singer, Music Producer
Years active 1995–present
Labels KeepLeft Records LLC
Associated acts Wayne Wonder, Sean Paul, Redman, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer
Website http://www.leftsideja.com/

Craig Parks, also known as Leftside, is a Jamaican Dancehall artist, and Music Producer.

Background

Craig Parks was born June 15, 1978, in Kingston, Jamaica. Parks is the son of Reggae vocalist and Bass player Lloyd Parks of We the People Band. Parks received his start in music from his dad playing drums for his Band in 1996 [1] which in turn was the band for well-known reggae artists like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, and John Holt, as well as visiting R&B acts like Main Ingredient.

History

While playing drums for his dad, Parks had an earlier start in music, in 1995 Parks began working as a selector on Syndicate Disco,[2] a well-known sound system in Kingston, Jamaica whose reputation was established by selectors like Zachary Harding (brother of dancehall producer and future Sean Paul manager Jeremy Harding) and Arif Cooper (son of Third World bassist Ibo Cooper). Harding and Cooper noticed that Parks always cut and scratched with his left hand. They called him Leftside, because, he explains, "My left hand does everything,[3] and I was better at scratching on the left side."


Solo career

Being such a prolific beat-builder, Parks caught the production bug in 1996 when his eldest brother, keyboardist Noel Parks, gave him his first drum machine at the age of 16. During that time, Parks was always listening to the old- school dancehall like Dave Kelly, Steely & Clevie and Sly & Robbie; so he used to build tracks like theirs. The following year, Parks joined with veteran producer Cordell “Scatta” Burrell and began releasing riddims on a label called Kings of Kings. The earliest releases were immediate hits, starting with the “Chiney Gal” riddim (including Ce'Cile’s breakthrough hit “Changez” and Sizzla’s “Blaze Up the Chalwah”), and the “Double Jeopardy” riddim. But none of his early productions hit harder than the massive “Martial Arts” riddim (including Sizzla’s massive “Karate,” and Bounty Killer’s “Look Good”).[1] The “Martial Arts” riddim was the riddim, which Parks received, his acclaimed in Jamaica, England and USA. Everybody started to recognize who was Craig “Leftside” Parks.

In 2003 Parks worked on Wayne Wonder’s number one selling album No Holding Back which peak at number two on the Billboard Music Charts; and in 2005 Sean Paul’s album The Trinity (album).[3]

Leftside biggest break came with the brilliant 2007 track “More Punany,” a song that sum up his many gifts in one 3-minute track. The song was not only a smash in Jamaica but also hit the top of Italy’s dancehall chart as well as breaking into rotation on Hot 97FM New York, America’s leading hip hop station. On the strength of that record’s impact, Leftside signed a deal with NY- based Sequence Records to release his debut album in 2008.

In 2013 Parks delivered an outstanding Epic performance at the staging of Cosmic Rotation, a live outdoor event, at the Red Bones Café in Kingston, Jamaica.[4]

On April 17, 2014 Leftside performed at the I Love Hip Hop Fever Show in Sinsheim, Germany [5]

April-May 2014 Parks completed a 10 show European tour, which ranged countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.[6]

September 25,2014 – October 24,2014, Leftside “Ready to Party” tour was a complete success in Europe, gracing countries such as Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland. His series of club performances touched in cities such as Bochum, Munster, Frisoyte and Cologne. However, the most memorable performance was at Donkey Club in Copenhagen, where he delivered hits such as Jet Blue, Super Model Chick and Want Yuh Body Flip to a sold-out venue. [7]

While on tour, Leftside released his mixtape “The Rebirth Volume 1.” His label Keepleft Records LLC produced the 19-track project. [8]

KeepLeft Records LLC

With his newly established KeepLeft Records LLC label,[1] Leftside is setting his sights on the next level without losing touch with the source of his inspiration. His riddims, such as “Hot Winter,” “Dem Time Deh,” and “Drop Drawers” are winning a strong reception across the Caribbean and Europe. In 2013 “Cry Fi Yuh," was released and immediately became a success on the scene. [9]

Currently, Leftside has "Dream Chaser," "Dem- A–Worry," "Sexy Ladies," "Fresh Prince of Uptown," "Phat Punani," "Super Model Chick," "Ghetto Gyal Wine," and "Want Yuh Body" remix ft Sean Paul, which all are in rotation.

In April 2014 "Dem-A-Worry" debuted to the top 10 on the More Fire show and continually climbing the charts.[10]

In May 2014 Leftside followed up with his official video for his smashing hit “I Wasn’t Ready.” [11]

On October 15,2014 Leftside released his 19 track mixtape called The Rebirth Volume 1" [12]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Centerstage with Leftside", "Jamaica Star", 21 May 2010, retrieved 2014-04-07
  2. ↑ "Leftside and Esco - How it all began", "Jamaica Star", 13 December 2005, retrieved 2014-04-10
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Leftside set to rock Simpsonites Reunion", "Jamaica Star", 21 July 2011, retrieved 2014-04-12
  4. ↑ "Leftside delivers at Cosmic Rotation", "Jamaica Star", 6 June 2013, retrieved 2014-05-07
  5. ↑ "Leftside takes off for European tour", "Jamaica Star", 16 April 2014, retrieved 2014-05-22
  6. ↑ "Leftside Completes European Tour Successfully", "Dancehall USA", 13 May 2014, retrieved 2014-05-14
  7. ↑ "Leftside returns from Tour", Jamaica Star, 31 October 2014, retrieved 2014-11-22
  8. ↑ "Leftside seeks a Rebirth", Jamaica Observer, 18 October 2014, retrieved 2014-11-01
  9. ↑ "Official Video Cry Fi Yuh/Button Down", YouTube, 30 July 20143 retrieved 2014-05-8
  10. ↑ "Top 10 More Fire Show", "Unity Sound", 1 May 2014, retrieved 2014-05-05
  11. ↑ "Official Video I Wasn’t Ready", YouTube, 4 May 2014, retrieved 2014-05-7
  12. ↑ "The Rebirth Vol 1", Soundcloud, 15 October 2014, retrieved 2014-11-01

External links