Interview: QQ Reflects On Music Career 20 Years Later

Dancehall artist QQ is officially celebrating 20 years in the music industry. The entertainer, whose real name is Kareem Dawkins, rose to fame at just ten years old with Poverty and became Jamaica’s youngest child star with a hit song.

Still in the game two decades and a child later, QQ said he had always hoped to go down in history as a legend.

“The idea was to go as long as possible. I wanted to be legendary,” he told DancehallMag as he backtracked into the mind of his younger self. “I wanted to be known as the musician that never stopped doing music.”

He explained that his earliest hits were birthed through brainstorming. Unbeknownst to him and his support system, they were in the process of creating history. 

“At that age, obviously, I was very young. If I had to pin point the actual writer, it was not a specific person. I was around my dad, and he had a lot of friends and associates that would come around on a daily basis. We’d just be shooting ideas and my dad would have his input, as well as friends and associates. This is how many of my earliest songs were made. My father was very filled with ideas, and of course, there were things that I’d see happening around me and become inspired,” the singjay said.

QQ is a past student of Calabar High School. By the time he started secondary studies, he was already widely known. Unlike most children, he said he had a very strict regime to balance touring, studio time and academics.

“It was really about the support system that I had. Obviously, people would know that I was living with my dad who would pretty much make the necessary arrangements where my music was concerned. Between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to about 3:00 p.m. would be locked off for solely school. My life pretty much became a schedule. You could’ve definitely known what I was going to be doing at a specific time, unless it was interrupted by exams or performances internationally,” he told DancehallMag.

The entertainer eventually left high school with seven CXC subjects. In 2022, he earned an associate of science degree in liberal arts from Canton University in New York.

QQ has done several collaborations over the years. However, upon reflection, he finds that two have stuck out in his mind.

“I think that my collaborations with Shaggy (Stucky Teacher) and Pamputtae (Small Axe) has stood out the most. With Pamputtae, it’s special considering the closeness of our friendship, and it being early in my career and the fact that we’re still very close to this day,” he said.

“For Shaggy, it’s because of him being a global force in our music, and indisputably one of our very best.”

Approximately 11 years ago, the song One Drop was being played at every dance hall, bar, and any other social gatherings. To this day, it forms part of disc jockeys’ sets. The song was also so successful that there was a tour named after it. 

The seasoned entertainer said he was actually inspired by another compatriot when the song came together.

“There was a riddim that I heard— Pon Di Jockey— by Aidonia and Stephen Di Genius… I thought it was such a genius riddim. It had everything that I wanted. I tried to get the riddim, but was kind of unsuccessful in that. There were saying only one person was being recorded on it. I really wanted to get something similar to it,” he said.

He added that his father came across Stasha of Stashment Records and explained that they were in search of a rhythm. The producer introduced QQ to an engineer known as Ricky Bless who was able to bring his vision to life. 

“I had came to a party in Marverley and saw the girls doing the dance, and asked them what it was called, and they said they weren’t sure they think it was called the ‘one drop’. We were in the studio listening to the beat, and perfecting it as best as possible. Once we got it perfect, I started mumbling the idea, and pretty much, the rest was history,” he said.

As he continues to pursue music, QQ is imploring the emerging artists to remain dedicated to the craft if they want to achieve longevity.

“Keep pushing. Everybody is gonna have their opinions on what’s good, and what’s credible, and obviously there is a formula for the international market. But, nothing beats the music. Good music goes places and if the music is not good then it just won’t go anywhere, but you have to keep putting out music… pour your heart into the music, not just what the music can do for you.”