Vip: Well, it's a very strange story. When I was in high school I was a very very popular guy, I used to run track, play football and I had a lot of people know me and I used to keep parties at my house. I was 15/16, my dad gave me my own apartment and every Saturday we had a very very large crowd at my house, throwing parties.

Montana: Where was that?

VIP: That was in Evanston Township right beside the High School. So, it evolved from there, I went on to college. Still a very popular guy in college, everybody in my dorm room every Saturday having a party.

Montana: Where'd you go?

VIP: Trinity International University in Deerfield. So, I came back home and my brother Orville was doing events and I kind of helped him out a little bit. I started throwing little events here and there, birthday parties. Club Dread is where it really started first every Wednesday night I started doing events there. It was very successful but then the club got closed down. I went to a 9-5 job but figured that wasn't my forte, so I kept on doing parties. It wasn't a business then, it was just for fun. It was only recently, about two years ago that I started doing it on a serious level for business purposes.

montana: What else do you do besides promotion? Hobbies, other employment?

VIP: Yes, my dad has a business that I do partake in, JA Automotive at 1601 Payne in Evanston, car reconstruction. I do work over there.

Montana: See if I publish this now, I may have to charge you advertising fees.

VIP: (laughs) I do that on the side, but mainly promotion right now on a full scale. My hobbies are staying home with my kids and teaching them the right way. I have two little girls who are 3 and 2. That's what keeps me going!

montana: What are some of your highlights from your promotions career? Disappointments?

VIP: I've done so many things. The Caribbean boat cruise is one of my highlights that I do every year. Lucky Dube this year was fun. I did something for a lady, Judy Morales, last year and I like more to give than to receive. Chicago embraced her, she was a very good partier. She always went out to all the parties and I would always see her, so doing something for her was so so so much fun and it was such a highlight.

Montana: That's good. When I leave the earth you have to promise to hook me up if you're still around and give a big party in my name.

VIP: When I leave please throw me a party. No moaning, no crying, we're going to have a party for a whole week. Please Montana! Make sure you do that for me ok? Hopefully it will not be any time soon, ok? When we're about 99 years old or so.

Montana: (laughs) right! What about any disappointments that youve had?

VIP: A major setback in the business was at the Radisson Hotel when reggae was on a real high note about 4 years ago somebody acted a fool and did something really heinous outside. This was a prominent venue that went to 4 in the morning that everyone liked to go to. They closed us down for a long time. Now theyre finally starting to open their doors to reggae again.

montana: Is there anything you feel that youve permanently changed or have caused to directly evolve in the chicagoreggae scene as a result of your work?

VIP: I went to Miami and New York and Ive seen how reggae goes on every day of the week. Pandemonium. Every night of the week you can find somewhere to go. I want to make sure that happens. My goal is to make sure if you wake up on a day, any day of the week, you can find somewhere to go.

montana: What do you see for the future in chicagoreggaes scene? In the reggae scene in general?

VIP: Reggae is really evolving on a major scale. GCI, is taking over, reggae is taking over GCI (wgci, an urban Chicago radio station) all the major networks, sean paul has paved the way dramatically in Chicago and worldwide for reggae to come to the forefront like hiphop. I see a very successful market in Chicago. Chicago is very slow, but right now I can see Chicago is going to be more eventful. Looking at reggae right now, its really coming up. It's still in it's growth phase, but soon its going to be in its mature stage and thats what I'm waiting for because Ive been doing this for a long time and Ive lost a lot of money and it's just the love that Im doing it for right now. If it was for money I would have quit a long time ago. I AM Jamaican, and I like to listen to my music and if Im the only one thats doing it to make my people happy and make people who love reggae happy, Im going to do it.

Montana: You mention that you are Jamaican, do you feel other promoters who arent Jamaican arent as sincere in their promotions of reggae, which is, in fact, a Jamaican art form?

VIP: No, everybody who is doing reggae I embrace them. This is America. America is the land of opportunity for anyone to do whatever they want to do. Its not taking away from the art form. Reggae doesnt change. Reggaes going to stay in the same format.

Montana: Thats very politically correct.

VIP: Honestly, thats the way I feel. I go to everybodys events. I dont look at the promoter. The majority of times, if I look at the promoter who is doing it, I would not go to the event. Some of these promoters arent using reggae to promote reggae. They are using it for self indulgence.

Montana: What do you mean, 'self-indulgence'?

VIP: Its a business and the ultimate goal is making money. Some of these promoters, I look at what theyre doing and I know theyre not making any money, so it has to be for self indulgence.

Montana: ah, you mean just to get their name on their flyer?

VIP: yeah, if they have the money to waste go ahead and do it! Im going to be there enjoying myself anyway. If theyre doing reggae I support them 100% bottom line. I dont really care if theyre doing it for self- indulgence.

Montana: I notice sometimes people will only go to certain promoters parties here in Chicago.

VIP: some of them I wish I could just change. Dont put a promoters name on the flyer and just keep a party so nobody has an idea whos keeping a party and just everybody will support it. I think that would speak for itself. Chcicago separates people by name too much when it comes to reggae. Reggae is a mission and not a competition.

Montana: alright. Anything else youd like to say to the world?

VIP: Well, Id just like to let Chicago people know that Im there for them and they also should be there for me because I work very hard 7 nights a week to bring them what is called REGGAE. Im not doing it for self indulgence, Im doing it to please the public that likes reggae. I feel they should support all of the venues and all of the promoters. Everybody should just go out and support reggae.