Cool Daddy

“At the age of 12, I heard New Edition’s song Earth Angel. I started singing it while it played on the radio. My next door neighbor came over and complimented me and from then on my confidence was so huge”. This was the very first statement I received as we got comfortable on the couch. Unlike other artist, Marlon Pringle a.k.a Cool Daddy (CD) had a welcoming presence. My nerves were quickly quieted and I felt at ease. As I shot him a smile, he returned it, shyly, and bowed his head!As the weird vibes dissipated, (Known to the Krime Family as) Coolis sank deeper into the soft cushion and completely let go. “At 14 years, I was attending William Knibb High School, (in Trelawny, Jamaica) and our only choice was either music or art. I chose music and never looked back”. “Then one night I went to a dance (party) and got called out by people. They said I sound good. So I kept at it”. “But dem times I was known as myself, Marlon Pringle, my stepfather used to put on dance all the time and this is when the DJ broke into me”. “I had a love fi it”!His eyes lit up and I simply folded my legs tight underneath me as it propped me for Mr. Pringle’s enthusiasm. “My very first performance was at a Mini Miss Grangehill Beauty Pageant. I did the serenading. But as the years went on, I gradually started to step up and many people started to request me as an artist. I eventually landed the Miss Grangehill Beauty Pageant as an artist, yes still known as Marlon Pringle,” he laughs and it made me start to laugh. M. P. never liked the name Cool Daddy, “too close to Puff Daddy and I didn’t like that”. But to no avail, it stuck. As a matter of fact, it became official when he performed at the 1999 Sting concert in Jamaica. “The people listened. Some said I sound like Mr. Vegas and some said I was aight!”Marlon continued his musical on-again-off-again affair from that experience at the Sting concert straight into 2005, in which he had an epiphany, as well as sad instances (On June 28, 2005, Cool Daddy was going to work on Utica Avenue in Brooklyn when “two Black guys hit me with something on the left side of my jaw, no explanation, no demand for anything nothing. They just hit me.” Cool Daddy spent 2 days in Kings County Hospital before being released. Nothing ever came of his assailants but it did open his eyes and his heart to music) over the musical escapade that led to the birth of his first album Frozen and Fresh due to release in late 2007. If it wasn’t for the constant encouragement from friends, and family, M. P. a.k.a Cool Daddy would not be here today, in the studio having this interview.“No matter how long it takes someone, as long as it is frozen (in your heart), it will be fresh (in your mind).” Of course he means his musical (or all artistic) talent. “Expect quality lyrics with a story behind”. The album seems to take bits and pieces of the life of Cool Daddy and sort of map it out leading you straight into him. With songs like “Is She Coming Back”, which is pretty much about a runaway bride that caught her beloved, loving elsewhere, and how sorry he is? And no ladies, she never came back. “This song is about my first love in Jamaica. I really took certain things for granted and I do regret her getting caught up in it and getting her heart broken….and by me no less.” But what goes around comes around right? Not Always true. “Games” is about this one chick up here in New York, and I was trying to date her, but she kept playing games,” “I told her I would write a song about it and make money”, laughing.Through Frozen and Fresh, Cool Daddy hopes to accomplish “Recognition and Respect” from his audience. Not only is Coolis a lyrical magician, he also writes and produces. With influences like Scare Dem Crew and Sanchez, we can only expect the (un) expectable when the words are Cool Daddy. “For right now, I just want to get known!”