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Although he has been around the entertainment industry for quite some time, Kevon “Yankeyboy” Heath only decided to seriously venture into Soca music for Carnival 2K11. Almost instantly his first release “Head Nice” which featured Patch became a hit. Entertainment Macco had the opportunity to catch up with the Rum King himself and offcourse we did not hesitate to grill him, we even got him to shed some light on the rumours we were hearing. (Yes there were rumours) Have a good read guys and don’t forget to leave your comments.
Entertainment Macco: Who is Yankeyboy?
Yankeyboy: “I am now the “New York Rum King”, that’s a new name that was given to me. Haha! With Yankeyboy it is all about Swag and always being different. I always wanted to be different and it was because of this. People knew me before a song due to the image....”
Entertainment Macco: What is your government name?
Yankeyboy: “Kevon Bovel Heath.”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me your date of birth please...
Yankeyboy: “I was born on 28-04-83... That makes me a Taurus”
Entertainment Macco: Dude, you are almost as tall as a skyscraper... lol How tall are you?
Yankeyboy: “Haha....I am not that tall but I am 6”2.”
Entertainment Macco: Why the sobriquet Yankeyboy?
Yankeyboy: “When I use to live back in Trinidad anyone who really knows me would tell you that I used to be barefeet or dressed with no socks on and probably often seen walking around bareback and that changed when I went to NYC. When I came back home after 3 years they said the swag changed and started calling me a yankee, so I had to live up to the swag.”
Entertainment Macco: What part of Trinidad and Tobago are you originally from?
Yankeyboy: “Pinto Road, Arima...down in the ghetto.”
Entertainment Macco: How long have you been living overseas?
Yankeyboy: “It has been 10 years.”
Entertainment Macco: Are you single/in a relationship or married?
Yankeyboy: “I am a 100% single...I was in a relationship before but she couldn’t handle the studio life so now I single and I am dating!”
Entertainment Macco: What about children, do you have any?
Yankeyboy: “No children......but I am planning too in the next 1 ½ - 2 yrs once I find the right person. Once she isn’t jealous and understands what I am doing and she has to be somebody with some book sense because I have all the street sense.”
Entertainment Macco: How long has Yankeeboy been involved in the entertainment industry?
Yankeyboy: “It has really only been 2 years... I spent 1 year watching the game and building an image and then released music. I studied the game first...”
Entertainment Macco: Are you a full-time artiste?
Yankeyboy: “No but I am consumed by music.”
Entertainment Macco: What is your full-time profession?
Yankeyboy: “I have an 8-4...I rather not say what it is but I have another profession....a very legit one.”
Entertainment Macco: You were not always singing Soca, What other genres of music were you were involved in?
Yankeyboy: “I was playing around with hip hop and Trini reggae and having fun with that; I came out of the studio 53 camp, there was where it started for me. Until one day I realized that you could never be a number 1 reggae artiste because it is Jamaica’s thing but you could still strive in Soca and have one song and be the top soca artiste for that year.”
Entertainment Macco: Now, I am familiar with some of the work you have done before (because I am a macco), tell EM how the collaboration with Patch came about?
Yankeyboy: “Patch decided to work with me off of my hard work and seeing me perform.”
Entertainment Macco: Explain?
Yankeyboy: “I was in Boston on a show and Patch was on the same show. I had a riddim the KIS riddim which I was playing and vibing with at the house; we were in the same house. I started singing the melody and the hook hoping it would catch his attention, which did happen. He came out of his room and asked me to sing, which I did. He got really hyped and asked me to sing the song with me saying that the song would be big in Trinidad. He started singing along and said to add the second hook that was how the ‘Head nice’ part came about as well...”
Entertainment Macco: Oh ho!
Yankeyboy: “That is how we ended up linking. It wasn’t a plan because we didn’t know each other before and it was just vibes...same place at the same time...”
Entertainment Macco: How did the concept of “Head Nice” come about? Tell me about the motivation...
Yankeyboy: “Well for anyone who knows me most of my songs are about drinking. I don’t sing about girls because I don’t want people to know what I am thinking or risk the chance of offending anyone...I don’t do the waving thing because it have people for that. The drinking is something I really do so it was easy.”
Entertainment Macco: You love the rum boy? Uhhmmm Right!
Yankeyboy: “Girl to tell you the truth I almost forget this interview because I was going to drink. I reach in front by Lyrikal them and had to turn back...Haha.”
Entertainment Macco: Who wrote the song?
Yankeyboy: “Both Patch and I initially.”
Entertainment Macco: How did Cassie end up being part of the collaboration?
Yankeyboy: “Patch and I were at the studio recording and decided to take a break and go catch something to eat. While we were doing that Cassie was passing and hailed out Patch. Apparently he was having issues and Patch asked to put it on the song. Cassie wrote his part as well...”
Entertainment Macco: What was your reaction to the request?
Yankeyboy: “I didn’t want him on the song because I didn’t know him but after careful consideration I figured if Patch was looking out for me then I should look out for him too. That was it really.”
Entertainment Macco: Who own the song?
Yankeyboy: “Me, Patch and the Producer (Obanga)”
Entertainment Macco: Well Head Nice turned out to be one of the popular songs this season, But I had no idea you sang on that song, before you got to Trinidad, many people were under the impression that the song was owned by Patch, do you think it was the public’s misconception as Patch has been around longer or do you think that Patch saw an opportunity to own the tune?
Yankeyboy: “I think Patch saw an opportunity to own the song...every DJ in Trini said Patch gave them the CD and it said Patch on it. No mention of Yankeyboy was made according to the CD’s that these DJ’s showed me that he distributed.”
Entertainment Macco: When did all this take place?
Yankeyboy: “This was happening behind my back because i didn’t reach Trinidad as yet.”
Entertainment Macco: So we have heard many rumours that you and Patch have some sort of beef going on (or should I refer to it as a misunderstanding).....Could you shed some light on this for me?
Yankeyboy: “We fixed the misunderstanding but the damage has already been done..but I will just act normal because that is the type of person I am. This controversy just gave my career a push because the streets didn’t like what they were seeing and hearing. Would you believe that people made it their business to find me and let me know what was happening?”
Entertainment Macco: Did you expect that something like this would happen?
Yankeyboy: “Never! Not at all. We planned everything out. Everything was so different when we linked up and spoke or at least that was what I thought. So I didn’t expect that at all...”
Entertainment Macco: I did some digging, (I bet you are not surprised) and I called COTT only to hear that ‘Head Nice’ is registered to Patch and Cassie, can you explain this?
Yankeyboy: “Well when I realized that the song was registered without me I called Patch and he said that the reason it was done like that was because he didn’t know that I was a member of COTT. So he told me to fill out the form and he would sign it.”
Entertainment Macco: Did you fill out the form?
Yankeyboy: “Yes I did."
Entertainment Macco: So Soca Monarch night came and for the viewing audience many were wondering again, whether you were part of the collaboration, a prop or a hype man, why did you take a back seat during the performance?
Yankeyboy: “The reason for that was because of the energy and vibes, it was off. I was glad to be there but I wasn’t comfortable. I came up for my part and did my thing and went back to where I was. If a next man wanted his shine then let him go ahead because I know what I can do. But real talk I really didn’t want to be there at that point in time.....There was a point in time when I almost came back to NYC out of frustration”
Entertainment Macco: So while we on the topic of Soca Monarch, I heard a rumour that Patch called Caribbean Prestige Foundation (CPF) and tried to get your name removed, saying that he was the owner of the song and that you would not be able to sing in the finals as you were going back to NYC, is there any truth to this?
Yankeyboy: “What I can say is this; I received a call from CPF enquiring about the same thing you heard on the streets. I called Patch and he denied it so I really don’t know if the streets telling the truth, if there was a mix up at CPF and well Patch said it wasn’t the truth so I guess I eh have no choice but to believe Patch.”
Entertainment Macco: The highlight of the performance was when you put a bottle of Hennessy to your head and began drinking it.....hear nah, was that real Hennessy or was it Mauby?
Yankeyboy: “It was really Hennessey, it was something I practiced. For the entire week before Soca Monarch I was drinking molasses and honey to prepare my stomach and to keep my throat in a gear for that.”
Entertainment Macco: A little birdy told me you passed out backstage after the performance as a result of your head being nice? True of False?
Yankeyboy: “TRUE I went in the production room and meh head was really nice. Those fellas were laughing at me..but it is true...”
Entertainment Macco: We picked up a copy of the Best Of Best Soca Hits album and noticed that there was another version of “Head Nice” (The godfather chutney remix) with just mention being made of Patch, How come you didn’t sing on that version?
Yankeyboy: “Both Cassi and I are in the song but once again my name was not included.”
Entertainment Macco: Is that an issue for you?
Yankeyboy: “No it does not bother me because the streets already know that I have a part to play in the song....”
Entertainment Macco: What is your favourite alcoholic drink? (If he says Hennessy ask what is so special about that drink...)
Yankeyboy: “Hennessy for sure!”
Entertainment Macco: What is so special about this drink?
Yankeyboy: “For me when I drink it I don’t get headaches or any bad feeling and yuh head does really get nice. Before I sing I would always take a shot, it is like my energy.”
Entertainment Macco: Explain the feeling of qualifying for Soca Monarch finals at your first attempt.
Yankeyboy: “I felt real good. However it wasn’t all about me, I am feeling great for the people who knew me before because the whole of Brooklyn congratulating me. I was studying about the people in the US who were supporting and backing me. My facebook went from 3000 – 5000 in days; I had to open another page. Being acknowledged by people like Machel and Bunji is amazing...my dream wasn’t to reach so far so quickly. Honestly reaching finals was ahead of my plans and I am still trying to ketch up with myself.”
Entertainment Macco: When you realized that “Head Nice” was one of the bigger songs for Carnival 2k11 what was your reaction?
Yankeyboy: “The first time I heard it I was in a bar I nearly buy drinks for everyone in the bar...it was overwhelming. It proved that hard work really does pay off. The fact that once people could relate to it is also great.”
Entertainment Macco: The hype about “Head Nice” has not died as yet and I am hearing another track that is sure to cause a stir, “Drunkin On De Road” tell me a little about this new release?
Yankeyboy: “To be honest that song getting a heavy buzz in New York, Boston and Washington.”
Entertainment Macco: The song was released before “Head Nice” right?
Yankeyboy: ”Yes it was I held it back, many people in Trini wanted to know why I didn’t release it but I really opted to not push it and hold it. I do not want to over flood the airwaves but to always give people something and remain consistent.”
Entertainment Macco: What is up with these colourful hats that you are always wearing?
Yankeyboy: “Talpree calls me visa hat and people call him visa hair because it is said that if either of us decide to get rid of our signature look no one will recognize us. I have like 48 of these hats. People got scared when I threw away the hat in Soca Monarch finals. These hats are specially made for me by someone and not one of them is identical to the other; the colours in the front are always different, more red or green etc.”
Entertainment Macco: Do you have a special interest in fashion? Or plans to develop something in the future?
Yankeyboy: “My swag is different and I do have a thing for fashion and I can see myself venturing into that business....”
Entertainment Macco: I understand you used to play Steelpan? I am shocked....tell me a little about that...
Yankeyboy: “I am a crackshot, I won 3 school music festivals for Arima Senior Comprehensive, I’ve been on tour twice. I’ve played with Exodus and Defence Force. During the Carnival season I used to play with 5-8 bands.”
Entertainment Macco: Generally what are your views on the Soca Industry?
Yankeyboy: “Everyone is for self; there is lack of co operation. Not forgetting that there are very few genuine people. It is so serious that it makes me feel to move the same way but I am different...I am still trying to figure out if it is the right thing.”
Entertainment Macco: Why do you think there are more successful men than women in the entertainment industry ?
Yankeyboy: “It is easier for men to put themselves out there...the way that I see it so far is, if a female wants to get by she has to sleep with someone, that is how it looks. People are not willing to help women too much, men don’t have much to lose as far as reputation is concerned and they have less sacrifices to make”
Entertainment Macco: Tell me that one thing that absolutely annoys and frustrates you about the Soca industry?
Yankeyboy: "The fact that people think they are better than you when you all are really on the same level....the whole fight down scene...”
Entertainment Macco: What is your biggest turn on in the opposite sex?
Yankeyboy: “The walk does just turn me on boy!!!”
Entertainment Macco: What is sexy to you?
Yankeyboy: “Down to earth and willing to do anything...being open-minded and free spirited is super sexy to me.”
Entertainment Macco: When you are looking for a mate do you look for someone in the industry or out of the industry and why?
Yankeyboy: “Nobody in the industry....because people in the industry like to go behind yuh woman when she in the industry. Haha. People woman does come to me and I can’t do anything about it because they are my friends. But seriously some of them fellas ruthless!”
Entertainment Macco: What can we expect from Yankeeboy in the near future?
Yankeyboy: “More rum, more swag, more realness and big entourage... I have already recorded 5 songs which includes two collaborations one with Makamillion and the other with Sugar Jay, the rest are singles. There is also one to come with Lyrikal and I. Real things about to happen!”
Entertainment Macco: Are you working on any new songs?
Yankeyboy: “I have a song coming out on the 15th of this month, it’s called “More Rum”, it’s based on a true story, on my life and I think people are going to love it and I have “Get in the Section” which was done for a mas band in NYC for labour day.”
Entertainment Macco: Would you like to shout out anyone? The floor is open
Yankeyboy: “Thank you Problem Child he always gives me sound advice and shout out to Tallpree for the insight into the game, he is meh real friend. Buffy is like my little sister so mad love to her. Thank you to all the radios for showing me love and the willingness to accommodate me for interviews. Lyrikal yuh big, meh friend for life! Also blessings to Obanga and Ms. Diamond. Then special mention has to be made of the Millionaire family who took me under their wing, showing me around and getting me into fetes. Yankeyboy to the world!”
Entertainment Macco: Thank you so much Yankey and all the best in your future endeavours.
Yankeyboy: “Thank you for having me.....ooohh and before I forget I just wanted to add doh listen to what the streets say Patch is a nice boy but people trying to fight him down. We already talk and he tells me that he plans to help me next year”
Entertainment Macco: There is such a sarcastic undertone!
