What do you get when you mix a passion for music, a dope fashion designer, enough swagger to land some major modeling gigs, a serious hustle mentality, and a heart leaning towards philanthropy? PanamaDaPrince. That’s what you get, or for better words, who you get. The East New York section of Brooklyn is where he made his debut in this thing called life, so it’s no surprise that he is as multifaceted as he is. PanamaDaPrince started working towards making a name for himself at the young age of sixteen. From what it seems, falling in love with music was easy. His lyrical skills gained the attention of some big names in the game and have caused him to be able to open for greats like Wu-Tang and D-Block (Webster Hall 2013), and Lloyd Banks following that (Stage 48). He recently got a chance to collaborate with Hip-Hop legend Fat Man Scoop on his hit single “Mase Flow”. Which you may have seen graced on a billboard in Times Square. Showing that not even a pandemic could stop his hustle. His music has streamed on “iHeartradio”, “Tidal”, “Apple Music”, “Spotify”, “Pandora”, and even rotated on “Music Choice”. Over the years he has branched out into many directions, and it all seems to be working out in his favor.
He has done a lot for his age and wears many hats. Including some from his very own fashion line Alpha, and the brand is definitely making waves. Alpha has been featured on entertainment platforms such as VH1, MTV, Lifetime, and Netflix…and that’s not even half of it. His brand has been supported by actor Michael Rainey Jr. Starz “Power”, “Stranger Things” star Caleb Mclaughlin, super-producer Swizz Beatz, NBA champ and most recent winner of “Dancing with the Stars”- Iman Shumpert, the multi-talented Teyana Taylor, supermodels Ashley Graham and Shaun Ross, rapper Dave East, and a long list of other rappers, radio personalities, comedians, directors, and more. His brand has teamed up with other huge brands such as G-Shock, and Casio. Panama has modeled for the Adidas x Jeremy Scott campaign and Sabit Fashion show on BET. He has done all kinds of cameos, has been invited to all kinds of events, has been on plenty of podcasts, and has done plenty of interviews. If you don’t know who PanamaDaPrince is by now, you better look him up, because there isn’t enough room in this one article to break it down for you. FEMI got a chance to get inside the mind of the highly motivated Prince, and we’re happy we got a chance to chop it up with him. Check it out:
PanamaDaPrince. What will you say is the story behind your name?
“I’m of Panamanian descent, so I’ve always been called “Lil’ Panama” since I was a kid. I eventually began to be addressed as “Panama” as I became a teenager. Around that same time, I was really influenced by “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” sitcom. So I would wear a lot of loud vintage clothes that were similar to what Will Smith would be wearing on the show. That fact in conjunction with girls in my school who thought that I was a sweet guy, resulted in girls calling me Prince- while others still called me Panama. One day while in the studio, I just happened to say “PanamaDaPrince” while recording a song. It’s stuck ever since.”
How would you describe your start in music, and working with fellow big-name entertainers?
“I really tapped into my interest in music as a teenager, but my affiliation with bigger names came about by me networking and garnering attention by making waves independently. They’ve all been genuine connections.”
What was the biggest moment in your music career?
“The biggest moment in my career is actually a personal one. I had the opportunity to rap for Kanye, and he approved of my lyrical abilities. Getting that cosign definitely instilled a boost of confidence in me going forward.”
From music to fashion. How did that happen?
“Funny enough, I really got into fashion while promoting an album. I made promotional pieces for the album, and people began to inquire about the garments. It took on a life of its own and became a streetwear brand. I’ve always had a love for fashion though.”
Which one would you say gives you the most creative freedom, music or fashion?
“If I had to choose, I’d say that music gives me the most creative freedom. Music has been a diary of sorts and a way for my listeners to really connect to me.”
What advice can you give to someone now coming into the game whether in music, fashion, or creative direction?
“I would tell someone who’s coming into the game that originality is key, and to stay true to their art. Certainly, be open-minded to suggestions, but never compromise your core values.”
What’s Next for you?
“I’m currently working on a new album, along with a new live project. You can keep with the updates on my Instagram, @PanamaDaPrince.”
So as you can see, PanamaDaPrince is definitely about that: “Transcend every obstacle” and “lead the pack” life. I think the most impressive thing is him still wanting to reach out, to give back. He has all of these accomplishments and all of these goals that he has checked off of his list. Yet, he still cares. He is often heard speaking on how he wants to give back and wants to show how you can win at any game you decide to play. Even if you are coming in on single-player mode. You can always build your brand. Not a quote, but definitely a piece of his motto. He seems to be leaning towards being a philanthropist as well, and I would say it suits him. Back when the protests started kicking up and getting to a serious point, he gave back. He gave plenty of his brand’s sales profits to help with the legal fees of the protesters. He is making himself into a powerhouse, and FEMI is here for it. As stated previously, you can keep up with Panama @PanamaDaPrince on Instagram.
