At 10-years old, singing sensation QQ set a record as the youngest person in Jamaica to have a hit song, "Poverty". The late Crown Prince of Reggae, Dennis Brown, held this previous title as the youngest Jamaican with a hit song, with his big hit "No Man Is A Island" at the age of 11.

His newest tune, "Stukie", has dominiated the Peppa Pot Top Video chart. We caught up with QQ while preparing for the flurry of shows he will be appearing on this Christmas season.

Interview conducted by: Heike Wollenweber

Peppa Pot: How old are you now?

QQ: I am 11 years old.

Peppa Pot: How does it feel to be a quite established artiste at that age?

QQ: It kind of feels very nice to me because when I go on the street everybody-s saying "QQ" and they say "You know my little son loves you, or my little daughter loves you". It feels very nice.

Peppa Pot: You never feel like your career is taking anything away from you as a child?

QQ: I definitely enjoy what I do. I love it!

Peppa Pot: You are looking at a long career. Do you think you can keep your career going into an adult stage?

QQ: Definitely I think it will last. As long as ever. Until I die.

Peppa Pot: How did you get started with your career?

QQ: How I really got started in this music industry is that as a younger boy I used to do music, like in Church. I never really do it as big, not taking it up professionally as now. When I went to England I was in this choir and I used to perform at different places like Castle Theatre and Bristol Academy. I performed for the Queen of England. I came back to Jamaica and told my dad I wanted to go to a studio. My dad saw someone driving around in this place and then we bucked up into Bobby Digital. Actually it was Calibud, which is Bobby Digital-s son. We went into the studio and he played a rhythm and I said something on it. He liked it and gave me the rhythm and I brought it home and built a tune and from there I just took it up professionally.

Peppa Pot: Are there any artistes that you really look up to and who inspire you?

QQ: Well, the Jamaican artistes that inspire me and that I look up to are Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaac, John Holt. In dancehall I would say Beenie Man, Bounty Killa and Wayne Marshall.

Peppa Pot: In terms of your music. Do you cater mainly to an audience your age?

QQ: Yes, I do.

Peppa Pot: Do you find it difficult sometimes to balance performing songs that appeal to kids your age and to people generally?

QQ: No it isn-t. When you are performing for kids certain things that you would say you don-t say. A performance for adults is a higher class performance. Those things you could not say intentionally, you say it in a certain way. It is also a more vibesy performance when you perform for adults.

Peppa Pot: What are your plans for the coming year?

QQ: For next year I am planning to drop my album, on my birthday.

Peppa Pot: When is your birthday?

QQ: That is March the 9th. I am going to go to England. Next year I will go to America in the summer. Take it to a more international level.

Peppa Pot: Do you have any plans to perform in New York?

QQ: Yes, I am planning to perform in New York next year in summer.

Peppa Pot: Can you mention some of the songs that you will release next year?

QQ: My new tracks that I am going to release are "QQ Going to the Top", "Lonely Children", "Everyday I Rise", "Mama Fi Juggle", "Peace", "My God is Real", "I Dedicate This Song", "Mr Babylon". A whole lot of them. I have another thing coming up called "Waist Fi A Move" on the 25th of December of this year, 2006. I keep my own show which will have Bounty Killa, Beenie Man, I Wayne, Sizzla, (Vybz) Kartel, School Boy, Turbulance, all the top artistes, Teflon, Idonia. That-s going to be at the Pembrook Hall Community Center. In the day you gon have the kid-s section and in the night the adult section. That-s how we set it up.

Peppa Pot: There were quite a few articles in the newspapers recently about you and another artiste your age- Dadda. Do you actually know each other?

QQ: No, I don-t know Dadda.

Peppa Pot: So you do not feel like you are competing with him?

QQ: No. I am in a higher class. I don-t even watch those things. I just know that I am at a higher peak cause the world wants to see me.

Peppa Pot: What tips you would give to someone your age who wants to become an artiste?

QQ: Well, the music business is not a thing to play around with. If you really want to take it serious, it is just not a thing that you just get up and do. It-s not a thing where parents should push their children. It-s a thing that you have to love, deep inside of you. You have to say "Yes, I love music. Yes, the music mad, mi love it!" You have to take it as your life, make it a part of you.

Peppa Pot: You still go to school. How do you make sure your education does not suffer?

QQ: I really do take my education very serious, because education is a priority for sure.