Born Patrick Walker, the sole son found in a family full of girls, Chico s childhood transported him from the quaint town of Maverly over to Spanish Town settling later in one of Jamaica s widely known district Waterhouse. It was there that he was dubbed the nickname "Patchico" as several of his new friends though he had a multi-ethnic look, Chinese being the strongest feature they saw. "Chico" was the final result as the shortened version of this nickname.

Fresh off his successful collaborations with Lord Kossity and Alozade Peppa Pot was blessed with the opportunity to speak with Chico in New York. Chico discusses the perception of artists in Jamaica, his plans on making noise in the music scene this year, and a possible album with Universal France.

Peppa Pot: What s going on, why are you in New York?

Chico: Me and Alo (Alozade) did two shows, one in Poughkeepsie and one in the Bronx. Kiprich and I sing the hook on "Bad Out Deh" and they wanted a show; Kiprich couldn t make it so I just rolled. We [Kiprich Alozade Chico] have been rolling together even before music.

Peppa Pot: So when you re in NY what you do to relax?

Chico: I do a couple of recordings for people up here. You know I have to hit the mall. We check out a couple of stage shows. I went to the show with Beenie Man and Capleton in Queens. You know, just check out a couple shows and catch a vibe because you know in Jamaica it s a different vibe.

Peppa Pot: This is your fourth song together [Chico Alozade Kiprich] right?

Chico: Third song.

Peppa Pot: How did the link up come about?

Chico: I used to live in Waterhouse, where Kiprich lived also. Alozade used to come and check him because they both went to school together. They went to England and over the years we kept the link. When they came back from England I was taking them around to studios making sure they get voiced. Kiprich and Alozade then burst around the same time, Alozade burst with, chico deejays, "When mi unda mi skunk yah jus buy a guiness bus di top like a bump yah" [Song title: Sweet Dreams]. So from there we always kept the link.

Peppa Pot: I read that you was on the path to becoming an accountant before pursuing music...

Chico: Yeah well after leaving school that was the occupation I had in mind, to become an accountant. I left High School and went to College. I didn t do the A levels but I had CXC. I got a job at a company as an accountant. I was learning the basic accounts because I was supposed to go back to school and pursue more studies. It was a struggle. I left the job and said cha you know what I m going to do music. [laughs]

Peppa Pot: How did your parents feel about that move?

Chico: No parent is happy when they hear their child say "Mommy, Daddy I want to do music yuh know" But my mom was supportive. She only asked me if I really wanted to do music. She knew from a tender age I used to sing for the church. She supported me; not 100% but she was behind me. Also my big sister, but my Dad was not supportive. My dad told me to get a trade mi said, "cool pops everyting good". Society in general looked down on musicians in those days.

Peppa Pot: Do you feel that in Jamaica being an artist isn t regarded as a respectable career?

Chico: Before 1998 people used to look down on musicians; before the spotlight, before the money and fame. Now I think people realise the reality is all about making money. Back then there was more criticism but now it s different. People back then used to think that those who do music don t have a solid education, you re dunce, or it s just for some street side boys.

Peppa Pot: Tell us who influenced you, musically, growing up.

Chico: At a tender age I used to look up to people like Beres, Wayne Wonder, Tony Curtis, and all those before me. I used to sing R&B. Weepow from Stone Love told me, "My yute you haffi go live a foreign. Dat nah go work"(laughs). When I went to Main Street Danny Browne told me that I should find an original style because the singing thing wasn t big then (about 1997). At Main Street I gathered a vibe from General Degree and Junior Tucker. That singing and deejaying but I captured more of the deejaying from Degree because I loved the style. So Chico is a mixture of everyone but mainly Degree and Junior Tucker.

Peppa Pot: Degree wicked - a lot of people don t know.

Chico: You see Degree, a mi dupes dat. Degree is the kinda low key person that s not into the light. If Degree get a big hit tomorrow people would know. It s like that in the music. You were never someone until you have a hit.

Peppa Pot: Tell us about your recent link up with the Ballaz and Lord Kossity.

Chico: I ve been traveling back and forth to Europe since 2000 with General Degree. So i ve been doing some work on the European side. Lord Kossity is now in France but he s originally from Martinique so you dun known it s a Caribbean link up. Lord Kossity has been in the music business for 10 years signed to Universal. He came to Jamaica looking to do a combination with a dancehall act. While here he said what about Chico, I want to do a song with Chico. So the Ballaz came by my house with the idea and riddim. It took me about a day to catch the vibe and come up with the hook. After I sent it back to them Lord Kossity recorded his part. Then I got a call from Lord Kossity saying that Universal loved the song and they want to use it as the first single. I went to France about 5 times from there promoting the song. That song was actually number 1 on a couple of stations in France.

Chico: I m supposed to go back this summer to perform at Summer Jam. From that exposure I got a couple of calls from promoters in Africa, but the promoters didn t want to pay the fare from Jamaica. They thought I lived in France. [laughs]

Peppa Pot: I ve heard that France has beautiful women.

Chico: They re cool. What I like about them most is their accent.

Peppa Pot: What projects are you currently promoting?

Chico: I ve been away from music for a while. I was at a stage in my career where I wanted to step back from the music for awhile; I gave them a Baby Cham [laughs]. Recently after I did the song with Alo (Alozade) and Kiprich I said to myself I need to come back to the music now. So I started getting some nice ideas. I did a song for Tony Kelly for a new riddim coming. I did one for Lenky.

Peppa Pot: Lenky s coming back?

Chico: Yeah, you know Lenky was away for awhile. I did a track for two young producers, and I did a couple more tracks with Alozade.

I have nuff more ideas to bring across to the music. I ve been in the business about 8 or 9 years professionally. So I have a lot to bring to the table because i m more experienced now; i m a seasoned artist. I just want the world to know more about Chico. They know Chico but they don t know who is Chico and what i m all about. Right now i m really aiming to do an album.

Peppa Pot: I was just about to ask you about that.

Chico: I was approached by Universal France. They were like, "Whoa - this guy is good". But they wanted to see if I had a next song in me. So I did a next track with Lord Kossity. I was also approached by other artists [in Europe] who wanted to do a collaboration. It s still in the pipeline to do something with Universal France.

Peppa Pot: How do feel about the success of Dancehall? it just came out that Sean Paul was certified platinum.

Chico: I m really really happy. This is what i ve always wanted for Dancehall. People from our country taking it to a next level. People like Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Baby Cham, Elephant Man, Wayne Wonder, TOK, Lady Saw [laughs] I don t want to leave out anyone. I m getting more music out there because my aim is the sky. I was on Sean Paul s second album: Dutty Rock.

Peppa Pot: How did that collaboration happen?

Chico: I knew Sean Paul from back in the days, Jeremy Harding days, 96 97. We used to talk. Back in those days people separated the music into uptown artists and downtown artists. The day we did that song it wasn t planned. All the time we d say Sean we mus link up and do a song. Sean would say [Chico imitating Sean Paul] "Yeah yeah" Delly Ranks was in the studio doing work on his riddim, Hennessy. I had this idea in my head and started singing it on the riddim. Then Sean popped through the door. I told him "Mi have a nice idea". He loved it as soon as he heard it. I didn t even have the least idea that the track was going to make his album.

Peppa Pot: Any last words?

Chico: Don t forget to check out itschico.com and rudegal.com

Chico s audio and video Click here

Images courtsey of itschico.com