Meet David Hamilton | Entertainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Hamilton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was to be an inspiration to others. Honestly, I spent a lot of time procrastinating on my childhood dreams; from being a fashion designer to being a superstar in soccer, and even music. So when the pandemic hit, I was already transitioning and just felt like the “Time Is Now” to leave a legacy for my family. So my thought process is that the time has already gone for some dreams and things we were scared to achieve. From my own experience managing a multi million dollar retail clothing store I learnt to create my own fashion. I started the “Time Is Now” clothing line from shirts, underwear, socks and the most popular tracksuits using the original registered business name “Time Is Now Records”. I’ve always been well known, or as some say popular in doing music underground and doing everything from performing, hosting, event planning plus starting my own Radio/TV Show. Now I’m two years in and I can honestly say it hasn’t been easy and nothing happens overnight, but with hard work, dedication and persistence anything is possible. I have released numerous singles under my stage name “Telopath” under my artists names “Jay Dawg 301” , “Oney Da Don” and DJ Amazing Make’m our producer who has a few singles coming soon for his solo project and a few out now, which he produced for myself. All my life I looked up to Master P, the Puff Daddy’s, etc and always dreamed of one day starting my own record label; which I did years back in Jamaica but ended up migrating to the states where life happened! Just now adapting and really learning the culture here in the United States and gaining respect and recognition, I decided to make the business official on March 26 2019 as also a gift to my daughter “Shiloh Grace Hamilton” who was born March 26 2015. Time is Now Records LLC is based in Maryland but really originated from my home-state New York with some help from my brother “Sean Hamilton” who later introduced me to “Oney Da Don” his best friend/recording artist and now Vice President of the company. Time Is Now Records is currently based in the D.M.V area and has one of their strongest holds in the NYC area but has no limits to where they extend their services. An independent label, but definitely doing it like the majors. Time Is Now Records LLC has started a dynasty that will soon become an empire known all over the world. At least that was the thought process when starting the business. After running it for 2 and 1/2 years the company now has employees and business partners as far as Africa and Pakistan.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is my heart and soul honestly and I have been doing it ever since I can remember. Even back to a tender age of 3 years old. My parents are big music lovers with my dad being a dj at his younger age, and my mom being a very great dancer. I think what sets me apart from most artiste, is my ability to tell stories and just be original switching my accents and cadences, as I have a unique Jamaican dialect which is used and mixed into Hip Hop, R&B and Afro- Caribbean Music. With also a smooth more melodic flow, where I mostly sing on choruses and then blending a New York sound Hip Hop rhymes and accent. With just a pinch of raw Jamaican dialect, we call “patois” to create a one in a million sound. Both voices which sometimes turns to three were all created equally to create a lane of my own and also to have a distinctive sound to be recognized anywhere in the world. I’m most proud of my journey coming from a small island called “Jamaica” to now living and pursuing my career in the United States. Just knowing most of my peers didn’t make it to see pass the age of 21 years old. I started doing music professionally in 2007, after meeting a Nyc profound Engineer and Producer “David Kennedy” in Kingston Jamaica. I would say i recorded with him professionally 2007, and then migrated to the United States in 2008, and never looked back since. As for the journey and if it was every easy, I have to be perfectly honest and say if something was easy everyone will be doing it. So to answer the question, no it was never easy as a young teenager meeting even a producer of his status. Meant i had to be voice trained, know how to breath and also learn how to rap the same way on the record as if I was on stage. Recording my first single with him, probably even took me 6 months or more, and then another 6 to get mixed and mastered. It was all worth it though and at time I didn’t understand but now I realize that “David Kennedy’ was setting me up for a world much greater. I remember getting up to excercise and I would run while rapping, lift weights while rapping my whole song etc to get my stamina up and handle my breathing since I was asthmatic and already a heavy smoker. So even after I was doing all of that I decided to enroll myself into music school in Jamaica. “Edna School Of Music and Art’s” where I got voice trained and just also got into more professional and creative aspects of the business other than rapping. The lesson I’ve learnt along the way is persistence is everything because you dont have to be the best rapper, singer/artiste etc just be persistent and also just be true to self and everything usually falls in place. As for what I”ll like the world to know about me is that I am music, and its my DNA. I’m a proud father of “Shiloh Grace Hamilton” which is one of my most proudest moment and having her be apart of the process from recording, mixing, and even just giving her advice on what she likes now that she is 7 years old. Is my most to be proud of other than the journey as said earlier. I also have another daughter on the way “Davine Cadence Hamilton” with rapper/publisher Lady Cee aka Lyric who is also helping to build my empire along with her’s which I’m proud to say. I have came a long way from just being a Jamaican local rapper even living in Jamaica to now more a international rapper, with way more to offer at the table. Since my first recording in 2007, I have recorded, mixed and mastered numerous songs, and now wear many hats. I’m now a Promoter, Event Planner, Host, Dj, Artiste Manager, Fashion Designer, Engineer and Executive producer.. Most people dream about the dream but I get up and just live it, and realize that when your in the narrative sometimes it seems like your not there, but knowing I have a one of a kind name, sound, style and personality has left me these days happy knowing that even if I never get to the majors as they see it. I have already been playing the game like one, and very respected and known by many who still have to respect me for what I stand for because there are just somethings I will never do for fortune and fame. Also when your writing your own book, your own narrative there is no need to care or worry about what others say especially if your happy and providing for your family. So just the fact also google acknowledges my name and work, and since making my name which was derived from “telepathy” I decided to change the vowel e to an o. I feel and have comfort everyday knowing that my life can become even better in any second, minute or day now.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly its hard to say, cause I have so many. When it comes to eating I love “Sweet Sweet Kitchen” food, in Silver Spring Maryland, which is a mix of Jamaican and African food. I always will suggest Golf Ultra Lounge at 8123 Georgia Ave, if your into African food and Caribbean also or just wanna come out for a great night especially on a Wednesday, for “Tipsy Wednesdays” Reggae Night with Ricky Platinum. Or on a Friday with myself @telopath @izdjpony and @djamazingmakem for ‘International Fridaze” for a mixture of all genres and even a few special guests and performances. Now if you like casinos, mall, or just somewhere you can go on the weekend and just have countless fun, then i definately also suggest the MGM National Harbor as a one stop shop, which one of my favorite things to do when I’m there is just to sit by the waterfalls, or hitting the casino especially on the weekends, and if you have kids and want a family’s day out. Well stopping by the Rio to see a movie, eat, or just walk around in a beautiful atmosphere with the most beautiful people is also a must do. I’m originally from New York which I have many favorite spots as well, but I have been in the D.M.V are for ten plus years back and forth and have cemented my name and brand there. I can honestly say coming from New York at first I wasn’t sure about anything there. Now ten plus years in with kids etc, I can honestly say its one of the best places to live especially if your raising a family. There is always something to do no matter what, and the city is filled with beautiful monuments and off-course one of our biggest perks or tourist attractions is the White House. I love taking my daughter, or even like my dad who recently visited me from North Carolina to “The Jerk Pit” to just enjoy the environment, drink and even eat as if we were back home. With red, gold and green colors everywhere, Jamaican dialect of words written over the walls, with outside seating that reminds you of the country side of Jamaica. “The Jerk Pit” in College Park, Md is one of the best representation of Jamaican Culture and just what we bring to the area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First of all, I wanna thank H.I.M. {His Imperial Majesty) The Universal GOD, for blessing me with such a great talent as music, who alone shall live when all flesh is gone. Special thanks to my mom “Judith Cousley” and dad ‘Horace Hamilton” for creating me. Meadowbrook High School in Kingston, Jamaica, which gave me such a great education and inspired my artist name “Telopath”. Telopath is derived from ‘telepathy’ which is one of the senses most of us weren’t taught about, along with clairvoyance. Long story short, in the 9th grade I read a book by the name of “Chrysalids” in which the main characters name is “David” {my biblical name as well}. Do you get the irony? Basically the character, David was against bigotry and visioned a new world and way of life where airplanes existed, which at the time was seen as a blasphemy. I feel as though my name represents a way of life and at the same time mirrors my own life in many ways. My personal name “Telopath” and business name “Time Is Now Records” coincide to tell a story, of not only mine but of others, signifying us all as equals. No matter the religion or race we all bleed one blood and were created in his image. Special shout out to “Javion Hall” aka Jay Dawg 301, who really helped to inspire and be the face of the label and his mom, Venece Blue; who has been supporting him and myself way before I even thought of starting a label, clothing line, or radio/tv show. Thank you to my brother Sean Hamilton, Tajae Pusey aka “Oney Da Don” off-course my angel and young manager “Shiloh Grace Hamilton”, “Global Producers” (Domonick Best & Michael Best) and DJ Amazing Make’m for wearing many hats on top of producing amazing records. Special thank you to Caroline Paire aka “Lady Cee” for her help with editing, videography, interviewing of guests, co-hosting, marketing and promotion of the brand as well as her ideas and overall support. Our manufacturer and great staff of “Alphamin Leathers” in Pakistan for creating all our clothing pieces from scratch. Ben Durdy, NLB Honcho and the staff at Fairhill Studios for having “In Da Basement with Telopath”. Special thanks to MK Witz for referring me and also for being a dope artist and longtime supportive patron. Shoutout to KB Michaels from the Plugged In Radio Network for airing Time Is Now Radio/TV Show on the Roku Channel App. Last but not least thank you to my number one homie DJ Pony for holding me down from the beginning of my hosting/dj-ing career and being and all around great comrade.

Website: https://untd.io/a/telopath

Instagram: @telopath @timeisnowrecords

Linkedin: @telopath @timeisnowrecords

Twitter: @telopath @timeisnowrecords

Facebook: @telopath @timeisnowrecords

Yelp: timeisnowrecordsllc

Youtube: Telopath Tv and Real Yaadman Tv and Time Is Now Records LLC