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INTERVIEW: DENNIS WHITE: CAROLINA'S MENACE cont...
BSL: Once you left NC and you relocated to NY, how long did it take for you to get your first
gig?
WHITE: Maybe six months. I was hosting at FuseTV. I started working with them immediately.
I did some other things with MTV but my major gig was FuseTV. I did that for about 2 ½ years.
BSL: In this day and age when we as African Americans have accomplished so much, how
does it feel to be the first African American to host FuseTV?
WHITE: It was challenging because there was no one I could refer to that would understand
my plight. A lot of times I was a lone wolf out there but I was fighting for a little black equality on
the network, when it was concerning African American talent. A lot of times I would be the only
African American in the board meeting that was involved in show concepts and show plans. It
was challenging but it was a great opportunity. I got a lot of exposure from it.
BSL: Did you know that you would be involved in the entertainment industry or did you just fall
into it? And did you think you would be where you are now?
WHITE: It was a double-edged sword. I knew I would either be playing pro baseball or in the
entertainment field. It was no question. My mother was a music teacher and my father was
involved in music as well. I knew it was a part. I get it more from my friends from school who
see me now and say I knew you were gonna be part of the entertainment field. I was always
taking part in anything that would help me build my craft.
BSL: I read that you had a background in Gospel singing back-up for a lot of famous artists.
When did you decide to make that transition from singing gospel to pursuing a career in Hip
Hop?
WHITE: When I knew I wanted to make money. (laughs) Singing background for Gospel
artists was good exposure, all the touring. Eventually, it wasn’t beneficial. I decided I needed to
go and create my own situation, which is what I think anybody in the entertainment field has to
come to grips with. You have to do for yourself. That’s when things starting blossoming for me.
I got more focused.
BSL: You reached much success with your first album. What makes your music stand out from
others?
WHITE: It’s my voice. It is what I have seen and what I feel. It’s real. It’s not something that I’m
talking about my homeboy’s situation or something in the music videos. It is actually things I
have experienced. People who have heard my music can relate to in some form or fashion.
Having a gospel background and living in California, Florida, North Carolina, New York…I
have a different view on life. I have a wider spectrum. My music has a lot of colors.
gig?
WHITE: Maybe six months. I was hosting at FuseTV. I started working with them immediately.
I did some other things with MTV but my major gig was FuseTV. I did that for about 2 ½ years.
BSL: In this day and age when we as African Americans have accomplished so much, how
does it feel to be the first African American to host FuseTV?
WHITE: It was challenging because there was no one I could refer to that would understand
my plight. A lot of times I was a lone wolf out there but I was fighting for a little black equality on
the network, when it was concerning African American talent. A lot of times I would be the only
African American in the board meeting that was involved in show concepts and show plans. It
was challenging but it was a great opportunity. I got a lot of exposure from it.
BSL: Did you know that you would be involved in the entertainment industry or did you just fall
into it? And did you think you would be where you are now?
WHITE: It was a double-edged sword. I knew I would either be playing pro baseball or in the
entertainment field. It was no question. My mother was a music teacher and my father was
involved in music as well. I knew it was a part. I get it more from my friends from school who
see me now and say I knew you were gonna be part of the entertainment field. I was always
taking part in anything that would help me build my craft.
BSL: I read that you had a background in Gospel singing back-up for a lot of famous artists.
When did you decide to make that transition from singing gospel to pursuing a career in Hip
Hop?
WHITE: When I knew I wanted to make money. (laughs) Singing background for Gospel
artists was good exposure, all the touring. Eventually, it wasn’t beneficial. I decided I needed to
go and create my own situation, which is what I think anybody in the entertainment field has to
come to grips with. You have to do for yourself. That’s when things starting blossoming for me.
I got more focused.
BSL: You reached much success with your first album. What makes your music stand out from
others?
WHITE: It’s my voice. It is what I have seen and what I feel. It’s real. It’s not something that I’m
talking about my homeboy’s situation or something in the music videos. It is actually things I
have experienced. People who have heard my music can relate to in some form or fashion.
Having a gospel background and living in California, Florida, North Carolina, New York…I
have a different view on life. I have a wider spectrum. My music has a lot of colors.
THE BLACK SPOTLIGHT
Shining A Light on African American Entertainment & Culture