Videos : Hamilton Park Ft. Alley Boy : Derrière
Videos : Hamilton
Park Ft. Alley Boy : Derrière
Who is Hamilton Park?
Hamilton Park may have honed
their vocal skills while singing in their church choirs, but they are much more
than just four guys who share a love for singing. They are a brotherhood born
on the basketball courts of Hamilton Park Recreation Center in Atlanta.
Hamilton Park, which is made up of Anthony, Mr. Marcus Lee, Chris Voice and
Royce P, turned to both music and basketball as a way to avoid trouble in the
streets of Atlanta, and remain on the path of following their dreams. Never
once did H.P., imagine that the endless time spent playing basketball, or
singing for hours on end, would later lead to being discovered by legendary
music mogul Andre Harrell through his partnership with Radio One’s “Superstar
Soul Search,” becoming the first group signed to his label, Harrell Records.
In 2010, Andre Harrell and Radio
One launched the “Superstar Soul Search” in Atlanta, with the grand prize being
a recording contract with Harrell Records. H.P. unfortunately missed the
registration deadline, but fate would soon bring the four another chance to
perform in front of Harrell. While on a radio promo tour for the competition
throughout Atlanta, Harrell heard more and more about H.P. from every radio
station he visited. After a visit to Atlanta station WHTA, Harrell learned that
the Southeast Regional Manager for Atlantic Records, Yancey Richardson, who had
been with him throughout this promo tour, was actually one of the managers of
H.P. Harrell reached out to Yancey to set up a meeting with his partner Frame
and the group for an impromptu performance. “They reminded me of Jodeci,” said
Harrell, who then collected their music and decided to allow them to perform
the national anthem at the finals. They were church boys, but they were
masculine. I liked their relationship with each other and the way the blended
in and out. They looked like a superstar group to me. … They’re like four heads
thinking as one.” After H.P.’s rendition blew the entire audience away, Harrell
realized they deserved a recording contract more than the other contestants,
knowing that with his musical genius combined with H.P.’s potential, the
outcome could be extraordinary. “They were better ready to come out with a
record than any other contestant who was there,” said Harrell, who was
responsible for discovering Diddy. “They had their production team in place.
They were ready to go. They were like, ‘Let’s go.’”
From there, H.P. flew to New
York to meet with Atlantic Records, where they performed their infectious
single "Computer Love” along with Jodeci’s “My Heart Belongs to You.” It
took H.P. only two songs to get a standing ovation from an entire conference
room of music execs and A&Rs. After seeing this reaction, Harrell knew that
H.P. had something special, and knew he could polish them into the flagship
group for his new label Harrell Records, a partnership with Atlantic Records.
“We weren’t taking ‘no’ for answer,” said the group ironically at the same
time.
Hamilton Park successfully
marries their athleticism and masculinity from their time on the basketball
courts with their sense of chivalry, sensitivity, and ability to tap into their
emotions. With three of the group members raised by a single mother and the
fourth by a mother and father who are Pentecostal pastors, they collectively
have an unfaltering affinity of how to properly treat a woman. Subsequently,
H.P.’s infatuation with women evolved has into a matured state, compelling them
to strive toward touching female’s hearts with their rebellious, untamed love
ballads.
H.P. is united through an
ineluctable fate. Mr. Marcus Lee and Anthony have been friends for more than 10
years, since they both sang in the youth choir at Paradise Church of God and
Christ on the Southside of Atlanta. They later built a close relationship with
Chris Voice, who used to sing at choir events while visiting his aunt. When the
three saw that they had something special, it was time for the guys to find
someone to help manage and develop H.P. further. It was then that an ambitious
Anthony approached his uncle, Don “Frame” Howard, who was an A&R for Upfront
Entertainment (Devyne Stephens, Akon) and worked with Dallas Austin and Left
Eye of TLC and saw firsthand development of many acts that came though Atlanta,
such as Another Bad Creation, TLC and Boyz II Men, to fulfill this role. Once
Yancey, introduced Royce P to Frame, Hamilton Park had found the missing piece
of the puzzle. It wasn’t until all four members sang together that Frame was
captivated by each member’s ability to grab the mic as the lead singer, while
still remaining a cohesive unit. But the group also has many different
complexions within it. Royce P sings with undeniable conviction and passion,
engaging listeners with his serious tone that beams from his eyes; Anthony
bellows with hope, leading listeners into an optimistic retreat; Mr. Marcus Lee
speaks the truth with his soulful array of salacious words; and Chris Voice
touches the heart with his silky, inspiring words.
For the next four years, Frame
groomed the four members at Hamilton Park Recreation Center & Park in
Scottdale, Ga., where they spent vigorous hours learning their strengths and
weaknesses as a group, building camaraderie and teamwork during pick-up games
on the basketball court. The four named themselves Hamilton Park, paying homage
to the area where their bond progressively became more intact. "It just
made sense,” said Mr. Marcus Lee, the group’s lone preacher’s kid. “That's
where we made a commitment to ourselves and to God. Even if we have a group
discussion amongst us, it's going to be in Hamilton Park. That's where we got
our wisdom. It all starts in Hamilton Park." Yancey, who also helped
develop the sound of H.P. with his writing, says the group’s time together is
what helped build the strong, brotherly rapport that the guys have with each
other. “They open up every session with a prayer and close every session with a
prayer; they understand that it starts and ends with God.” In a five-year
period, H.P.’s likability transcended across the city, drawing comparisons to
hometown platinum-selling groups 112, Jagged Edge and the 1990s group Jodeci,
gaining approval from the masses.
“They are what New Edition once
was,” said Frame, who, along with Richardson, developed Hamilton Park through
their company L7 Entertainment. “These guys are pure. They’re untamed. It’s the
chemistry, the unity that makes them special. They come from the tradition of a
southern church. Altogether, Hamilton Park is what Atlanta sounds like today.”
H.P., who have been influenced by everyone from The Commission and The Clark
Sisters to The Temptations and Usher, want to continue the lineage of legendary
groups with their youthful soul singing rhythms. They are the face of Harrell
Records and aim to reintroduce songs that appreciation women.
In today's disposable pop
environment, H.P. is seeking to reestablish the sheer essence of chivalry and
lyrically deliver tasteful grooves that will encourage listeners to reminisce
about the time when showmanship was once a direct correlation of male R&B
groups. “We’re bringing the real essence, the real R&B back to the bedroom.
The stuff Ron Isley used to sing about. It’s tasteful, but graceful,” Royce P
said. “It’s passionate and us being us. We’re young and we’re real strong with
our love. We pull out the chair, we carry bags and do everything right. So when
it comes time. … We do it for the sheets.” As Anthony puts it, “We do it for
the ladies. We’re connoisseurs of love. We emphasize the fact that we are young
men who are connoisseurs of love. It’s love in the most masculine, most manly
way.” “I believe they can bring love songs back to the radio,” Harrell said.
“Love songs are missing from the radio. They’ll bring back love and romance for
young people.”
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