‘Good behaviour led to Tommy Lee Sparta’s early release’ - Damage Musiq expects ‘nothing but good’ from him

STAR Writer

Popular producer Dwayne Parkinson, known to the industry as Damage Musiq, or simply Damage, says that he is "more than happy" that dancehall entertainer Tommy Lee Sparta is out of judicial custody.

Prior to the deejay's incarceration, the two professionals worked on several productions, including God's Eye, Procreator and Blessings, which afforded them major success with the latter. Blessings has garnered a combined 62 million views on YouTube, between the audio and music videos.

Speaking to THE WEEKEND STAR, Damage Musiq admitted that he was anxious to link up with the deejay to do more conscious dancehall music, and expressed the belief that "Tommy Lee Sparta is a changed man".

e added that, "The fact that he was released ahead of the expected time, for his good behaviour, tells so much. I have always expected nothing but good of him and, even before the whole ordeal, he was on a positive path and due to circumstances, beyond my knowledge or understanding, he ended up in that situation."

Tommy Lee Sparta was released on Thursday from one of the country's maximum security facilities where he served time for gun-related offences. The deejay spent nearly three years in lock-up following his arrest in December 2020. He was found with a firearm when a motor vehicle in which he was travelling was intercepted by police. He pleaded guilty in March 2021 and was sentenced to three years for possession of the illegal firearm, and two years for illegal possession of ammunition. The sentences ran concurrently.

Damage Musiq, who also hails from Montego Bay, said he met the Flankers native, whose given name is Leroy Russell, as a teenager. But their communication was not constant, as he ended up relocating to Mandeville where he attended high school.

He described Tommy Lee Sparta as a "very energetic and different" type of recording artiste and creative.

"The artiste definitely gives us a unique approach in-person and, as a producer, I knew I just had to wait and have faith he would be okay and return to the streets. Time really flies and I'm sure having been sentenced, and in that manner, there's another story to tell," Damage Musiq said.

He said that, by May, persons should be hearing new music that he has with the artiste but that he is "respecting him by giving him privacy".

The management of Tommy Lee Sparta requested that everyone, music industry professionals, event promoters and fans, allow the artiste some quiet time.

Nicole Taban of Boss Lady Muzik told THE WEEKEND STAR that the deejay respectfully asked for privacy in the coming days as he rests and reconnects with family and loved ones.