Music
Press
What is this new sensation coming str8 out of St. Pete, FLAWDA?!? Ha ha, I guess you want to hear the buzz that's going around town and beyond. If you haven't already heard this cat performing around your hood, then you better tune in right chea! Born Arthur Lee Dennies Jr., this St. Petersburg native, is most def coming on strong with some anointed music that's guaranteed to ignite the spirit into some unconsuming flames. I personally had the well-worth experience to check Leethal out, and I must say.....man oh man, does he set it off with his undeniable vocal skills. Ok...enough of me talking. Check out the interview and get to know him! Oh, one more thing....I must shout out Mrs. Latrice Dennies (Leethal's wife) and his absolutely adorable baby girl, Arnesha.
Porscha: What does Leethal stand for?
Leethal: Leethal is just an acronym that I made recently. I gave it to myself as an R&B singer just to say Leethal was a name. But when as I began to do more Gospel music I turned it into an acronym which stands for "Live Expecting Eternity Through his Anointed Love".
Porscha: Wow, that's a great acronym too. At first, I thought it was "Leethal Weapon, Leethal Arts, Bruce Leethal...lol ....and all that great stuff. It all worked out though.
Leethal: I actually used the "Leethal Weapon" thing once. I would say that I'm a Leethal weapon in the hands of God.
Porscha: This is your first album that you're working on. Do you have a release date?
Leethal: At this point, no. I'm just hoping that I will have it done by the end of the year. It's going to be more of an EP than an actual full CD. About 6 or 7 tracks that will be more for radio play and also available tracks for purchase online.
Porscha: What inspired you to do an album?
Leethal: I would have to say, pretty much all the time in church singing with the choir. Just seeing how music can affect people and just getting God's word out to the people. Just seeing how it affects people, makes me feel good, knowing that I'm able to spread God's word through music.
Porscha: How many years have you had the passion to do this?
Leethal: I would say probably about 3 or 4 years.
Porscha: You were supposed to open up for Grits back in '04. But due to the hurricanes that year, it was postponed. How did you feel about opening up for Grits?
Leethal: I was excited about it. I was really looking forward to meeting those guys and doing it. I think at the time, I wasn't ready for it though. I think maybe that it was a sign for me that I wasn't ready for me to do that kind of thing and God was showing me that. Considering that the day before we went up there, we got in a car accident too.
Porscha: I remember you telling me that. It was you and your daughter, right?
Leethal: Yeah.
Porscha: And everything was Ok?
Leethal: Yeah, but the car was totaled.
Porscha: With all those things happening, what would you say is the moral to the story?
Leethal: I mean, part of it is patience. If God is telling you to do something, it's going to be in his timing not mine. Because I didn't end up doing the show, I actually ended up getting in touch with Jacob Izrael, who was Young Izrael at the time. That's how I actually started doing what I'm doing now.
Porscha: So do you think that by you meeting Jacob Iz first, do you think that it was the stepping stone into being taught for something like this?
Leethal: I def think that it's been a big stepping stone for it. He has more knowledge about this kind of stuff more than I do. Even though he's younger than me, taking me under his wing and giving me this kind of information.
Porscha: What's you relationship like with Jacob Izrael?
Leethal: I've known him about 2 years now. He's given me a lot of information that I'm still researching. There are so many things about the industry that I do not know. He's helping me with recording too.
Porscha: So are you learning the Engineering as well?
Leethal: I wouldn't say that, but I'm watching everything that he does when he uses his Pro Tools.
Porscha: Do you think that as a new artist, you should have the same respect as the mainstream?
Leethal: Not so much because I'm a new artist, but what I'm doing and Who I'm doing it for, I'm sure if God wants me to have it then He will provide it. Just the respect of what I'm doing and who I'm doing it for should be there.
Porscha: Who's on your album?
Leethal: Jacob Izrael. K-drama (Platinum Tips) produced a track. J-Gatz also produced a track. M. Hill (Fool Proof Productions) produced a track. I'm open for any opportunities.
Porscha: Everything seems like it's moving pretty fast for you. Do you feel that way?
Leethal: I was just saying that the other night at praise and worship rehearsal. I was saying how doors are opening for me. Even the small shows. For me to not have been working as hard as I could have, a lot of things are starting to happen for me.
Porscha: What's your take on the Gospel music i - Altared Lives Radio
Discography
Can't Be Denied - Release Date TBA 2007
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
I was born Arthur Lee (Leethal) Dennies Jr. on January 5, 1975 to Arthur and Lorraine Dennies, in St. Petersburg Florida. Early on as a Child I would write songs, but never really shared them out of embarrassment. As I got older my friends and I developed a liking for R&B music. In 1993 while visiting a cousin's house I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour. I didn't fully understand then, but it makes so much more sense to me now. Mainly because I knew that something was missing in my life. Even after accepting Christ I still really wasn't feeling gospel music. Sorry folks it just wasn't my thing. But I did at least end up with a church home, which by the way is my church today (Genesis Worship Center Church under Pastor Linda L. Sesler). So from there I did a short stint in the Army Reserves. The main part that sticks out to me was basic training and AIT. This was mainly because that is where I really started getting into singing. I remember I would go to church on Sunday to get out of working that day. I know sad but true. We would be rehearsing for the choir and ultimately we would end up singing secular songs. Afterward we would go sing hymns. From there I really just kicked around for a while until I met my future wife Latrice Robinson. I really have to say that if it weren't for her I would still be running the streets. She's the one that got me to go back to the church I joined in 1993. I really got involved in it, with such things as being in the choir and the praise and worship team. I even remember my first solo. It was sung in front of our presiding Bishop, her grace Corletta J. Vaughn. Presently, both my wife and I are training to be ordained ministers. I have also done various shows through Tampa and St. Pete. And have had the Blessing to share the stage with such Artists as K-Drama, Viktory, and Meccanism from Waste Management. I've even had the pleasure and honor of recording with Shei Atkins & Jacob Izrael.
Songs that have streaming or radio airplay are as follows:
No Turnin' Back ft Shei Atkins
Links
