Quinnes “Q” Parker enjoyed amazing success in the early ’90s and early 2000s with the Grammy-winning, certified Platinum group 112, who was signed to Diddy’s Bad Boy Records before taking a hiatus. In the meantime, fitness model Parker has launched a solo career, with his first project, The MANual, slated for a summertime release. Parker sat down with Rolling Out to give his fans perspective on his new career path.
What are your hopes for your first solo album, The MANual?
I’m just trying to do my part in the whole taking R&B back to what it is. I think a lot of times as R&B artists we are so consumed with trying to make sure our records are competitive to the hip-hop world [that] we are missing out on what makes an R&B record: the substance, the melody and the vocal performance. These women need somebody that’s going to cater to them and treat them right through songs, and that’s my mission.
You have any dating tips for the men out there?
I don’t really get caught up into the place … it is just more so seizing the moment and allowing your personality to shine through at any particular location. Whether it’s at the park, at a restaurant, or at a concert, what matters is making a connection and allowing a woman to see that even though you are a male and a man’s man that you can still be sensitive at times and still be compassionate, and still be vulnerable at times. Come out of the shell and allow your true personality to show because really that’s what they fall in love with.
So now you’re a fitness model, how did you initially get so invested in fitness?
In high school I was very athletic and early on being signed to Bad Boy, Puffy instilled in us the importance of your image. The image is what publicly sells the record. But knowing that in our society and in our country we have one of the highest obesity rates … I wanted to do my part, so I came up with a fitness calendar. Partial proceeds of the calendar are donated to the American Cancer Society for something that I really am passionate about.
Buy Q Parker’s fitness calendar here: qparkerfitnesscalendar.weebly.com/
Twitter: @QPARKER112.
