Saturday, April 20, 2013

INTERVIEW: Quddus talks Haitian upbringing and 13 year career on Black Hollywood Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObxvoCc5bvY

Quddus, a Haitian TV personality, talks about his Haitian upbringing, early childhood and career and his 13 years on MTV, Dance on Sunset, MySpace, Access Hollywood, Duets, and The Q Side on Black Hollywood Live.

In this episode, Black Hollywood Live hosts Derrial Christon, Jesse Janedy and Courtney Stewart interview special guest Quddus, a TV personality best known from his days as the host of MTV's Total Request Live and ABC's singing competition show Duets. Quddus' professional career in broadcasting began in 2000 as a host and co-writer of VOX, a groundbreaking youth culture show on TV Ontario which went on to win a Gemini Award (Canada's version of the Emmy®). This led to his big break - hosting Total Request Live on MTV. As host of MTV's biggest show, Quddus conducted daily interviews with stars such as Will Smith, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jake Gyllenhaal, Alicia Keys, Ben Affleck and Denzel Washington, and his work on Total Request Live led to both Usher and Britney Spears requesting him to host their Showtime concert specials. Quddus won a 2003 Favorite TV Personality nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. In 2005, TV Guide named him one of TV's Hottest New Stars, USA Today featured him as a "young hunk worth watching," and Teen People named him one of the "50 Sexiest Men Ever." In 2008, the New York Times called him "the Ryan Seacrest of the Hip-Hop generation," while The Associated Press declared him "the coolest guy on television." Since leaving MTV, Quddus has hosted TV One Access and Nickelodeon's Dance on Sunset. He was also a correspondent for Access Hollywood and has appeared on CSI: Miami, the CW's Half & Half, Girlfriends, as well as the indie film Life is Hot in Cracktown. On the music front, Quddus made his impact felt as an A&R consultant for MySpace Records, where he discovered and signed R&B sensation Mateo. He has gone on to direct music videos for Mateo and rising star Erin Christine. He's also taken on the Internet in a major way by hosting The MySpace Music Feed, AOL and the Jonas Brothers' joint venture, Cambio Connect, and creating his own website and video series, TheQside.com. Quddus also lends his time to the non-profit organization Generosity Water, volunteers at "A Place Called Home" in South Los Angeles, and recently went to Haiti on an aid mission. This interview was recorded April 19th, 2013.

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