Born Miguel Collins on 17 April, 1976 and raised in the ghetto community of August Town, St Mary by devout Rastafarian parents, the now 33-year-old man better known by his stage name Sizzla, is yet another prime example that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. Having experienced extreme hardship throughout his younger years, Sizzla is now considered to be one of the most prolific leaders of the conscious Reggae/ Dancehall movement.
I caught up with the Raggae/ Dancehall legend for an inspirational talk in light of his forthcoming album release, ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’.
1. How did the stage name Sizzla Kalonji come about?
I caught up with the Raggae/ Dancehall legend for an inspirational talk in light of his forthcoming album release, ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’.
1. How did the stage name Sizzla Kalonji come about?
Sizzla: That name come about based upon the attitudes people have of youths growing up in the ghetto. The youth got that feel for the music, that energy, that fire, and they just want to express themselves and be a part of the music and feel that vibe. Mr. Harris (jamstyle producer and mentor) is who called me Sizzla because he thought I was just too hot!
2. What types of things did you experience as a child growing up in the ghetto?
Sizzla: A whole lot of things. I seen my friends being killed, people suffering, people dying, people catching diseases, poverty, political warfare, and parents who can hardly find a good night’s dinner for their kids.
3. How did you succeed in your pursuit of your music career where others have failed?
Sizzla: Perseverance. You’ve got to be educated about what you want to do, about where you’re going, and about the music in general. So I really studied the music industry. I watched television and listened to a lot of icons like Bob Marley and all of the great icons. I knew early on that music was where I wanted to push my energy, so I started to go to live sound systems and working night and day in different communities. This is how people started to hear about me and they started loving my style and I started getting that confidence and that conviction. From there it just propelled!
4. You are an inspiration to many, growing up who were your inspirations?
Sizzla: My inspiration is from the most almighty, the Rastafari, creator of Heaven and Earth. And then my whole environment and experiences, and people around me like my friends and family and people in the music industry like Baby Sham also gave me a lot of inspiration.
5. Now that you are in a position to do so, in what ways do you give back to your community?
Sizzla: We keep concerts and we help out the school by paying the school fees, light bills and water bills. Then we have a number of community projects to help educate people and we belong to a lot of institutions who come together and we try to come up with solutions to the problems we see. So we do a lot in the community.
6. What can fans expect from your forthcoming album ‘Ghetto Youth-ology’?
Sizzla: More righteousness, more love, more life, more vibes, more Rastaman inspiration, more nice lyrics, more melody and a beautiful album to comfort the soul and help you see through the problems of today. Rastafari! More Love!
7. What is the reason for your album being entitled Ghetto Youth-ology?
Sizzla: The reason for the album is for the youth to have a better insight in their life, to see the world and see what’s happening presently. This album is for the youths to give them strength, to let them know that education is the key, to clear up all the corruption and to just look towards the future, heads high and just praise the almighty and believe in yourself and know that you can make it.
8. Your current single, ‘Black Man in the White House’ is obviously about Mr. Barack Obama. Do you believe that Obama will be able to solve the problems that deprived youths face?
Sizzla: The problems people face were present way before Obama, but we just hope and pray that someone with a good heart has the people’s best interests in mind, and knows that the family is the basic unit of society and so you’ve got to keep the family together and let them get a good wellbeing. But the Government system has been corrupt from way, way, way before now, and because of the lack of resources and activities, a lot of people turn to drugs and guns and all other negative activities. We just hope and pray that Obama can be an inspiration to the youth and try to make things a little better for them.
9. How does it feel to be considered as one of the Dancehall greats?
Sizzla: It feels good. It’s honourable to know that you are accepted and recognised. That’s what we have been working for, not just to be physically recognised, but for our work to be recognised.
10. What key messages do you want people to take away from your music?
Sizzla: That is love, help one another, live good, share and be kind. Love is the only thing, there is nothing else Rastafari! Continue in your education, educate yourself, educate your family, and help those that are not educated.
11. Why do you use your music as a vehicle for your positive messages?
Sizzla: That is Reggae, that is Rastafari, that is our culture, that’s our life, that’s the way we life, and we bring it all out in the music.
12. You have been releasing good music since the 90’s why do you think you are still amongst the top artists in the Raggae/ Dancehall game?
Sizzla: Because I think I’m uplifting the spirits of people and enlightening the youth of the world. People want you to keep providing them with righteousness, and this is what I do so this is why I think the people continue to like my music.
Ghetto Youth-ology will be the fourth album to be released on Sizzla’s independent label, Kalonji Records and is produced by the Firehouse Crew. The album will be in stores nationwide on April 21st.
Words by Susanne Singh
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