Reggae artiste Jah Cure has retreated to the hills of Hanover to clear his mind after a recent controversy concerning a show in St Vincent.
According to Jah Cure, who did not speak too much about the show, he is now setting his spirit free.
"I was born in the mountains so up here my spirit roams free and at the same time it's adventurous, far away from all the negativity just tranquillity and peace," he said.
Jah Cure revealed that he inherited a substantial amount of property from his deceased grandfather, and that he wants to take the time to cultivate and develop the property.
"I want to make the hills available for meditation purposes open to the general public, sometimes the city is hectic so I just want to get away and get a new meditation. I just bought two power saws and a cut down some giant trees to clean up the land and build an estate here...at the same time create some employment," he said.
According to Jah Cure he is not going to waste his money on vanity, he is more concerned about fulfilling the dreams of his grandfather by developing the land. He also revealed that he was actively taking part in the comforting cultivation process.
"Everybody needs to try this sometime, find some hill and go there and free your mind, try and get as much as you can out of life by making use of the natural things that nature has to offer. Right now mi deh at the river a ketch a few fish ago roast dem after this," he said.
The artiste says that after his retreat, he will be re-energised and ready to execute his regular duties again.
"I don't forget where I am coming from, and when I come up into the hills I am reminded of where I was born and where I want to go, so it gives me a stronger drive to push forward," Jah Cure said.
According to Jah Cure's publicist Claude Mills, the artiste wanted to clear his thoughts after a controversy concerning his non-appearance at a concert in St Vincent.
Cure did not perform at the event because the promoter did not meet his contractual obligations. The promoter is said to have given Cure US$15,000 as a deposit, but was unable to make the final payment because 2,000 bogus tickets were collected at the gate to Victoria Park where the event was staged.
STAR Writer, Curtis Campbell
Sizzla, whose real name is Miguel Collins, was pulled due to mounting pressure from the gay community.
SIZZLA... sacked from Swedish show
According to the website www.dancehallreggaeworld.com, the event — Reggae Compassionate Act — was slated for Wednesday, March 28 at the Hornstull Strand and should have featured dancehall artiste Sizzla. However, he was pulled by the organisers as a result of the public outcry that his messages were a breach of their code of conduct.
The members of the the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community said that the dreadlocked artiste's lyrics advocated violence towards them. The show's organisers were forced to take notice of the group's petion.
This was not the first complaint made by that community against Kalonji. In 2009, the group accused the organisers of being ignorant for allowing him to perform in the country.
Several of Sizzla's songs such as Bad Man Don't Apologise and Murder Them have portrayed violence towards members of the homosexual community.
In 2007, Sizzla's concerts in Toronto and Montreal were cancelled after protest were made by members of the Canadian Stop Murder Music coalition. The year after, he was sent back to the United States after arriving in Madrid for a concert. The Spanish human right organisations protested against his message of hatred against homosexuals.
Sterling, who hailed from Montego Bay, had lived in Canada for over 20 years. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago and collapsed at his home on March 16. He was on a life support machine.
According to his long-time friend Carl 'Rosa' Green, his family took the decision to take him off life support on Sunday.
Green described Sterling as a great contributor to Canada's reggae industry.
"He was loved by all in the area... he will be missed," Green told the Observer.
Sterling hosted the Mix Supreme Show on CHRY 105.5 FM in Toronto for 15 years and played an active role in developing Toronto's reggae/dancehall scene.
He is survived by his wife and two children.