Prophecy sings of an end to violence

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Last May's bloody battle between security forces and gunmen in west Kingston will go down as one of the most infamous incidents in the history of independent Jamaica. Among the thousands who followed the tragic two-day standoff on television was singer, Prophecy.

The fighting inspired the St Thomas-born vocalist to write No Body Bags, his latest song, which was produced by saxophonist Dean Fraser.

"Mi sorry fi the youth dem most of all, 'cause a lot a dem lose parents in the 73 that died," said Prophecy, who was backed by Sly and Robbie, keyboardist Robbie Lyn, and guitarist Lamont 'Monty' Savory from the C Sharp band.

Even though the song was released 10 months after a joint military-police unit moved into the west Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens in search of alleged Shower Posse leader Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, Prophecy believes criminality, which persists throughout the Jamaican capital, is contagious.

"I don't think people know how central Kingston is to many youths in the rural areas, 'cause a lot a dem want come town," he reasoned.

"The way I see it, a better Kingston means a better Jamaica."

Prophecy said he stayed clear of negative trends when he was growing up as Rohan Brown in Lyssons, a St Thomas coastal town known for its fishing culture and entertainers like Bushman.

Influenced by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Dennis Brown, he got his start as a performer on sound systems and community shows. Prophecy's first taste of the national stage came in the 1998 JCDC Festival Song contest in which his entry, Higher Ground, made the final cut.

His next move was recording at the famed Studio One with legendary producer Clement Dodd. He recalls doing five songs for Dodd including the originals Time Of My Life and Ain't No Need. He never got the desired breakthrough at Studio One, but said time at the Brentford Road landmark was well spent.

"It was great to be there an' be 'round man like Strangejah Cole, an' sing pon the same mike weh some of the legends sing pon," Prophecy said.

His biggest break came in the Red Stripe/Irie FM Big Break contest in 2005, which he won with the song Don't Come Tell Mi.

After recording the self-produced songs Birds and Bees and Bad Times with longtime friend and fellow singer Sojournah, Prophecy hooked up with guitarist Delroy 'Worm' Nevin, who not only produced several of his songs, but helped get him a slot on an AIDS-awareness concert in South Africa alongside Chaka Demus and Pliers, Morgan Heritage, and Rita Marley.

In 2008, Prophecy returned to South Africa for a tribute concert to singer Lucky Dube, who was killed in Johannesburg the previous year. He also recorded Chance, a song in homage to Dube who had performed in Jamaica in 2007.

No Body Bags was released on Prophecy's Jah Alone label.