Centryy honours late mother with ‘RIP’

Dancehall artiste Centryy lost his mother tragically when he was only five years old.

That traumatic experience inspired his latest single, RIP, which shows the young deejay's ability to write complex lyrics covering the most vulnerable parts of his life.

"My mother inspired me to write this song. I have 55 friends who died through crime and violence. I've learnt life as a soldier and know that I have to cherish every moment we got," said the artiste, whose given name is Ravell Redman.

On this emotionally driven track, Centryy shows vulnerability where he wishes that he could have had more time with his mother.

He deejays: " When the casket close, only God He knows ! Mommy gone from mi a five years old !".

"The song is getting a lot of buzz because a lot of people can relate to this type of pain, that of losing a parent," he said.

Centryy was raised in the district of Exchange in Ocho Rios, St Ann. He discovered music at the age of 10 when he heard artistes including Sizzla Kalonji and 50 Cent on the radio.

"I felt a passion for music because of the pull factors also within my community of Exchange, where a music group called Flava City nurtured young talent in art and developed creatives," he said. He recorded his first song, Badmind People which generated favourable airplay on radio.

"When I first heard my song on the radio, I was astonished by the seed I sowed and the manifestation of it. Since then, I've never stopped doing music," he said.

Centryy studied politics at The University of the West Indies, but soon realised that his real passion was music. After migrating, he once again was driven by the need to pursue his craft. He released RIP to exorcise some of his personal demons and to slingshot himself into the spotlight.

" RIP is the culmination of all the pain that I have experienced and my personal loss," he said.