Chezidek, when you started out in the music business, you got a push in the right direction from none other than Burro Banton.
Chezidek: "Yeah man! Burro heard me voicing a song one day. He didn't even tell me he liked it or anything, but he went to Bobby Konders and told him to check me out. That's when my recording career really started and it so happens that Bobby Konders also produced my most recent album 'Ina Di Road'."
Would you agree when I say that Bobby managed to lift you to another level on this album?
Chezidek: "I guess you could say that, yes. Massive B has always been a quality label; they bring some nice vibes and Bobby played an important part in my musical career so far."
There's a song on the album called 'Trouble Maker' in which there is a line that reads: "I can't live amongst no heathen." Is that the reason why you chose to go and live in the country near St. Ann? Don't you like living among non-Rastafarians?
Chezidek: "(laughs) It's not so much non-Rastafarians, because we're all children of the Most High, but whenever people have to live in poverty or hardship there's always certain negative vibrations around. I simply chose to separate myself from that by retreating into the hills or what we call the gully."
St. Ann is also known as the birthplace of Marcus Garvey. He's a National Hero in Jamaica and even schools and such are often named after him. You went to Marcus Garvey Technical yourself, I believe. All that being said, are his beliefs and philosophy being taught in Jamaican schools?
Chezidek: "Not really, no. That's still Babylon system, you know. They like to keep things hidden, but I guess naming schools and things after him is already a start. It can make the youths question who this prophet from St. Ann's Bay was."
As an artist you took the name of Melchizedek, the high priest from biblical times.
Chezidek: "It was a brethren called Maestro who started calling me Melchezidek back in the days. Much later I researched the name and found it was the name of the high priest (Genesis 14:18, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. The name Melchizedek has its root in two Hebrew words, "melek" - meaning "King" and "tzedek" meaning "righteous(ness)", red.) in the time of Abraham and I could identify with that. I guess you could say we're from the same order, but I decided to shorten it to Chezidek."
One track on the 'Ina Di Road' album is slightly older than all the other tunes on it. I'm of course referring to your hit tune 'Leave The Trees' (originally recorded in 2004, red.). Why did it take so long for that tune to feature on a Chezidek album?
Chezidek: "I recorded that tune for a brethren down in the country (Hugh Miller, Our Promotion, red.) way before I was working for any of the big producers. Working with Bobby Konders on 'Ina Di Road' now it felt right to include that tune as I really feel this is my best album yet."
Mixed into the title track of 'Ina Di Road' is a sample of an American gangster movie ("The Untouchables", red.). Whose idea was that?
Chezidek: "(laughs) That was completely down to Bobby, but it fits the song I think. The way Capone is talking there is very similar to the way the people I'm referring to in the song think and express themselves."
Does Robert De Niro know he is on a reggae album?
Chezidek: "(laughs) Well, you'd have to ask Bobby Konders that!"
I would like to end the interview by confronting you with a few words. The first one is: Jamaica?
Chezidek: "Yeah man, you don't know, Jamaica is a nice place, full of trees, mountains and rivers. Natural vibrations, you know!"
Reggae music?
Chezidek: "Reggae music is message music, food for the soul. As Bob used to sing: "Redemption song" and that's what this music can bring: redemption and salvation. Rasta music!"
And in conclusion: Rastafari?
Chezidek: "Rastafari is the foundation; the source of life and a river of water that can never run dry. Selassie I!"