Warrior King, judging from your songs and the artwork on your 'Keep The Faith' album, you seem to focus a lot on Ethiopia. Who came up with the artwork for that album featuring you dressed as an Ethiopian Ras or warrior?
Warrior King: "Ethiopia is the land where the Gods have to be. Ethiopia is the light of the world, as His Majesty taught us. To I&I as a Rastafarian, Ethiopia is a very special place. Like Palestine for Christ, there's Ethiopia for His Majesty. It's definitely very significant to the Rastafarian movement. Everything comes through the Most High, but it was a brother called Neil (Edwards, the illustration was by the hand of Tennyson 'Jimmy' Smith, red.) at VP Records who designed the sleeve after hearing the music I did for the album. It's a spiritual album; I&I come to fight for righteousness, for the restoration of the Solomonic dynasty and for love and equality amongst all people and the sleeve needed to reflect all of that."
The title of the album, 'Keep The Faith', sounds as if you wanted to reassure your brethren and sistren that, despite all the bad things going on in the world, it's important not to lose faith or hope.
Warrior King: "I think the album has only become more relevant since it was released (2005, red.). That's exactly how I want my music to be. My songs need to be as strong in twenty years from now as they are today!"
The focus of your music is definitely on the message then?
Warrior King: "Yes, it's important to keep the faith. My music is not about material things, it's about getting the message across. A lot of artists these days have gone out of line with the kind of message we're supposed to put out there. Some are singing about sexual things, others about guns, but these are the wrong things to be singing about. I can only say: "Many are called, but few are chosen!" Be not a fool and know them by the works that they perform!"
What might surprise people is that you started out in the music business under the name Bounty Junior, emulating the style of your idol Bounty Killer.
Warrior King: "In everything you do there has to be a starting point you know. Even Marcus Garvey, as great as he was, was inspired by Booker T. Washington (April 5, 1856 - November 14, 1915, American political leader, educator, orator and author. He was the dominant figure in the African American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915, representing the last generation of black leaders born in slavery, red.). Every great person was inspired by someone else and sometimes you have to start by learning about the negative side of things before you can start to enjoy the positive. Every tree starts out as just a small seed."
You also have a degree as a mechanical engineer. Do you feel it's important to have something like that to fall back on?
Warrior King: "Education is the key for betterment and completeness in these modern times. (excerpt from the song 'Education Is The Key' from Warrior King's debut album 'Virtuous Woman', red. ) It gives you a certain advantage, but it's important to use that education for the betterment of humanity and not solely for your own benefit. As a Rastafarian, education is very important to me. We have to try and learn something new every day. Studying is improving oneself."