KipRich using music as therapy

KipRich said his new single God Pickney serves as his "musical therapy" in coping with his recent legal issues.

"Music is my therapy because that's how I express myself through my art, and this song is one a dem kinda one deh weh mi affi use it as therapy and also send a positive message out deh same way ... while trying to clear up some addi mess that is on my name," KipRich shared with THE STAR.

On February 10, the artiste was arrested and charged under the Offences Against the Person Act for producing lyrical content that was deemed violent on a dubplate. He previously lamented that he did not eat for four days after learning of the allegations, and expressing his raw emotions through music was his only way of "holding firm". He said he also felt the onus was on him to "reassure" persons about his character.

"I have to let them know that I am not a man of violence and I will never try to incite any form of violence against the State or the police," KipRich said sternly. "Music is how I talk to di people, so I just have to do what I do best in song form suh it can really reach to the masses, so people can hear my side of what's going on and clear up a lot a things."

He revealed that the song's title was inspired from a "pastor's vision" and also his personal connection with God.

"When mi go addi church, di pastor pray fi mi and seh 'Dis is just another test and a fight yuh going through weh yuh affi overcome, but God nuh gi him pickney dem more dan dem can bear. I don't follow up the music thing to know who you are but I see you come up in my dream, suh mi know seh yuh is God pickney," said the artiste.

In a line in the song, he sings ' Oh please God, nuh mek dem do mi like Jesus', but he stressed that he was not comparing himself to Jesus.

"I would never [but] ... I'm not a demon and I don't promote demonic things or [actions] of di devil, suh I'm just reassuring the fans that I'm also a child of God," he added. Following its release on Tuesday, the singjay said he has been showered with praise for his talent, creativity and for turning his mess into a message. But there have been criticisms.

"People gonna have dem own opinion but yuh can't be too judgmental - yuh just have to wait and see because I've been calling on God all di time and I give thanks every time. But, if yuh see yuh getting slaughtered and people doing [supm like] dis to yuh name and character, who else yuh fi call on? Yuh have to call on God, yuh can't call on yuh neighbour now. Yuh affi guh fi di supreme being fi help yuh fight dis battle ... [because] in times like these when you see you're cornered and you're back is against the wall, yuh affi call on God. Dat nuh mean is the only time mi eva call pon Him [because] mi pray every day," he shared.

KipRich promised to produce more dancehall-gospel songs, as they gave him a sense of happiness.

"I've been wanting to do these songs but dancehall set a way weh people tend fi nuh really guh towards positive things fi long. But this is like a dream come true fi me right now fi get a positive song out deh, and mi just ago follow up wid another positive song afta dis. I feel like I'd do a full EP of songs like these because it feels good," he said.

With the artiste's court date set for this Friday, KipRich said he hopes God Pickney will prove that he's making a "positive step" in moving forward, and admitted that his life has been "overbearing" lately.

"But the good thing is, the song and the [feedback from it] - a dat kinda a hold mi up right now," KipRich said. "Mi jus affi a try hol it and a hope fi di best Friday inna di court".

As for his family, he shared that they are still being negatively affected by this ordeal.

"Life have its challenges weh it throw at yuh but it's just how positive yuh can spin it, and a dat mi a try fi do at the moment and a try fi keep strong fi dem," he said.

"But mi hurt inside, man, mi a tell yuh di truth, mi hurt inside because it don't tek a day or two to build di kinda character [and career] weh mi build out deh and have yuhself in a positive light, and fi just mek a whole turn in a few days and have people a look pon yuh like a criminal and like you've been doing criminal activities, it just nuh feel nice - it's really not nice. Dat wudda hurt anybody feeling if yuh know you're not of that nature," KipRich expressed.