Chezidek

Born Desbert Johnson in 1973 in Saint Ann parish, Jamaica, Chezidek is rooted in the tradition of roots reggae with a smooth and direct vocal style, nourished by Rastafari culture and by local sound system circuits where he began his career under the name Chilla Rinch. After leaving St. Ann’s Bay for Kingston, he works with producer Philip 'Fatis' Burrell and the Xterminator collective, an important step in his artistic development. Chezidek then releases several albums that span the 2000s, including Harvest Time in 2002, Rising Sun in 2005, Mash Dem Down in 2006, Firm Up Yourself in 2007 and Inna Di Road in 2007, the latter produced by Bobby 'Massive B' Konders. His music blends roots rhythms, measured dancehall inflections, and lyrics centered on social consciousness, spirituality and the relationship to nature, as illustrated by tracks such as 'Leave De Trees', 'Call Pon Dem' or 'Inna Di Road'. On stage in Jamaica as well as internationally, Chezidek has also circulated in very diverse reggae contexts, between concerts, festivals and productions by specialized labels, while keeping a recognizable vocal line and a constant anchoring in Jamaican reggae.