‘Dancehall Pastor’ on ‘Solid Ground’ after Spice collaboration - Looks forward to linking with other artistes

After telling THE STAR in 2019 that he wanted to collaborate with female dancehall star Spice, self-proclaimed 'Pastor of the Dancehall' Stephen Blake has seen it come to fruition.

"It's hard to believe that was three years ago. After stating that I had wanted to be the person Grace [Hamilton] would do that gospel track with, we connected. And in 2020, we met, but then the pandemic happened," Blake told THE STAR, adding that the project has definitely taught him "endurance" and to listen to the direction God is pointing him in.

Last Friday, the collaboration with the Grammy-nominated dancehall sensation titled Solid Ground, produced by Vision House Records, was released across all digital-streaming platforms. It was greeted with resounding approval on social media, by both the dancehall fraternity and Church. But Blake said he is still looking out for naysayers.

"If anything she, Grace or Spice as everyone knows her, has taught me to take the opportunities in life, don't let them pass. Although she is dancehall, she was raised with a Christian background and is a God-fearing woman. She has repeatedly shared that she wanted to do a gospel song [so] when that opportunity presented itself, I was happy to be part of it," he said.

"I am sure this will not be her first and last because of the type of person she is. I had parked music for a while but I, too, believe it will happen for me if God allows for me to reach out to more artistes within the dancehall or reggae landscape."

Constantly preaching the message of unity in his online sermons, yesterday's sermon followed a slightly different direction and focused heavily on letting go of fear. He told THE STAR: "I could've let fear of criticism and disapproval keep me from releasing the song. But God spoke to me following my recent three weeks of fasting and it is the appropriate time to release, to tell the people to hold a solid ground as the world is going back outside."

Noting the 'war of words' that has occurred among several female dancehall acts and Minister Marion Hall, Blake said that Solid Ground was bigger than any controversy in the dancehall.

"I had put it out there that I wanted to do a song with her that speaks out against temptation and that is what Solid Ground is. And it still preaches the importance of unity, just in the way dancehall and gospel is workable. It shows the strength of woman and what being human requires of us. Mi mek sure to stay out of that clash. At the end of the day, God is for human, for everybody, every living thing," he said.