Brimstone calls for end to ‘senseless killings’

Florida-based culture artiste Brimstone is concerned about acts of violence being reported out of Jamaica.

"We need for these [incidents] to end and for Jamaica to return to an island where we have love, peace and harmony," Brimstone told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Born and raised in Queensbury, in south St Elizabeth, Brimstone, given name Donovan Buchanan, did not have an easy childhood he said. At eight months old, he received severe head injury as a result of a motor vehicle driving over him. Having heard the stories while growing up, Brimstone was motivated that he had a purpose, as everyone expressed that they thought surviving that injury was next to impossible.

Fast forward 14 years later, as an up-and-coming entertainer, Brimstone tried his hands at deejaying on community sound systems. He recorded his debut single Nuh Money Nuh Inna Mi Pocket in 1994 at King Jammys, during his first ever studio experience.

"Life wasn't always milk and honey," he said, adding that after his debut, he began working in a shop but soon realised that this was "not my true calling in life."

As a means to gather income to support his real dream of becoming an artiste, he sold vegetables and seasonings at Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, St James. Then, , in 1996, he voiced the Future Vibration album for Junior Forbes.

Brimstone has been focussed on the culture music audience overseas for a while, but was inspired to express his feelings about the crime situation in Jamaica in his latest single Gun A Bark Like Dog. In the track, which is produced by Tophits Muzik, the artiste strikes lyrically against the current state of crime and violence and the need for gun control in Jamaica.

"The crime situation is getting out of control (even among our children). I'm addressing the issue of illegal firearms and the number of guns circulating my island. Jamaica is my birthplace, I had to touch this topic and I anticipate the people who listen will see the need for a solution," Brimstone said.