Reggae artiste trims his dreadlocks

Known for his almost floor-length dreadlocks, singer Cali P had social media users refreshing his timeline to ensure they weren't hallucinating when he debuted a loc-less look recently.

One person even questioned if it was a filter effect, but overall the Herbalist singer said the reactions have been positive.

"I got so much love also from the music industry in Jamaica as couple artistes link mi up and I really 'apprecilove' that," the Switzerland-based artiste told THE STAR. "I'm very happy that there were no hateful or strange messages. I wasn't sure what the outcome would be, that's why it took me a month to really put up a picture. It was just interesting to me that month for not having anything on my social media and being in the city. I went to certain concerts and stuff and I was just wearing sunglasses and nobody recognised me and that was really enjoyable as well."

He said the new look was inspired by serious introspection which had him thinking about his journey and the Nazarite vow that he took on in his pre-teens.

"The Nazarite vow is how you grow your hair. You don't cut your hair nowhere, you don't drink alcohol, you don't eat meat, you don't do certain things, and you sacrifice certain things because that promise with the Almighty is very strong. Not every Rasta grows his dreadlocks out of this reason, but that was my reason. I was in my teens and this is the thing that really kept me on a good path instead of going and doing bad things," he said.

Through his meditation, he realised that the vow he made no longer served the man he has become.

"Growing and living and having a child, I had this really strong meditation and it went to the point of right now, today, am I still having that same vow, that same motivation that I had when I started growing my dreadlocks? Because a vow is something you can also stop and restart. For instance if your parents pass away but I give thanks that that didn't happen to me or anything bad. It was just me reflecting and saying I want to refresh this and get myself stronger again within this time I am in now," he said.

He continued: "It might be different situations and motivations than when I was 12 and 13. We grow a lot within that time and I just realise that all of that I was carrying with me is a frequency. These are energies, and I give thanks for that, but I came to the point where I can say I can let this go now and forward again."

Other artistes who have sheared their dreadlocks in recent years include Wayne Marshall in 2018 and Spanner Banner in 2014.