Shokryme changes for the better - Artiste aims for greatness after release from prison

Convinced that his 2021 firearm conviction hindered his chance to firmly establish himself as a top-tier artiste, Shokryme is now resolute in pursuing his big break in the entertainment industry.

The deejay, whose real name is Jason Pinnock, was released from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre on April 28 after serving nearly three years behind bars.

The Ruff Life deejay feels he was very close to breaking through to mainstream when he was incarcerated in 2021. He was arrested along the Hellshire Road in Portmore, St Catherine, on November 25, 2020, after police found a Ruger pistol and a magazine containing seven rounds of ammunition in his possession. Shokryme pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three years and six months.

"I was just about to break out, name did a get hot inna the street, song dem a play all 'bout, whole heap a people from different platforms did a link me, and then tragedy just happened," said the artiste, who also released songs such as Start It and Gold.

Shokryme said the projects reflect his growth as an entertainer, adding that he sharpened his skills while he was imprisoned.

"I've always said that during my time there, I learned more about keys and scales, and how to play instruments and read music," said Shokryme, who credited a band instructor, Mr Griffiths, with helping him.

"We had a moment when I was performing Ruff Life, and him seh that sound like a the wrong key. Mi tell him no man, so him type in the song pon YouTube and get the key and play it back pon the keyboard, and then mi start deejay it, and mi see seh him did right," he shared.

Having time to reflect, Shokryme has adopted a philosophical approach to the bump in the road he has had to overcome. He reasoned that a setback is oftentimes a platform for a comeback, and stressed his determination to become a chart-topping artiste.

"Time wasn't wasted. Although mi regret that I had to go there to get that knowledge, time wasn't wasted. I also learnt a lot of new dynamics in my voice," Shokryme said.

"Mi intend to put in a lot of work, hard work, and work smart, 'cause we have a lot to say. I intend to go forward with greater productions," he told THE STAR.

Since his release, Shokryme has dropped an EP, Change for the Better, and a single, Positive.

"Mi nuh wah waste my time again, mi nuh wah regret certain things... . What I learn from 100 Man to GP, anything mi learn has taught me to stay away from there. My focus now is to be a greater entertainer, a greater father, a greater dancehall artiste," Shokryme said.