Rhyme master Khorii Rhymez taking poetry to the world

From the picturesque hills of Portland to a growing fanbase that has extended beyond Jamaica, Khorii Rhymez is turning heads and making waves with his lyrical swagger and fierce pride in all things Jamaican.

With each rhyme and every cleverly crafted verse, Khorii Rhymez, whose given name is Corey Derby, is building a legacy on social media that mixes humour, raw emotion, and Jamaican culture - and he's on a mission to take Brand Jamaica to the world.

Khorii Rhymez's journey began in the lush landscapes of Portland, inspired by the breathtaking greenery and captivating tourist attractions surrounding his childhood. Yet his poetic chops didn't blossom until his sixth-form days at Titchfield High School, where he penned his first piece, Daddy Weh Yuh Deh, for a school project. His aunt spotted the spark immediately, urging him to go all out with his talent.

Khorii also credits his father, Richard Derby, who is a teacher and cultural dancer, for being a "strong influence" on his passion for creative writing as well.

"All of his kids are talented, suh who can't sing...dance [or] paint, [but] I guess I discovered my talent very late," he giggled. "Suh I think [my passion] is hereditary and I find it kinda simple, I didn't know it was amazing, as people would say," says the vibrant youngster who discovered his gift at age 15.

The University of Technology, Jamaica graduate, who now holds a bachelor's degree in computer science, said despite his nine-to-five, his passion for creatively constructing poetic pieces is now a part of who he is. This rhyme master has amassed more than 90,000 followers on social media.

"I don't know how many people are doing this with poetry in the social media space, but it's working," Khorii Rhymez tells THE STAR.

While being humbly proud, Khorii shared that though the vast majority of content creators are "tremendously creative", his art of using poems to evoke laughter, trigger several emotions, while imparting knowledge in a poetic way, sets him above the rest.

"I'm creating content, but I'm doing it with poems -- dat alone is different. I don't know how many persons doing it now, but when I started I didn't know of anybody doing that. And it was just my way of bringing my talent and my creativity into the social media space, and it has been working," he shares.

His roots in Jamaican Patois have struck a chord with audiences craving authenticity, and he takes pride in keeping it real.

"I could write in English, but Patois feels better," he says, proudly explaining how his character and charisma make his poems feel like conversations with an old friend. "My character... I'm a bit charismatic," he chuckles. "People appreciate that."

When asked about whether Jamaican Creole should be taught in schools, Khorii Rhymez answer is emphatic: "One hundred per cent -- definitely!"

For him, Jamaican Creole isn't just a language; it's a bridge to the world, attracting people who want to understand the island's music, movies, and culture.

"If Jamaicans understood how marketable we are then we can use that, teach it in school and do something with it, apart from just [having conversations], [and] it will get bigger and have a lot more impact.

"The more [international] people know about the language, the more they can understand our music and movies, etc; so teaching it in school will be a big step," says the poetic genius.

He believes that Jamaica has "a lot of talented and creative people" on the island, and if there is a greater level of investments in the arts, "we can have a lot more successful major projects coming out of Jamaica".

"Jamaica is the best," insisted Khorii Rhymez, who has become known as a tourism advocate of sorts, drawing fans who praise him for showcasing the island's charm and the warmth of its people through his storytelling.

Looking to the future, Khorii Rhymez dreams of walking in the footsteps of cultural great Miss Lou.

"[She] is not just a national treasure, but she is known worldwide and has impacted people all over the world, travelled and shared our culture all over. So if I get even close to where Ms Lou was, I'll be happy," he says, embracing the nickname 'Miss Lou's grandson'.