Upcoming reggae artiste Peppa Lion - contributed

Returning to the music industry as a 'rasta', Peppa Lion wants to make an even bigger impact than he did when he first started in the business.

Born Shawn Headley, Peppa Lion was once part of a Spanish Town-based dancehall group called Hotta Peppas Crew. The group was getting much fame with songs like Me Love How Yuh Hot and Yuh Have Everything Necessary.

After several years together, the group split in 2005 after one of the members died. Peppa Lion decided to go to the Cayman Islands for a better life.

Three years later, Peppa Lion is back, not as a hardcore dancehall artistes but as a 'rastaman'.

"Me being a Rasta shock the whole a Spanish Town. Mi nuh look the same way to people anymore but a me same one," he told THE STAR.

"But if dem caan love me like this, it nuh mek no sense dem love me at all."

Positive mark

Chanting his signature phrase "look out" and singing his recently released song Protect I Jah, Peppa Lion wants to make a positive mark in society and in the music.

"A reggae music me a deal wid. Mi nuh have no time fi par wid no gunman 'cause a music and life me a deal wid. Mi haffi set a example fi my youths dem. A just righteousness me a deal wid," he said.

Although he is not getting as many shows and opportunities as he would like, Peppa Lion is still bent on being successful.

"Mi haffi deh a studio day on day a walk out shoes but nuh care how it hard mi still naah give up. The more challenge fi mi, a di more songs. Yuh haffi focus and govern yuh crowd and mek dem see seh yuh nuh fraid a dem," he said.