KipRich giving up procrastination for Lent
Inspired by late grandfather’s teachings, loss and ageing
Published:Sunday | March 6, 2022 | 12:09 AMStephanie Lyew - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Reggae-dancehall artiste KipRich says, for the season of Lent, he will be making an effort to drop his habit of procrastination and is hopeful that he can overcome it thereafter. At the core of the Christian practice of Lent, which lasts for 40 days, starting on Ash Wednesday, is to prepare for Easter Sunday. People often abstain from regular activity with the goal of spiritually cleansing oneself, likening this to the story of Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert.
The almost six-week period is a time of reflection, and it so happened that KipRich celebrated his birthday last Wednesday, which, among other events, including the passing of his maternal grandfather, had him in a reflective mood.
“This day is definitely one of mixed feelings; one where you find comfort in the good memories with a person that has passed, but then you get caught into the emotion of missing the person,” KipRich told The Sunday Gleaner.
He added, “We buried my grandfather on Monday. So, two days before my birthday, I was playing the role of [a] pallbearer. But I am grateful because I am really getting crazy love. The messages ah blow up from me ah sleep. And though age is just a number, I don’t like to dwell on it.”
KipRich said his grandfather, Easton Graham, 87, was as ‘fit as a fiddle’ but succumbed to COVID-19. Reminiscing on their last interaction, which was over a meal of plantain and bread, the Call Me singer-songwriter shared, “it was only two weeks before he died, and it was just a good time, with us as men holding a vibe.”
“That man climb tree same way and was all about getting together with his family. He has made me reflect more on family values and other lessons. If there is anything my grandfather taught me, it’s the value of humility and to be disciplined. That all comes back to me, giving up procrastination for the Lenten period,” he said, adding that it is one of his ‘hard-to-let-go’ habits.
This is a challenge that has been years in the making, the artiste said. He tends to set personal and professional goals and put them off.
KipRich offered, “It is true that time waits on no one. We would have never planned that his life would be cut short. As a matter of fact, we were in the process of making an addition on his house and building a storeroom for layer chickens because he was an active man. But then COVID happened. So, it is another lesson to me to stop leaving things for tomorrow.”
He recently collaborated with fast-rising dancehall singjay D’Yani on a track titled Gyalis Astrology and is preparing to release a seven-track EP. Looking ahead, there aren’t any specific goals KipRich has set to achieve by his 45th birthday, but that he remains focused on being the best man and music professional he can be.
“I remain humbled by my achievements over the years. My music is enjoyed by different generations and, while I know things usually fall into place, I know I must continue to work towards greatness – that is the main goal. Gyalis Astrology has exceeded expectations because of the topic, I guess. Persons can look out for D’Yani and myself doing a live performance, complemented with a band and just me, hitting the road with greatness,” KipRich said.