Chan Dizzy converts to Islam, talks changes in lifestyle and future in music
Published:Sunday | March 5, 2023 | 12:36 AMStephanie Lyew - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Recording artiste, songwriter and producer, Chan Dizzy, has taken a vow to contribute to the conscious growth of Jamaica’s music through new content he hopes to deliver soon. Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Gleaner, he revealed that although much of his catalogue and the message in the lyrics of songs he has written for other artistes was not “the grimiest” in the dancehall, the vow comes partly through recent spiritual transformation.
“I identify as Muslim,” Chan Dizzy responded to the question about how he spent his 37th birthday in January, adding that, “Islam does not permit nor accept the practice of celebrating birthdays.”
Chan Dizzy, whose birth name is Kamar Ho-shing, said that he recently converted to Islam, but that it is a change he has contemplated for many years.
“On December 8, I took my shahada, that is the Arabic term for declaration of faith, and it is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is something that has tugged at my heart and mind and I was ready and wanted to do it. Having grown up in the ‘out of many, one people’ Jamaica where I was exposed to different religious beliefs, from classmates who were Muslim and Hindu, or had a variety of cultural practices, the learning process started out early,” Chan Dizzy shared.
He added, “Malcolm X, who is also Muslim, and one of my heroes, would have influenced a lot of what I learned through my following of his teachings closely. It was definitely a natural transition, but not one done out of ignorance. I’ve read and had conversations with other persons within the Islam community, including friends.”
The artiste, who is best known for his 2010 and 2011 hit singles Nuh Strange Face and Hello Badmind, respectively, said that while music is considered ‘haram’, or in simpler terms, prohibited, becoming Muslim has not caused him to retire from the industry which put him into the spotlight.
He explained that, there are some misconceptions about the teachings of Islam, and that the rulings vary and govern the content of the music.
“It is really about the message, and choosing this religious path has forced me to re-evaluate my message and how I deliver. I was never an artiste with distasteful lyrics but certain things are forbidden, and I treat it similar to when the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica provided its guidelines for recording artistes who recorded explicit music,” Chan Dizzy said, admitting that, it has been a challenging change, but does not see him disobeying or opposing Muslim teachings.
“Once converted or reverted to Islam, a Muslim has a whole bunch of studies. On the day you take your shahada you receive a lot of books to study and I’m still in the early levels of studying. I won’t sugar-coat anything, becoming a Muslim, it is expected that you are going to suffer hardships especially if you are connected to worldly things. So for me, I have been having a hard time. For example, I had to give up alcohol; I wasn’t the biggest drinker but being in the entertainment space, exposes one to alcohol. Also, a man having a relations with a woman, is forbidden unless dating to marry. I had to put those things aside.”
DISCIPLINE
Chan Dizzy said the positive outweighs what is viewed to many as negative, and one of the most commendable outcomes is that the religion has taught him discipline. He has been extremely focused on songwriting, which he still does for other artistes as a side hustle, and he is 90 per cent through to the completion of his studio.
He said, “It’s like an unspoken rule to not tell anyone who you’re writing for, but a lot of artistes have writers and it is noticeable in the quality and changes when they stop linking a particular writer. Nonetheless, giving up one’s credits is not something I recommend. The average listener does not search for the song writer’s names, but what matters is that a song writer is credited because as small or unpopular a song may seem at first, initially there isn’t success but maybe 10 to 15 years down the line, something huge could happen down the line and your credits is what determines how you earn or get proper returns. I’ve done well in this respect. I continue to work on my studio space; I also have an artiste protégé by the name of Perry Mobbz … these things take up the majority of my time.”
Although he has not released new music in a few years, with the most recent track being a TroubleMekka Music production titled Guide The Way, Chan Dizzy said people can look forward to new beginnings this year as he refocuses. He promised that another single titled Insomnia, the first song that he has recorded since converting to Islam, will be out later this month.
“The track was well-received, but it was released in January 2020, just before the pandemic. It was actually around the time [that] I deepened my research into religion. Musically, I’ve accomplished a lot and everything I wanted to do since high school has given me the opportunity to go to other countries or be heard across the world. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success and I can’t pinpoint one thing that is the biggest thing but there are greater things to come,” he said.
“I’ve released one EP and have lots of recorded, unreleased music I need to re-examine, that maybe can be compiled for another EP before I take on an album. To be honest, my best production has been my daughter, who I hope to pass on the knowledge to, and maybe have her join me in Islam,” Chan Dizzy shared.