Deep Jahi enters another competition - Former 'Kings and Queens' winner tries JCDC stage

Despite being the crowned king during the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall competition a couple years ago, recording artiste Deep Jahi says he aims to promote Jamaica with his entry in this year's Festival Song competition.

Deep Jahi, given name Rushane Sanderson, has entered the Festival Song competition with a song titled I Love Ja.

He explained that the decision came after the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) approached his manager, Serani, to do production work for the competition. He said he was then consulted to participate in the competition and he decided to do it.

"I was kinda hesitant at first, but given the fact that the JCDC is a competition... it goes across the board. It will be on TV and radio... it is good promotion and known to Jamaica at large. It will be beneficial to my career. I decided to do a song to help promote Jamaica and the beauty of Jamaica and help make JCDC more mainstream,".

The other contestants in the competition are Pehtrol, Bono G, Sanj and CG Smart, Kahni, Clearance, Oliver Smoothe, Rasta Keekee and Rojjah.

Although he was the winner of Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall in 2012, Deep Jahi says it is quite different from the Festival Song competition.

When he entered the Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall, Deep Jahi said the main aim was to win the million dollar prize. This competition, he says, is a different experience.

"This one (Festival Song) is not about money. I don't even know the prize I would get if I am the overall winner. I don't see this as a competition, I see it as something to promote Jamaica," he said.

The Festival Song finals will take place on July 26, and not many persons were made aware that Deep Jahi is a contestant prior to this. However, he says he is already bracing for possible negative feedback.

"In the music, there is always negative feedback. Even to this day you have persons who can't put a face to my music and you have some who ask why I don't put out any songs and I have been recording," he said.

"Me just sing good music and the good nuh necessarily come up to the forefront. Any opportunity as it relates to good music, that's what I am going to do."

Deep Jahi stressed that although he has entered the competition, his music career is still very much active. The music video for Harsh Reality was scheduled to be premiered on CVM TV's On Stage last Saturday and he also plans to do music videos for Conversation and Family Over All Things in coming weeks.