ijah menelik

no religion just a spiritual thing,looking for the good anywhere and from anyone!

From the volcanic island of Montserrat, Shashamane Movement Militant Youth Awareness Entertainment, Inc. RASTA CAMP presents Ras Ijah Menelik, born on the 29th of October 1971 unto musical parents. Ijahs father Justin Cassell, The Mighty Hero, was the first calypso King of Montserrat and the Leeward Islands, performing in Kingston, Jamaica on many occasions. Together with Ijahs mother Sally Hewitt, a classical guitarist and singer in her familys band, Ijah was born into an environment of music. Much of Ijahs childhood was spent in the spotlight, singing, performing and acting. Growing up in band houses, studios, and the backstage, Ijah began subconsciously absorbing the atmosphere of performance at an early age. By the age of seven, Ijah was adding his lyrical input into his uncles music. His uncle The Arrow, legendary Soca Superstar, known for hit songs, "Hot, Hot, Hot", Groove Master (Mighty Quinn), and Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid), was influential in Ijahs early musical experiences. With this exposure, grew Ijahs desire to use music as an instrument in communicating his message to the world. Though Ijah was always surrounded by music, it wasnt until one day while listening to a local Radio Montserrat program, that he heard Eric Donaldsons Cherry Oh Baby, his first introduction to reggae. This incident would later spark a fire in his soul leading him onto the path of reggae. In 1982, along with high school friends, Ijah started perfecting his craft as a reggae artist, by forming the reggae group The Militant Youths. The group consisting of 5 members, Towergan, Ibadan, Brigadiere, Kulcha Don, and Ijah himself, then known as Professor Money, quickly became the top act on the island.