House of Levi

By: Onika Nkrumah

I first met him through a mutual acquaintance at a Twelve Tribes dance.  Today, It is raining as I make my way to Woodbrook in Trinidad to meet with Levi ‘Zion’ Myaz.  He greets me as graciously as I expected and ushers me into a brightly colored room.  The beats of a rhythm plays out.  Looking on benevolently, from a framed photo on the wall is his father, the late musician/producer, Richard ‘Nappy’ Mayers. 

A half-smoked hemp cigar hangs limply between his fingers, as he explains to me that the beats we are listening to is to provide the background for a collaboration between himself and SuperSonic Sound of Germany.

Levi Myaz was eighteen years young when his Dad passed away, he never got the chance to tell his father that he had chosen to seriously pursue the musical path. 

“I chose music late, I was living abroad, playing football – I was more sports inclined.  In October 1993, I wrote my first song – then my father died in December of the same year”

He doesn’t need to say it but the regret is evident to me – having also lost my Dad too soon.

Growing up in a musical home, Levi was fortunate to meet some of the region’s best musicians like Eddie Grant, Len ‘Boogsie’ Sharpe, Andre Tanker and the Mighty Sparrow – to name a few.   The home studio that Nappy built is no longer in existence, at the time young Levi was inexperienced and ill-equipped to make it a success.

Life in foreign was no bed of roses for Levi.  He unashamedly admits that he found himself on the wrong side of Uncle Sam’s law and had to leave in a hurry.  He urges me to tell his story of “seeing nice things and wanting it the fast way” as a cautionary tale to other youth.

Through all life’s ups and downs, the spirit of ‘Nappy’ Mayers remained with his first born until Levi realized that music was his true calling.

“I chose music over college and I learned to love God and put him first”.  The Father blessed me with a talent and not using it taught me a lesson that music is my path.  I had to pass through many tests – I did not want anyone to say that I was Nappy’ son and I had it easy. I’ve been through a lot with music”

As with other progeny of well-known musicians, Levi has had to blaze his own path to be taken seriously. 

I ask him what advice he has for others wanting to break into Trinidad’s fledgling reggae music industry:

“Educate yourself about business and music. Be patient and humble and wipe out the ego. Ego is a feeling without God.  It is selfish”

On the topic of the Red Army, Levi makes it clear that he was never an official part of the collective, although he got along well with its members.

“Red Army was a trio - Khari Kill, Jah Bami and King David were its original members.  I was close to King David from his Gold Mouth days, Khari like me is an original St James man, when he returned from NY, we got along very well and so I began to be associated with my Red Army brethren – but if the Red Army was still in existence I would be an official part of it by now”

I muse loudly that “there is no ‘I’ in team”, Levi vigorously agrees – “Yes. We all represent Trinidadian reggae music and there’s no better strength than unity. But I have not seen the unity maintained by our Trinidadian reggae artistes.  I hope and pray that things will change.  We could do so much more, to make the budding industry better and pave the way for others.  We all still get along, we hang out together but there could be less emphasis on the individual and more on the collective.  Cooperation and rasta unity is needed but we don’t practice what we preach.  We sing about love and unity and it really hurts for me to see this, because I don’t want it to become a thing filled with regret”.

So, the Red Army became a casualty before it was able to bear full fruit.  I remember a recent Tempo interview where Khari Kill was very strongly giving his opinions on the “ungratefulness of black people” and lack of support from some artistes.  Sensing a scoop, I try to dig deeper without missing a beat Levi kindly informs me that controversy is not his thing.  Firmly, put in my place, I change the topic…

What projects are you working on currently?

I am about to sign to a foreign management company in Florida.  Discussions are underway with a couple of labels and I am planning the best way to release my first album.  I need to do it properly, the recording, mastering, production and distribution has to be right.  I am also working on a couple videos to be done in New York for release on Tempo in 2008.  My management team  have a lot of shows lined up and there has been a lot of interest coming from Europe.  My fans can expect a lot of collaborations from me with artistes such as Royal Dainties, Jah Son, Bunji Garlin, Isasha & Million Voice, Khari Kill and GounzMan.

I recorded “Real King” in Oakland with Anthony B and it is getting a lot of underground airplay abroad.  I also opened for Anthony B, Morgan Heritage and Gregory Isaacs in both California and Hawaii.

What does Rastafari mean to you?

I told my principal at Fatima College that Rasta was my calling.  My name provided an early introduction into the community. Other rastas would always explain what my name meant to me.  I read books and I was drawn to it.  Rasta is not a man-made religion, it is a way of life and a function of the heart.  Selassie is Christ and He is God.  Selassie I is the conquering lion of Judah, he is Christ in his kingly character.

Are you a vegetarian, vegan or carnivore?

I eat fish but refrain from diary products.

Do you have a special lady in your life currently?

My daughter, Jahzara.  She is three years old and a budding performer already, she loves to sing for people.

So Levi, does a lady have to be a dread to date you?

No. I’m more concerned with the meditation of the heart.  Of course, looks are important but mentality is the key because your hair could always grow…

What order do you follow?

It is all about Selassie I and the precedent he set.  He was an Orthodox Christian.  The main thing for me is Christ and his word.

What is your position on the use of marijuana?

Marijuana is a seed-bearing herb plant.  It is stated in Genesis that the Creator put it for the service of man.  Marijuana is useful in many ways, do the research.  I advocate the use and smoking of it, however you must know yourself, smoking is not for everyone.

The world is experiencing a youth revolution – drug use, truancy etc.  Do you think artistes need to be more responsible with their utterances and performances?

Yes.  Talent is a gift.  It is God-given, so with it comes responsibility.  The artiste has to choose whether it will be used for good or not.  Are you part of the solution or the problem, be a light in the darkness!

Five years from now where will Levi Myaz be, careerwise?

That is in the Father’s hands.  I know my purpose so I hope to continue doing my music at a higher level and touch more people in more countries.  I don’t want to be rich but I want to be comfortable and take care of my daughter.

Inevitably, we must all leave this earth someday. What legacy would you like to leave and what dream would you like to accomplish by then?

You pay according to your works and so does your generation.  My life is influenced by my father’s life.  I have to live up to his good reputation so I must continue the legacy that I witnessed from him.  He was generous and kind, my father turned down no one…not even a crackhead!