With last year being singjay Epesword’s 20th year in the music business, one would have thought celebrations were in order. But 2018 was a rebuilding process, something the 38-year-old artiste is familiar with.

“I get a lotta distraction along di way. It come to the point wey mi sey, ‘mi waan gi dis music ting a break’,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “Every time mi do dat, it jus’ call mi back. Is like mi ordain fi do dis ting.”

Struggle is Real marks Epesword’s latest comeback. Produced by Omar Phillips for One Tree Records, it is recorded on that company’s Trainline rhythm.

Epesword recorded the song last year and though it is yet to be officially released, he said, “Mi have a good feeling ’bout it.”

Born Kaneil Brown, Epesword is from Shooter’s Hill in St Andrew. He started on local sound systems like Emperor before kicking off his recording career in 1998 for producer Johnny Murphy.

His early songs include The Way We Roll for producer Michael Reynolds’ Goldspoon label. In 2003, he enrolled in a programme at Excelsior Community College to learn the rudiments of music.

Currently employed as a bearer, Epesword says he keeps busy with “shows here an’ there”. In addition to Struggle Is Real, he recorded another song, Weekend, last year.

— Howard Campbell