Persons who have followed Richie Innocent’s career knows tackling social issues is his forte. Careless Shotta, Innocent Blood and Drugs fi Gun are some of the songs the poet has released to reggae rhythms.

On February 17, Richie Innocent changes creative course with Perseverance, his first book, which will be released by Cyber Clerical Creatives at VP Records in Queens, New York.

Recently, he spoke to the Jamaica Observer about moving from the recording studio to writing a collection of poems.

“For me, the transition is really a natural evolution since writing has always been my strength, ever since I learned to read from earlier years after not being able to up to 10 years-old. This is really a marriage between reggae and dub poetry that is driven not only by rhythms, but also the words that are constructed through inspiration to be expressed so as to bring awareness for positive changes,” he explained.

Songs like Careless Shotta and Drugs fi Gun graphically capture the violence that has gripped Jamaica for over 30 years. Without going into detail about Perseverance’s content, the St Elizabeth-reared Richie Innocent gave a hint of what to expect.

“In the life of everyone there are aspects that we wish could be resolved, restored and changed for us to move in harmony and to enjoy the company of our neighbours and those with whom we share planet Earth. Perseverance is what happens every day in our lives since we must fight to align our minds and life,” he reasoned. “My focal point is to provoke the ones who are comfortable with injustices and only see things through their perspectives and only a selective lens privy to only the privileged who have no intention to start a discourse and accept the voices and choices of others.”

While most of his childhood was spent in St Elizabeth, Richie Innocent was born in Kingston and attended primary school there. Yet, at 10 years-old, he was functionally illiterate.

Gradually, he overcame that challenge and became a voracious reader of folklorists including Louise Bennett Coverley and writer Evan Jones. While in grade eight at St Elizabeth Technical High School, he was encouraged to perform the Frank Collymore poem, Ballad Of An Old Woman, by one of his teachers.

Richie Innocent recalls doing the poem in deejay form which impressed his teacher and classmates. He considers that a turning point in his life.

Drugs fi Gun, his first single, was released in 2010.