Rest and relaxation

IT'S NEVER easy constantly being in the public eye, and for many entertainers getting away is just as, if not more, important than a big performance.

But where do they go? How do they escape the constant grind that makes the entertainment world go round? Many we find, seek the solitude of nature or just kick back at home.

Ace deejay Frisco Kid is among the nature lovers in the dancehall. The nine-year veteran said his hideaway is located on a farm. "Mi jus go to the farm and siddung under the trees, me and di warrior dem, cook some food, bun mi chalice and hail up di fadda enuh," he explained between drags on his chalice.

Frisco Kid said he chose the farm because of his love for nature. "Mi choose fi kick back deh so cause a deh so Mother Earth start from and mi waan keep as close as possible to Mother Earth," he said in a throaty voice.

Roundhead of the Monster Shack Crew is also a nature lover.

The laid-back entertainer believes that getting away from the daily stress of life is very important, and healthy. Among his favourite hideouts is 'the heart of the ghetto' where he is well-known or atop the hills overlooking the city.

"Mi go inna di heart of the ghetto, a place weh di people dem use to me and no man nah pressure me, so mi can gwaan rest up and hold a meds, or mi go inna di hills, Jacks Hill or Chancery Hall, park up mi car and overlook di city," he explained. "When mi deh pon di hill mi can hear the sound of nature and that kinda bring a different vibes."

Roundhead says he often uses the time to get things done and think of the really important things in life.

"Mi use the time to create new tunes and to think about certain things inna life like which high school mi waan mi youths dem fi go, who fi go learn how fi play the piano or who fi go play di drum and so," he said. "Think about mi woman and weh mi can do or buy har fi mek di love feel fresh again, or simply if mi see she ah act a way, mi caan tink bout what mi did do fi mek she a move dah way deh and try fi correct it enuh."

These things are of utmost importance because as he puts it: "If yuh no tek di time out yuh might lose di important things dem inna yuh life."

Others like George Nooks find safe haven in their homes or at some secluded guest house on the North Coast, preferably Ocho Rios or Negril. When 'hiding out' at home or in the country, Nooks said he deactivates all of his phones and takes time out to relax and do some soul-searching. He also catches up on his reading. His reading material is varied but he has a special liking for action novels.

Nooks said that his sojourns into seclusion are not that frequent or difficult, because, "We Jamaicans are alright wid we people dem. It is not that yuh have a million people looking for you, so it is not that hard to do."

Lady Saw's getaway spot is as unique as she is risqué ­ her closet. She reveals that when she wants to get away from the stress associated with her job and everyday life, she locks herself inside her spacious closet, away from all disturbances and just relaxes.

Some entertainers rather that their secret hideouts remain that way ­ a secret. Among those who opted that the location of their hideouts remain 'classified' include the versatile Sean Paul. The deejay only gave this away to The Gleaner in relation to his hideaway: "Mi bredren dem place." 'Me and my bredren dem a par from before me name Sean Paul, so if mi want to be alone dem will allow mi di time,' explained Sean Paul.

He reveals that when he is alone he likes to smoke weed and meditate on current happenings in his life and the world in general. He explains that not only personal issues affect him but other people's struggles also have an impact on him. One of his favourite hangout spots, he says, is in his mango tree where he just sits and smokes, despite the fact that he is constantly laughed at by his friends for choosing a tree as a safe haven.

Luciano is also among the nature lovers. According to 'The Messenger', there are two types of getting away. One is when you make the time to be with your family and the other is to be by yourself. He describes his sanctum as "any little quiet region or little sanctuary that takes you back to nature and away from pollution."

The positive and conscious Luciano said the reason for choosing nature as his hideout is because that is the way God intended it to be. When chilling out in the hands of Mother Nature, he says he likes to get a "pot of food bubbling", read his bible and commune with his spirit.

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