By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter'IT'S THE P to the R to the O to the D to the I to the G to the Y!' would be very familiar to those who have seen Prodigy in performance.
This new, young performer in Christendom has been raking up a storm with his God-given talent as a gospel deejay and rap artiste.
Born and raised in Stony Hill, St. Andrew as Ryan Reynolds, he attended Calabar High School. Like any other schoolboy, he spent much of his high school days in the company of his peers, caught up in idle deeds and chasing women.
The latter of these pursuits, however, would introduce Ryan to a whole new life.
"Me an mi brethren dem did guh a crusade in Constant Spring fi guh look girl, because mi did si a one girl weh mi did like and we even went to church to look for her the following Sunday," Ryan recalled.
Despite becoming very good friends with the girl, Ryan got a whole lot more than he had bargained for a conviction while sitting in church one Sunday, after he had attended to see his female companion.
"After I felt the conviction (at age 15), I started to understand more about Jesus and what he did for me, but when yuh a guh high school it hard fi jus get up and change, because of peer pressure and all," Prodigy explained.
When he did declare himself, Ryan was not to be without his share of trying times as many young Christians undergo, as his friends didn't feel he would be able to remain committed to his newfound beliefs.
"Tru me an dem use to guh Half-Way Tree after school guh look girl an' dem ting deh, dem did a seh yu turn Christian and never feel seh mi coulda hold out," he said.
He admitted that it was not until he had left high school that he focused completely on God.
THE BIG BREAK
During the latter part of his high school days, Ryan started his musical career in a group of five youngsters called MIC (Ministers in Christ). However, despite all of them being Christians, there was a persona-lity clash and he was the first to leave the group.
From there, he began singing back up for his brother Goddy Goddy, the two even doing a song together.
He then started writing songs on his own and would soon gain recognition. Lie was written for Danny Brownie. Gospel deejay Prodigal heard it and they said they liked his style.
"At the time, Prodigal was just starting his own company, called Radikal Communications, and he and his wife were looking for young gospel talents. He took on myself (Prodigy), DJ Nicholas and Jason Mighty and later did a compilation album called Recharge, on which Prodigy had two songs Decision and Feel Yuh Got it Made," he said.
The album, he said, was meant to introduce and expose the young talents in gospel.
TAKING MUSIC SERIOUSLY
Prodigy says the response has been good so far, but he gets greater response from the more youthful audiences. "I think these people enjoy my ministry, as they are always happy to see young men doing their thing for Christ," Prodigy said.
Prodigy says he takes music very seriously. "Your spiritual life has to line up with what you preach. Being young in the ministry, I've already travelled to Antigua and Orlando," Prodigy explained. He said he also hopes to release his debut solo album soon and tour more of the world.
"The songs (for the album) are already written. I will soon be graduating from Bible School at Whole Life Ministries Bible Training Centre and from there I want to dedicate my undivided attention to working on my debut album," Prodigy said.
To the youths, Prodigy says, "Education is the key to success and to those who want to turn deejay, get your education first then pursue the music, because in music it nuh really easy fi buss, suh if that fails, you have something to fall back on."
Prodigy says he has only just begun and people can expect some powerful music from him in years to come.
