Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
Tini Cool (right) and Murphy performimg at the Operation Consecration Gospel Concert, held in Portmore, St. Catherine, on September 3, 2005. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
MARTIN ISAACS, who performs as Tini Cool, is a Kingston College old boy who uses gospel dancehall music to spread the words of Jesus Christ.
He is busy working on his album Ghetto Christian, slated for release next year.
A resident of Newlands, Portmore, St. Catherine, he has first-hand experience of his album's subject. "The album talks about the ghetto, the girls, the violence and the crime around you. People mock and jeer you because you going to church," said Tini.
Although it can get rough, Tini has learnt to cope. "I still get my thing together despite the challenges. I try to live a life so they can see the light through me and also come to church," said Tini.
Gospel dancehall sometimes comes under heavy criticism from older Christians and other persons who see the genre as loud, vulgar and too secular. "The elderly are the ones who don't like the uptempo beat of the gospel. Sometimes we get bad faces, but I go on because I know what I'm about. I'm about the work of the Lord," said Tini Cool.
Tini believes gospel music should receive more airplay during the week. "I would like to see gospel music on all radio stations ,just like how the other artistes are being played in the week, not only on Sunday," he said.
Tini Cool started deejaying secular songs in fifth form at KC, knocking on desks and 'clashing' with other boys. He really wanted to be a cricketer, but pursued a career in music instead, joining a group called the Galawass Family and improving his DJ skills. He started going to studios such as Mixing Lab and recorded his first song, Pop Style Mi Gal.
However, he got saved in 2002 and his music took a turn towards gospel. He submitted a demo tape to Main Street Records, but was told that his music sounded too dancehall. He therefore toned down his sound to meet the gospel market.
He later linked up with Appointed Praise Station (APS), a Portmore recording studio, and was part of a compilation named Gospel Fi Share, released internationally in 2004 by Lion of Zion. He is now working with Holy Ground Records, also in Portmore, and producer Dale 'Dizzle' Virgo. Internationally, he is doing compilations for His Majesty Sound System in Canada and Evangelist International Sound System in the United Kingdom.
Tini Cool advises aspiring gospel dancehall artistes to be sure of their faith when coming into the business. "Make sure your life is covered under the blood, both spiritually and personally. It's not easy out there, both with Christian and secular audiences. Make sure you are professional about music, so people will take you serious as a gospel artiste," he said.
