19 Facts About Sizzla

Sizzla is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is noted for his high number of releases.

Sizzla was born in St Mary, Jamaica, to devout Rastafarian parents.

Sizzla began to develop his own style whilst serving his musical apprenticeship with the Caveman Hi-Fi sound system.

Sizzla has used his music as a vehicle for his message, kickstarting his recording career in 1995 with a release through the Zagalou label, he then teamed up with "Bobby Digital" Dixon for a series of singles.

Sizzla has since released several dozen albums, including 1998's Kalonji and Royal Son of Ethiopia from 1999.

Sizzla remains a constant presence in the reggae charts worldwide.

Currently, Sizzla has 21 albums that have made it onto the Billboard's Top Reggae Albums music chart, the highest Words of Truth, reaching the peak position of No 5.

Sizzla Kalonji has released over 45 solo albums and over fifteen combination albums, crossing different genres of Reggae.

Sizzla has started his own record company, Kalonji Records; which in a joint venture with Damon Dash Music Group and Koch Records, released the album, The Overstanding, in November 2006.

Sizzla has recorded songs with the prominent artists in Judgement Yard, Joseph Shepherd, Bobo David and G-Mac.

In February 2010, Sizzla travelled to Zimbabwe to perform at the 86th birthday celebration of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Later that year, Sizzla was "rewarded" with a farm in the country, with the artist stating he was "here to stay" in Zimbabwe.

Sizzla voiced plans to begin an agro-business and build a recording studio in the country.

Sizzla refused to condemn Mugabe post-performance, while insisting the land he received was not a reward from the Zimbabwean government, but given to him by the local people in appreciation for his performance.

Sizzla stated plans to eventually make Zimbabwe his permanent home.

On 24 August 2011, Sizzla was hit by a bus while riding his motorcycle along the Salem main road, near Runaway Bay in St Ann, Jamaica, leading to many false reports of the singer's death.

Sizzla resumed recording by the beginning of the following year.

Sizzla has faced backlash due to the anti-gay lyrics in some of his recordings, causing the cancellation of many international concert events.

Sizzla maintains his stance that he is an artist using his creative expression and freedom of speech but will speak out against injustice where he sees it.