When audiences think of music emanating from the Caribbean
they tend to think of Dancehall, Reggae, and Calypso but rarely do they
think of Hip Hop. One might say this is because the Caribbean only
respects the genres that its culture is primarily dominated by, however,
in reality this is not the case. Need proof? Just ask the legends Marlon
Asher and Sizzla Kalonji who will argue otherwise. This is solely
because of one youthful St Thomian artist who changed their perception!
This artist goes by the moniker, Pediko. Pediko hails from the
Virgin Islands but also reps his bloodline motherland known as
Dominica. He emerged within the music industry at a very young age by
depicting the hidden reality of the struggles that occur beyond the beauty
and beaches of his hometown. His ability to capture the pureness of his
pain through gritty storytelling not only captivated the attention of local
superstar Pressure Busspipe but it moved him so much that he actually
signed Pediko to BussPipe Records.
Pediko’s musical talent and sound have been molded by the rough
lessons learned in his past. He takes pride in the pureness of his lyrics
and the fact that he lived the content that he speaks about. Audiences
don’t typically know that young Pediko released several entire
independent projects while still in high school. When asked what
motivated him to make this music while balancing the stresses of both
school and the streets, the young artist explained “I have to express my
pain in some form other than anger. This is my form of expression. This
is my gift to my friends who have died and those who have been taken
from society. This is for my biological brother behind those walls.”
From the outside looking in, Pediko has used his musical talent to
rise above the negativity that the street life offers but not because he
didn’t choose to live the street life but because he chose to learn from it.
The pain of death and separation from his loved ones forced a deep
rooted change within himself that poured out into his music. Pediko now
prides himself in being a true artist rather than just a lyricist. His natural
musical prowess has allowed him to evolve into more genres than just
Rap. Pediko is now considered a multi-genre musician by way of
incorporating his lyrical ability with Caribbean influences which can be
seen in his tracks Do the Most and My Way ft Pressure BussPipe.
As a result, the new age of Virgin Islands musicians attribute their
motivations to Pediko and the majority of these artists are actually fans
of his music themselves. This is because Pediko represents hope for all
youths trying to make something of themselves and his authenticity is
proven not just through his content but through his character as well. His
name is as popular on the music charts as it is in the class rooms. Pediko
represents hope for those looking to rise above their current situation and
make more of themselves. He is an inspiration to his hometown and a
living breathing testament of this hidden talent it beholds.