De Apostle Back on STX After South American Tour

M.A. Dworkin

St. Croix - Crucian born, Dancehall sensation De Apostle, is back in St. Croix after a smash success in Argentina and this summer’s Christiansted stage performance for the Dutty Heart tribute that sent the crowd ripping to his signature reggae beat.

His latest albums, which are available on all platforms, “The Heart Burns a Thousand Fires,” a roots Reggae album, featuring Sizzla, Pressure Busspipes, Shine-i, Capleton, Luciano and others is selling hot and heavy, along with his hard-hitting, Old school meets New school, upbeat Dancehall album “De Apostle I Declare War.”

Born on St. Croix, audiences across the Diaspora have been mesmerized by De Apostle’s dynamic sound and style, lifting him into being one of the hottest stars in the Reggae world. A poet and philosopher, he has followed a dream that was inspired to him by some of music’s greatest legends like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and 2Pac Shakur. 

This fiery musician has had a love for music since he was a young boy growing up in the Virgin Islands. He started performing at the age of six in school talent shows. His recordings first broke through when he surfaced in 2001 with the release of his debut CD “Genesis” on LP Records. That smash hit was followed up by “Book of Fire” the following year and “Renegade Music” in 2003 and “Xtreme - All or Nothing” in 2004.

De Apostle has continually strived to take his fantastic sound to the next level, pushing himself to hit the heights of his remarkable talents. He started his own independent record label, in which he has released a number of extremely successful albums on CD and DVD. His “no holds bar” attitude on music has crafted this conscientious Dance Hall artist into developing a style that is totally his own, making sure that he gives his audiences something fresh and new that encompasses the broad horizons of his free-thinking music abilities.

De Apostle’s unique voice has a hypnotic quality about it that brings home a certain kind of present day reality to his songs that focus on life and the prophecies of the world, as well as shouting out about the violence and turf wars that exist in communities in St. Croix and around the world. He sings about the ups and downs of life, its deep realities and truths. Over time, he has gained a great deal of confidence allowing his audience to listen to his message and not only dance to the fantastic Reggae beat, but also learn about the reality of the streets and the ghetto through his music. 

Before he was known as De Apostle, he carried the title “Heartless” because of his dynamic MC skills displayed in numerous MC battles and talent shows throughout his hometown of St. Croix and neighboring islands. But one of his greatest advisors, who was his grandmother, told him he was nowhere close to being heartless and that his name should have a more complete meaning which inspired him to choose the name De Apostle - a dreamer and educator, a person of soul, talent, light and energy. 

De Apostle spent some time improvising on the styles of some of Jamaica’s best Reggae/Dancehall artists such as Bounty Killa, Spragga Benz, Sean Paul, Sizzla and Capleton. Out of their influences he was able to carve his own individual style in the music world. His motivated lyrics that are meant to uplift the spirits and bring a positive attitude aimed at the youth, has never faltered throughout his illustrious career. 

De Apostle is a well-known figure at local events throughout St. Croix. He has gained recognition through hard work and determination and has earned the respect of many by paying his dues as an entertainer. His Crucian education and street life creed has combined to bring him a worldly wisdom along with inspirational views of the many different aspects of modern day life relating to crime, hate and love, and the poverty that constantly reminds him that we all must strive for a higher ground.

“Positive living and the beauty of life is available to everyone,” De Apostle points out. “No matter if you are White, Black, Dread, Chinese, everybody has the ability to reflect on the Most High, to do what is good, and speak what is right. My family instilled in me love and understanding of the Rastafari spirituality. They also instilled in me the importance of being myself and to be a leader,” states De Apostle.   

He firmly believes in giving back to the community that helped him to realize his goals and the bright future that awaits him. De Apostle looks at life with an open mind and conscious heart. “One Love” is his cry and “Unity” is his desire to see people living together in happiness, harmony and prosperity. 

“Be committed. Do it because you love to do it.” De Apostle advises today’s youth. “Whatever you say, be prepared to stand behind it, that’s where commitment comes from.”