After years away from the local stage, gospel artiste Prodigal Son has re-emerged with renewed clarity and conviction, describing his hiatus as “a recess and a reflect” rather than a retreat.
And if his new single is any measure, he is not easing back into the space — he is stepping in with intention, ready to stake his claim at the forefront of gospel music once more.
When he appeared at Genesis on New Year’s Day, it marked seven years since his last performance in Jamaica. In that time, the Georgia-based artiste says he was recalibrating — personally, spiritually, and professionally.
He shared that he had been “looking after self, looking after legacy, spending time to be a father and doing some deep introspection”, all while continuing to record and tour internationally.
“It was a comma, not a full stop … and I decided that the next time I open my mouth I am bringing forth blessings, not just conversation. I just mek God do Him work on me. It was just the process … there’s no discount on greatness, yuh have to pay the full price,” Prodigal Son told THE STAR.
The break, he explained, was not without its lessons. Reflecting on his early days — a married 25-year-old navigating the gospel industry while trying to win souls — he admitted the journey came with missteps and hard truths.
“I have fallen, I done some stuff … could have built a steakhouse out of all the mistakes I’ve made,” he said candidly.
“But, I was also thrown under the bus until I became a mechanic. Mi still have the basket with the water a walk wid. However, when people thought I was broken, I was really getting a break. They thought they were burying me, when in fact, I was being planted, and God was watering me.”
FRESH MUSIC
Now, he is channelling that growth into fresh music. His latest single, Play Di Gospel in the Dance, which he describes as “authentic, hardcore music”, is already gaining momentum. The track was crafted with veteran producer Danny Browne, whose experience in both secular and gospel spaces brought added depth to the project.
“I am not trying to be religious or anything, but God breathed on the song. It got a million views on IG in two weeks. Another single is coming out at the end of the month … it is from the album. And I can say that this album that I am doing is my best work.”
Despite being widely embraced in secular circles, Prodigal Son revealed that the gospel industry has not always extended the same warmth.
“There were gospel artistes who would tell others, don’t share stage with me. There are people who I break in this industry and they tried to break me. There are those who I held the ladder for and dem kick it away when dem get to the top. I was never the poster boy for them … I was never a pastor’s kid or one who was brought up in their circle. Me is a lickle yute who born inna di country. Mi use to beg pon roadside, wipe car glass and live inna di market. So me come inna gospel and a fight a fight that me neva even know mi a fight,” he said with a laugh.
Still, the artiste remains focused on purpose rather than perception. He recently recalled a supporter telling him that “Prodigal is to gospel what Kartel is to secular”.
Without directly endorsing the comparison, he instead affirmed his mission: “I’m here to preserve the legacy of gospel music. I’m the difference, and the difference is here to stay.”
