Former ‘Gaza VP’ Sikka is keeping strong

There was a time when Sikka Rymes was referred to as the 'Gaza vice-president', the person of supreme importance next to the World Boss himself, Vybz Kartel.

When Kartel was in prison, he said he was "Vybz's most loyal soldier", carrying his food and other items to him. But he revealed that the two have not spoken in years.

"Ah me used to go count out the money to pay Isat [Buchanan, his attorney]. If your family... babymother dem local and overseas fi get money ... I am the one. Me used to go check Shorty (Kartel's long-time spouse) for the money to deal with things. In the Gaza camp it's all about proving loyalty ... . I don't know what caused the rift," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.

The artiste's journey has seen him being allegedly "constantly harassed by police for being Gaza", shot in 2019, leaving Jamaica and his beloved family, and ending up in prison overseas. He has been off the scene for a while and has remained silent. During the interview, he spoke in depth about his Gaza era, the death of his beloved mother, who always used his own Stay Strong single to encourage him during his darkest days, and how he is paying tribute to her. But, he didn't talk much about his 15-month detention in UK facilities - HM Prison Wandsworth and HM Prison Huntercombe. He was released on July 10, 2024, three weeks before his mentor Kartel walked free from the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre after serving more than 13 years.

"That's for another interview, and ah STAR mi ah give di exclusive," he promised.

The deejay, who now goes by just Sikka, is still full of rhymes and vibes. He's the charming girl's man who "has no reason to push violence [because] mi smile too pretty". But ever since his I Know track dropped on December 1 -- exactly six years after he was shot following a performance -- fans are wondering why he has broken his silence. Sikka quickly dismissed the single's 'diss track' label. He insisted that he's fearlessly speaking his truth, clearing the air and dispelling rumours that he slept with his 'cousin' Shawn Storm's babymother, or that he thinks he was shot because of Kartel.

"First of all, Shawn Storm is not my cousin, and me and his babymother are like brother and sister, " he said calmly. "The truth will always classify as a diss. I am talking my side of the story. I am shining a light on the good that I have done that you are trying to erase from history." He reasoned that anyone who gets shot three times will be paranoid.

"My whole life changed when I got shot ... depression ... my family suffered. But fear like that...if I die tomorrow, I will know that I put up a right fight for people who are betrayed, and standing up for the right," said Sikka, who mentioned that he is living with insulin-dependent diabetes.

He said that after getting the hit song, Superman, it was challenging for him to take his career to the next level because he was a target.

"To get to him, they get to me. When I was harassed it's because I went to visit him...the videos are there. But I thought I was doing the right thing. And, yes ... I felt good when he came out of prison. I had the same feeling like when I was in Waterford jumping on the Gaza," Sikka said.

He insisted that he's not bitter and he wants to move pass the past and focus on his music career, which is in a great place right now. He recently signed a deal through Virgin | Radar Live, and according to his team "he is positioned for a global digital impact across the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the US, with UK stages serving as the home base for his live resurgence".

His album, Still Strong, is set for release on January 9.