Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Matthew 'St. Matthew' Golding. - Contributed

On September 11, 2001, when the world was in chaos, Matthew 'St. Matthew' Golding found a new peace.

The two planes that crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City prompted the war that is now taking place in Iraq. It was a time when many people tried to find answers and St. Matthew found his by giving his life to the Lord. By doing that, St. Matthew had to revisit what life was before all the girls, cars, money, jewellery, drugs and alcohol.

"I just wake up and decided to call it a day. All weh di yout dem did want, I had it and I realise seh mi still neva happy. Some friends drop out and then I decided to change," St. Matthew said.

Trouble in school

His troubles started from his days as a student at St. George's College, where he was responsible for burning down a few classrooms. He was expelled, but that reputation followed him to his next school, Kingston Technical High. Just a week after his arrival at Kingston Technical, another fire incident occurred, but he was not involved. The authorities thought the coincidence was too close for comfort and also expelled St. Matthew.

"I was going through the adolescent phase. I wouldn't blame my parents, because people wild out for different reasons. I think people saw me as this uptown yout' and didn't like me," St. Matthew said.

He added: "Right there mi just tell me father seh it was going to be music ... I travelled back and forth to the U.S. after I got kicked out of school and I naturally took a liking to rap (music)."

Around 1992, St. Matthew was going by the name 'Suicide'. That was about the same time he became part of the group Marawdaz until 9/11 changed his life dramatically.

No physical change

However, the change he underwent cannot really be noticed from just physical appearance, but in words and deeds. He still has the urban look that has been associated with hip hop. It is a look that many were not willing to be associated with. Unfortunately, that is what he said is keeping a lot of young people out of the Church. He said there is too much emphasis placed on the traditional description of what a Christian should look like and not on what counts the most, the condition of the heart.

"What two group people hate the most in Jamaica? The Church and police. Dem seh is only hypocrites in the Church. That is why a lot of people a turn Rasta. It is natural and people not judging dem," he said.

He continued by saying "Whatever inside going to come out. I was honouring the guns, but now I am honouring the King ... Coming to the King was the greatest decision I have ever made and the greatest struggle. The fight gets even deeper, but it is better you struggle in word than in the world, though."

St. Matthew now has many underground compact discs, which include The Truth Book 1, The Truth Book 2, Mix Tape Volume 1, Mix Tape Volume 2, Streetz Disciple and The Trilogy. He is also featured on The Scroll (Who You Gonna Live For?) and Double Trouble. He said he does not frequent the local gospel scene, as most of his shows are overseas.