Sizzla

Miguel Orlando Collins (born 17 April 1976), known by his stage name Sizzla Kalonji or Sizzla, is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is noted for his high number of releases. As of 2018, he has released 56 solo albums.

Biography Sizzla was born in St. Mary, Jamaica, to devout Rastafarian parents. Like them, Sizzla subscribes to the Bobo Ashanti branch of the Rastafari movement. He was raised in August Town, Kingston, Jamaica where he studied mechanical engineering at Dunoon High School.

Career

Sizzla began to develop his own style whilst serving his musical apprenticeship with the Caveman Hi-Fi sound system. He has used his music as a vehicle for his message, kickstarting his recording career in 1995 with a release through the Zagalou label, he then teamed up with "Bobby Digital" Dixon for a series of singles. Extensive touring with fellow Xterminator label mate roots and culture artist Luciano followed, earning Sizzla notoriety .

Sizzla Kalonji has released over 45 solo albums and over fifteen combination albums, crossing different genres of Reggae.

In 2013 he released the album The Messiah. In January 2014 it was nominated for a Grammy Award, his first nomination. In 2014 Sizzla was featured in the song and video for Stephen Marley's single "Rock Stone."

His sons Raheem Collins and Melech Collons have followed him into a career in music, working under the name Reemus k and Skorcha.

In August 2025, Jamaican reggae artist Sizzla Kalonji was honored at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in Florida, where he received the Key to the City of Lauderhill from Mayor Denise Grant and a special citation from the United States Congress. The recognition was part of Jamaica’s 63rd Independence celebrations in South Florida and acknowledged Sizzla’s three decades of contribution to reggae music, his role in promoting Rastafarian culture, and his wider impact as a cultural ambassador within the Jamaican diaspora and beyond.

Judgement Yard Judgement Yard was established as a community centre in August Town, an eastern suburb of Kingston, Jamaica, by Sizzla Kalonji. Although Judgement Yard is an organisation of sorts, it is also a geographic location at 41 August Town Road, which is where Sizzla maintains one of his residences. Judgement Yard is also the home of Kalonji's state of the art studio, as well as his record label, Kalonji Records. As the owner and founder of the Yard, Kalonji is responsible for many youths in the community of August Town, as well as youths who come from other areas to seek assistance and guidance in life as well as music. He is an influence to many. Many of these same youths who are members of Judgement Yard fraternity are musicians or have some direct affiliation with the music through production works, artiste works, etc. There was a near-riot during his performance, including beatings of crowd members by police, causing Sizzla to temporarily halt his performance and ask the police to cease the beatings.

Later that year, Sizzla was "rewarded" with a farm in the country, with the artist stating he was "here to stay" in Zimbabwe. He also voiced plans to begin an agro-business and build a recording studio in the country. The moves were not without controversy, particularly among Mugabe detractors who insisted he not perform for the President. Sizzla refused to condemn Mugabe post-performance, while insisting the land he received was not a reward from the Zimbabwean government, but given to him by the local people in appreciation for his performance. He also stated plans to eventually make Zimbabwe his permanent home. In October 2019, he was yet again involved in another motorcycle accident and was hospitalized for a broken ankle.

Controversy

Sizzla has faced backlash due to the anti-gay lyrics in some of his recordings, causing the cancellation of many international concert events.

In 2004, he was barred from entering the United Kingdom for several concerts. OutRage!, a British LGBT rights group, alleged that some of Sizzla's songs contain lyrics that advocate violence against LGBT people. In 2007, Sizzla's concerts in Toronto and Montreal were canceled after protests from Stop Murder Music Canada coalition. Kalonji's song titled, "Nah Apologize", was recorded in 2004. In 2008 his visa was cancelled, preventing him from entering Germany after performing half of his tour and he was sent back to the United States. Sizzla maintains his stance that he is an artist using his creative expression and freedom of speech but will speak out against injustice where he sees it. In 2009 and 2010 several concerts in Germany were cancelled after public protests against the concerts. In 2012 concerts were cancelled in Madrid (Spain), Ghent, Belgium, Stockholm, Sweden and Lisbon, Portugal after public protests. Kalonji Muzik issued a statement after the cancellations that he abides by the laws of every country that he performs in and is not trying to invoke or incite violence against anyone.

Discography