OMG Digital Magazine | 287 | Thursday 14 December 2017 • PAGE 26
Devon Martin , who is widely known today as the international recording artist , Lyrikal , started singing in the church choir at the age 7 . Once he realized he could actually sing he began participating in school talent shows and neighborhood block parties . As a youngster his biggest inspirations were Crazy , Shabba Ranks , Buju Banton , Bob Marley and Super Cat their styles of music helped him to develop his own style .
He migrated to the United States at the age of 13 , where he got heavily involved in soccer and track and field , but music prevailed and by age 16 he was back at it , performing at block parties and talent shows , it was fun and he loved it , he even opened for the Wutang Clan at Club Wave and Sean Paul at St George , Staten Island .
Devon although very talented only took his music career seriously in the year 2003 , where he started to record . His first recording was at Dainjamentalz studio in New York , where he recorded a track entitled tiger bone . Since then he has managed to be a consistent voice on the airwaves worldwide and is now one of the most sought-after performing artist . His music has taken him on tours to London , Ghana , Guadeloupe , Berlin , Toronto , Bermuda , North America and the Caribbean .
Lyrikal has built an extensive catalog and has released several hits . He has received 5 COTT ( Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago ) music nominations in 2015 and won the award for People ’ s Choice Most Popular Single . His repertoire consists of over 40 releases including Jammin Sake , Picture Perfect , Freedom , Dip & Roll , Cloud 9 , Loner , Conquer Meh , Locked Down , Part Of Yuh Nature , All Over De Gyal , Ramajay , 25 / 8 , and countless collaborations with leading artistes , including Konshens and Ghanian Songstress MzVee . He released his first album , titled “ The Journey ” in 2016 and is currently working on his second Album which is scheduled for release in July 2017 .