Ghanaian artiste Epixode is pushing back against long-held stereotypes about artistes in Reggae and Dancehall.
In an interview with Nana Romeo on Okay FM, he revealed that despite years in the music industry, he has never smoked or consumed alcohol.
“It was a personal decision to stay good,” he explained, attributing his clean lifestyle to the discipline instilled in him from childhood. He added, “I was fortunate to see life early,” noting that his upbringing, shaped by his parents’ careers, played a crucial role in keeping him grounded.
“My mother was on tour as a musician when I was just a toddler,” Epixode said. “I’m not saying I was spoiled rotten, but at least home was good. My father also worked in a bank.”
Growing up in a stable, two-parent household, Epixode averred, made it easier for him to resist peer pressure. He stressed that good parenting helped him make conscious choices that set him apart from the crowd.
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“I only got my tattoos about two years ago,” he revealed. “Before that, I had no piercings, no tattoos—nothing.”
His decision wasn’t driven by restriction but by intention: “It’s not that I couldn’t do those things, but growing up, I wanted to be different,” he said.
Epixode also dismissed the idea that drugs or alcohol are necessary to fuel artistic creativity. “I stand to be corrected, but Lucky Dube did not smoke or drink [for inspiration],” he said, challenging common assumptions about his genre.
He even offered a playful counterpoint: “Let me ask—do Gospel musicians use hard drugs to inspire their work?”
The singer, who comes from a musically inclined family, argued that talent doesn’t need to be chemically enhanced. “I come from a musical home, and that explains my gift. I don’t think you need to rely on something harmful.”
Epixode wrapped up his thoughts by highlighting a more nuanced view of his genre: “I believe there’s a sweet side to Reggae and Dancehall. Artists like Sean Paul, Konshens, and Beenie Man show that side. It’s not always about violence, bravado, or gangster life.”
