A Rastafarian reggae artist, who grew up in one of his home country's toughest areas, says his childhood experiences inspired him to make it out through music.

Artist Black Kush, who now lives in Strood, says music is a way of life and he loves to encourage others through his lyrics.

The musician, who is in his 40s, grew up in Spanish Town, in St Catherine's Parish, Jamaica, but came to the UK when he was 16.

Spanish Town, in the country's south-eastern section, is widely considered to be one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the country, though the artist contends that his upbringing instilled grit and wisdom within him, something which he carries to this day.

He said: "Upbringing in Jamaica is hard, but we try to make it nice, and we try to make it happy.

"Sometimes your parents can't find money to buy shoes, bags, clothes, food. Things are just set a certain way.

"But I give thanks to my mother and father as they helped me reach here.

"Jamaica influenced me to be strong within myself, it helped me to depend on myself also.

"No one will give you anything. Milk and honey will not fall out of the sky, so you have to go out there and get it.

"I came to this country when I was 16, but I was a big man already because of the mentality I developed."

The father-of-five children performs under the reggae and bashment genre.

Reggae combines native styles with elements of rock and soul music. It became popular in the late 1960s and quickly emerged as the country's dominant form of music.

Bashment, traditionally known as dance hall, is a form of music which originated in the late 1970s out of the sound system era.

It mainly focuses on the use of electronic instrumentals rhymed over with Jamaican Patois.

A sound system is a group of DJs, engineers and MCs playing over a 'riddim' and is historically popular within Jamaican culture.

The artist got into the music scene thanks to his family. He said: "Music is something I've had from birth. I've been doing it since the age of eight or nine but I've taken it seriously in the past seven years.

"My uncles were musicians and they used to promote and push artists.

He continued: "As a musician, day-to-day life includes making, promoting and releasing my songs.

"I also go out and perform so people can get to know me.

"Music is hard. There's a whole heap of hypocrites and bad-minded [malicious] people you have to fight against in this scene.

"As long as you're doing righteousness, you're going to get conflict.

As a follower of the Rastafarian movement, Black Kush pushes for positivity as he believes God makes himself known through humanity.

He said: "Rastafari represents life. If you plant corn you reap corn, if you plant peas you reap peas. Rastafari is not a religion to me, but a way of life.

"Living in love with people, how you eat, drink and acknowledging that their is a higher element than you which is the creator."

Rastafarianism is a religious and social movement which gained traction in Jamaica during the 1930s.

The artist continued: "So with this, being an artist is very powerful.

"Being a musician, you're a teacher and a poet, you have artists who draw and then you have artists who talk and sing.

"We're trying to make something out of nothing. That's where music comes in, music makes you forget things.

"When you're sad, music makes you feel nice, just like when Bob Marley said, 'when music hits you, you feel no pain'.

"That's why our shows and performances are important. It helps people to forget hard times for a few hours.

"Music is life, it will never die."

He makes sure he balances creativity with the rigours of life. He said: "You have to make time for everything, your kids, family, music.

"You have to set yourself a principle.

"The most high keeps me motivated, which is the creator, my children and the music as well.

"Because when I listen back on my songs, I say 'wow that's me', so I want to do it more.

"Also my friends and family, the real ones, they keep me motivated."

In his spare time, Black Kush likes to spend time with his children or help out in the kitchen at his mother's Caribbean restaurant, Fogah's, in Chatham High Street.