For Toriano Dunkley, a.k.a. Rasta Rebel, this Christmas represents a big step forward in his life.

He has already beaten drugs and has now launched his first CD 'Rasta Rebel' and is going to play two gigs in Jamaica.

Mr. Dunkley spent most of his earlier years addicted to drugs and committing crimes to support his habit, which led him to spend most of his adult life behind bars. He is now drug free and spends his spare time not inventing ways to get high, but writing, recording and performing music aimed at guiding people away from the life he once knew as his own.

"I have been through some rough times in my life. I have risen up from it and I'm hoping that people can watch me and learn from it," he said. "I've been in and out of prison a lot of times, so I know about that struggle and I give thanks to God.

"Drugs is what put me in prison, I used to be on heroin and cocaine. This month makes six years [that I've been clean], and I don't even drink.

"I just pray everyday and I thank God for giving me the strength, courage and willpower to overcome drugs and to better myself. I still have some of the bad habits, but not no drug habits or criminal activity."

When asked how went from prison to this point in his life, he said: "It is just prayers of faith being answered. "I started writing songs in jail and I started sending them to them (producer Sammy Dread of Majestic Dominion Studio).

"When I came out I was still into it and I used to go to the studio with them, so it started from there.

"My family and my daughter have encouraged me, they have managed to keep me on the right track. I've been away to rehab, my family sent me, but I wasn't ready."

Whilst in prison he sat his GED (General Education Diploma) and he thanked the teachers and staff.

His message to prisoners is: "You have to break that revolving door of prison, the level of recidivism is high.

"Some people, like me, have been on alcohol or drugs for so long and when they clean up, and they stop, they have to find something to occupy their time, because they are so used to being on the streets all night.

"Some people need an incentive, mine is spirituality, some people need an apartment, a puppy, a car, a woman, a man, to get them focusing, but seek the Almighty. This is my strength and I am not giving it up."

During his last stay of incarceration, he said that a lot of the prison officers saw changes in him and the "road was almost paved for me".

"I prayed for that, I made the step, because remember the Lord helps those who help themselves. Really, it is not a nice thing, it is not nice being taken out of society and put in a controlled environment."

Asked if he cried when he went into prison, he said: "No, I knew I done wrong and I'm got another chance in life, I'm being preserved, and even though I knew this I was still thinking negative, but this time around I said, 'Now, Rebel you have to make a difference, so that people can look at you different'.

"I decided that I would grow my covenant (locks) to Jah and it lets me know and keeps me in perfect alignment."

Although he has moved on from his past, not everyone is feeling his new persona. "A lot of people are glad for me and a lot of people aren't," he explained.

"So I have a couple of songs coming out for those haters, to help them clean up their thoughts. One is called 'Dem so Grudgeful'."

When asked what his message would be to those toting the guns, Mr. Dunkley spoke about a song he wrote in relation to the violence. "It says it starts from the home, children are the future, teach them the way they should go when they are young and when they are older they'll never depart from it.

"I'd also say, stop crying out for peace, cry out for unity first, because with unity comes peace. His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie spoke that not until we all unite will there be peace."

Through all that he endured, he says that music always offered him something deeper.

"Music is my passion and it took me years to find out what I really wanted to do in my life," said the Devonshire resident. "I found that music is me, it is like my heartbeat."

He said he grew up around DJ Youngles and was into music since kindergarten. He said his inspiration was his father and the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Sizla, Capelton, Jah Cure, Movado and many more.

He currently works with Sammy Dread of Majestic Dominion and of the sound system African Pride, Lion Child and Hype Type.

"The first song I ever done was 'Children are the Future' with Sammy Dread, Lion Child and my friend Hype Type and we are working on another one.

"I am still going through artist development, but I'll be up there one day and it won't be long."

When asked how his moniker came about, he said: "My nickname was originally Honna and then someone called be Honna Rebel, like honourable, and then Hype Type called me Rasta Rebel. And it just took, because I am a Rasta and a rebel, although I don't cause any menace. So it's Toriano Dunkley a.k.a. Rasta Rebel new sensation."

His CDs will soon be available on CDBaby.com, but for now it is on sale at Dub City. He is performing in two shows in Jamaica, the Guinness Refill Show on Boxing Day, and Bridge to Jamaica, on New Year's Eve, which is being promoted in Jamaica by Donavan McCoy of Dub City.

To book him contact infopalmrock.com or visit www.myspace.com/rastarebel. Also for more information on his upcoming performances in Jamaica visit www.palmrock.com.