Merchant

Ricardo Renford Nicholson (born 18 March 1981), better known by his stage names Merchant, and Musicaly Merchant, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, writer, and producer.

Biography

Early life and career

Nicholson was born to parents Charmaine Bowen and Renford Nicholson in Manchester, Jamaica. Nicholson grew up in Manchester, where he attended the Kayda Primary School and later on moved to Kingston in the garrison of Water House, and continued his education at Drew's Avenue All Age School. This is where he started singing at school concerts. At the age of 15, he moved to the coastal city of Portmore in southern Jamaica and where he furthered his schooling at the Waterford Comprehensive High School. While attending school, he and his friends would hold their own concerts during the lunch break beating rhythms on the desk and carrying out deejay battles with each other.

Nicholson comes from a musical family. He is the nephew of well-known singer Derrick Parker, who is famous throughout Jamaica for hits such as "Dem Nuh loyal No More", " Bus Mi Appeal", "How Long", and "Jah Never Fail Wi yet".

2000s

While growing up in Portmore, Merchant encountered the musical...

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