'ZZ' charts his own course

Many of us would have heard these words, “Be yourself,” and “Don’t follow the crowd.”

Cyclist/producer Azikiwe “ZZ” Kellar heard them too, however, he actually listened. “Due to my success in cycling, I had people looking up to me from a very young age, so I had to be me, I couldn’t afford to be a follower,” said Kellar. While many 13-year-olds were playing video games, he was on his way to becoming Tiny Mite Champion. He didn’t have those arguments that many 15-year-olds have with parents about liming late or going to parties. ZZ was more concerned about winning the Juvenile Pursuit Championship.

While many 17-year-olds were more inclined to join gangs of miscreants, he joined the Trinidad and Tobago national cycling team. “For the past three years, I’ve been the fastest man on a bike in Trinidad,” said the reigning national 200 metre sprint champion. He clocked 11.5 seconds in this year’s event. After graduating from St Mary’s College, ZZ charted his own course. In addition to his cycling accolades he has become a nationally recognised  music producer. The eclectic and customarily jovial 26-year-old said: “Music moved me in a manner different to other people — the beats, the lyrics. I always thought that I could do what those artistes were doing.” He invested time and money into building a professional studio and has become an artiste/producer who has worked with prominent local artistes including Ataklan, Brother Resistance, Maximus Dan, Sef Gaine$$, Levi Meyers (son of the late Nappy Meyers), 3 Canal and Black Lyrics. He creates beats of an extraordinarily diverse nature. From rap to kaiso, from rapso to reggae, upbeat to serene, basic to complex. He combines this with his talent as a producer to blend instruments with vocals in a congruent mix. Speaking about his passion for music, he said: “Music is something that has a life of its own, if it is in you, you simply have to let it out.”

ZZ is currently working with various artistes and a Canadian contact in forming the “Rebel Ground Sounds” record label. Kellar is a deviation from the norm, who condemns many traditional ways of thinking. “I don’t see it necessary to work an eight to four job.  Even though you tend to get the most money it takes away from family life,” said Kellar. “The matrix says that what we need is money, but too much of one thing is good for nothing, people working and hustling for 40 years, they get money but they regret their lives, then they die!” Kellar exclaimed. He condemned the creation of a person’s identity by prevailing standards saying, “what they need to do is find themselves, and stop trying to be what others want them to be.” He continued, “everybody wants certain things in life and these put people under unnecessary pressure. I don’t dwell on expectations and what people think, I have pride but I don’t put enough pressure on myself to kill my smile.”

He credits the discipline gained from his participation in sport as one of the greatest positive forces in his life. “It didn’t dawn on me until my early 20’s that if I wasn’t cycling I’d be like one of those fellas looking to crash cars, show off clothes, and trying to be the best at that rather than being the best at something substantial. That discipline led to every other positive thing in my whole life,” said the focused Kellar. He was quick to point out the contribution of his family in supporting his endeavours in life. “They just support me, because they not reproachful at all, it’s more like a friendship. It’s a love no matter what.” So what are ZZ’s goals in life? A nice car, or a big house maybe? NO! “What I really want to do is make it to the Olympics next year and win a gold medal,” he said. “My ultimate goal however is  to do what I enjoy until I die, whatever it is. If I could always be me, I’ll be happy by making others happy.”