3 months ago
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When music producer-cum-artiste Steve ‘Balla G’ Mitchell returns to Jamaica this week to bury his mother, former Member of Parliament Phyllis Mitchell, he will experience a bittersweet stew of emotions.
What should have been a joyous occasion – his first time returning to Jamaica in almost eight years – will be tinged with sadness and grief as his beloved mother will be laid to rest on March 1.
“It’s going to be a tough day for me,” the 48 year-old former star footballer said.
Phyllis Mitchell represented the constituency of North East St Catherine as a Member of Parliament and later served as minister of state in the Ministry of Education and Culture. She passed away on January 21. She was 79.
“My mother contributed a lot towards national development and I will always remember her unwavering commitment to uplifting others,” Balla G said.
While in Jamaica, he will also be turning up promotions on his latest musical productions. He has two singles, Freedom is a Must by Sizzla and Beenie Man’s Proper Love, both on the same rhythm.
Balla G is also an emerging artiste in his own right as he teamed up with Jahmiel on the powerful Concrete Jungle single in 2024. Balla G first got major props for the collaboration, Jah Will Never Let We Down with Sizzla on a reworked production of the famous El Shadai rhythm in 2013, and he hasn’t looked back since.
“The song, My Glory is doing well in Tanzania, getting airplay on the radio station, Banana FM and it is also getting a buzz in Sierra Leone where I did several online interviews,” he said.
Balla G, who was an accomplished Jamaican footballer who represented Jamaica at the under-17 CONCACAF level in the 1990s, is particularly proud of the success of My Glory because he considers himself a pan-Africanist.
“Jamaican music is great because it defends the principles of Garveyism that seeks to solidify the black race and raise the consciousness of the oppressed,” he said.
He said that he is sorry that his mother will no longer be around to cheer on his success.
“My mother was my biggest cheerleader. She cheered me on as a footballer, from daCosta Cup through to college in the US, she supported me in my business ventures. Our family has always been very supportive of each other, me, my mother and my sister, Nikole. But to be truthful, my mother wasn’t really fond of my involvement in music, because of the stigma with our music industry,” he said, laughing.
Balla G is the brother of retired Jamaican sprinter Nikole Mitchell who specialised in the 100 metres. She also competed on the successful national team in the 4 x 100 metres relay, winning gold medals at the World Junior Championships and an Olympic bronze medal in 1996.
“I am really proud of my sister Nikole and all she has done. We have always supported each other and there is going to be a big hole in my life where my mother used to be. I will miss her, so will her former constituents, friends and colleagues; my mom was a real friend to all,” he said.
English (US) ·