Determine was a Jamaican dancehall deejay known for his gritty delivery, conscious lyrics, and strong roots in the sound system era. Born Rohan Alexander Bennett in 1972, he first built his reputation on the Jamaican sound system circuit before breaking through in the mid-1990s, when he won the Rockers Award for Best New DJ. That early momentum set the tone for a career that moved easily between street-level energy and spiritually minded commentary. His best-known record, the Beenie Man collaboration “Kette Drum,” became a defining hit and helped push his name beyond Jamaica, with the song’s Nyahbinghi-inspired rhythm giving it a distinctive edge. From there, Determine built a catalogue of singles that showed both range and consistency. Tracks such as “Dem No Know Love,” “Burn Up,” and “Bulls Eye Part Two” helped establish his voice, while later songs like “Heathen Chant,” “No One Cares,” and “What Dem A Tink” kept him present through the changing dancehall landscape. He also worked on songs including “Welcome Shaka Zulu,” “I Shall Not,” “Born Pressurizer,” “Nuh Duh Nuttin,” “Wuk Out Yu Body,” and “If A Nevah Jah,” often leaning into themes of faith, struggle, and resilience. His work with producer Barry O’Hare in the 1990s placed him alongside some of the most respected figures in roots-oriented dancehall, and his records helped bridge the harder edge of the sound system tradition with a more conscious lyrical style. Determine remained part of that generation of artists who gave 1990s dancehall its depth and identity, balancing crowd-moving cuts with songs that carried social and spiritual weight.
