One of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary Jamaican reggae artists, known for his unusual productivity. Along with Buju Banton and Capleton, he emerged during the latter part of the 1990s as one of the leaders of the conscious dancehall movement and helped lead dancehall back to the musical and spiritual influence of roots reggae, favouring organic productions and heavily Rastafarian subject matter.

He was born in St Mary's to devout Rastafarian parents and, like them, subscribes to the militant Bobo Ashanti branch of the Rastafari movement, sometimes causing controversy with his strict adherence to their views, particularly his aggressive condemnations of homosexuals and white Western oppressors. He was raised in August Town, Kingston, where he studied mechanical engineering at Dunoon High School.

He began to develop his vocal style during the dancehall explosion of the late 1980s, while working with the Caveman Hi-Fi sound system. He cut his first single for the small Zagalou label in 1995 and then moved on to Bobby "Digital" Dixon's Digital B imprint for a series of singles. Extensive touring with fellow roots and culture artist Luciano followed, earning him some credibility. However, he didn't manage a breakout success until he was introduced to top saxophonist Dean Fraser who in turn recommended him to producer Philip "Fatis" Burrell. Sizzla released a series of singles on Burrell's Xterminator label, with his first album, Burning Up, released later in 1995.

The follow-up album, Praise Ye Jah, produced by Burrell, was quickly followed by the Dixon-produced Black Woman and Child, both in 1996, with the title track of the latter becoming something of a cultural reggae anthem.

He then began an enormously productive period that lasted over the next several years, with much of his output still done for Burrell.
1998's Kalonji was issued in the US under the title Freedom Cry. No less than 3 albums (Be I Strong, Good Ways, Royal Son of Ethiopia) appeared in 1999, with a further 3 (Liberate Yourself, Words of Truth, Bobo Ashanti) in 2000 and 4 in 2001. He adopted a somewhat different approach in 2002, when he concentrated on softer, mellower, material.