KINGSTON, (Nov. 2) IPS - As one of the dancehall's biggest acts during the last decade, deejay Papa San seemed to have had everything going for him: flashy cars, women and lots of money. But two years ago, a bout of soul-searching saw the fast-talking artist giving it all up for an entirely different lifestyle. On Oct. 25, Papa San's conversion to Christianity came full-circle with the release of "Victory," his first gospel album. After months of appearing on gospel events featuring local and international performers, Papa San released his debut spiritual album in Kingston at the church where his life changed in late 1997. It is aptly titled "Victory" and according to San, it is his most gratifying work to date. "I feel it's my first album because it's the first one that's giving glory to God," said San one day after the album's launch. "All the other albums them, you say a little one thing but none of them give glory to God." "Victory" will be distributed by the California-based Gospelcentric label, the same company that handles gospel superstar Kirk Franklin and other noted Christian performers like The Family. Not much has changed as far as San's style goes with several secular reggae performers working out on "Victory," including the prolific production team of Sly and Robbie, winners of the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album this year. "It's mostly dancehall, what the record company did was to remix two of the songs, one in R&B and another in hip-hop but the other eight tracks are strictly dancehall," San explained. There is one glaring difference, however. That difference is the message. San first met with executives of gospel music's most vibrant label shortly after his conversion. At the time, he was appearing on some shows with Jamaica-born U.S. evangelist Jackie McCalla, another Gospelcentric act. His set impressed the company's administrators who were here for the concert and they approached him about doing an album. Nearly two years after those discussions, Papa San has delivered the album which he said reflects his new lease on life. "I made up my mind from that time (two years ago) to stop the "Eni Meeni Mini Mo" thing and sing for Jesus Christ," he said. "Eni Meeni Mini Mo" was just one of the songs that made San a dancehall star for well over a decade. Born in Kingston, Papa San grew up as Tyrone Thompson in the tough Dela Vega area of Spanish Town -- the former Jamaican capital -- where he said he was always surrounded by his first two loves: music and soccer. His career exploded in the late 1980s with nationwide hits like "Animal Party," "Style And Fashion" and "I Will Survive." His fast-talking style brought even more success in the 1990s with "Legal Rights" (with Lady G) and "Strange." But along with the success came trouble with the law, earning him notoriety. In 1993, he was arrested on gun charges when he was allegedly involved in a dispute linked to the murder of his older brother, Patrick, also a deejay who went by the moniker Dirtsman. Two years later, at a live show by the singer Sting in Kingston, he was in a much-publicized "clash" with Lt. Stitchie, another deejay. San's conversion was a surprise in music circles. But it sparked similar life-changing developments from other big-name performers including Stitchie; Judy Mowatt, a member of the I-Three, Bob Marley's former back-up group; singer Junior Tucker; and Chevelle Franklyn. The spate of born-again Christians has resulted in the transformation of the local gospel circuit with a burst of live performances by both local and foreign performers, including Ron Kenoly and Kirk Franklin. Reflecting on his flamboyant lifestyle, San said he feels humbled by this phase in his life. "Boy, when I think about them things, I just feel shame," said San, remorse evident in his low tones. "The other day, I was doing a documentary on my life from then and now, and I see some things that I used to do on stage and I just feel shame; I look at myself and say, what did I really do?" And now with a new album for a high-profile label, all he wants to do is praise God and savor the victory. =============================================================================