Dance Hall Music and Jamaican Society

well these are just some negative effects..there are others for example styles of dresses have become more outrageous than before and most of the music videos show women as mere sex objects. and what about these bad habits: smoking which is dangerous for human consumption and so on.

Have we ever stop to think that this cleaning up dance hall both in language and attitude, dance-hall will ceased to be dance-hall. things must be left to evolve of its own. what you think.

It is time we come together as Jamaicans to put down our feet, stand firm and try to weed out all negativity out of our Dancehall culture. Over the years it as had too many negative impact on our youths and some of these artist need to wake up.

i think that these music should be banned because it influences too much crime and violence

really now? why subject a man to the heat young lady???? females complain a lot so why not take the baggage u guys are after??

however Jamaican don't take the proper time out to stem a problem we r quick to point fingers.

sum1 has stated dat most artiste produce wat is selling and thats true vybz kartel as also admit it. so why blmae the artiste and not the people??

i like wat are sayin bcuz vybz kartel is a really good artiste for real nobody is perfect

Anuh dancehall music mash up society. Its d views of one's self that causes him/her to do wrongs. Music is d upliftment of a people n whether leud or not, it shouldn't be able to inflict upon a person to do something stupid. After all, the RnB artistes sing d same stuff...but then again, violence is everywhere!

ur rite

i totally agree. yes, our dancehall music is benefitial to our country,economically.But it has made our society of youths take a turn for the worst. As many of these artistes, continue, to use abusive terms, in which our youths then use, to mold their lifestyle...........do you not agree with me.

big man thing dance music has good and bad ways but i strongly beleive that artist should take more time in what they promote

Its not the artiste's fault a song come to dem and dem write it besides its a new generation and this is what we listen to!

Dancehall music is the number ONE NEGATIVE contributer to the Jamaican society crime and violence happening today.Persons (youths) tend to gravitate it because it is very CATCHY.

i'm a lover of reggae, i agree totally with the article! keep up the good work guys.

dancehall music is indeed a fundamental aspect of the Jamacian culture. However, it is the responsibility of adults to censor the music, or the versions of the music that children should not be exposed to.

I agree with everyword you say that was a good one.I really think we should come together and bring back our "sweet sweet Jamaica" Since dancehall music is so important to our society why does it create a negative impact on us as Jamaicans?They are licking out on daggering what about calypso? its not differerent they are the same thing.For instance,"The water running oh ,turn it around and push it back in" and "a nuh every saltfish sweet".

Dance hall music is as bad as the R&B hip hop songs. The only difference is the clarity of the pronunciation of the words and the way they are said. Jamaicans tend to say the truth in a raw way while others beat around the bushes and try to find a nice way of saying the truth or they just avoid answering the question. I am proud to be a Jamaican because here adults don't hide the truth from us kids and they don't treat us like retards or fools. The daggreing music is saying the same thing that lil wane's song lollipop is saying as well as R. Kelly, Ja Rule, Rihanna(shut up and drive), ect

Dancehall music is one of of the greatest factor for voilence and criminal activities nowadays. i wouldnt encourage parents to let their children listen dancehall music.Many people say it is their culture but truth and infact their is a great difference REGGAE and DANCEHALL MUSIC.If you need to know more consult hte web. no disrespect

I have friends who listen to dancehall music and friends who prefer to listen to R&B and it is a fact that people who listen the dancehall are more violent.

This is article is..very well put together, although some of the points suggested were pretty much based on your opinion. But is doesn't make it any less valuable. We share the same ideas. I totally agree with the points you made concerning the positive and negative effects. However, one thing you could have mentioned was the insanely huge difference between the number of instances that artiste promote that are actually essential, such as staying in school, and..other things such as drugs and guns etc. This article has aided in my research. I hope you continue producing articles of this quality.

I think this writing is well put together. As a young teenager it affects me alot.Children can no longer control their emotions; wether emotionally or physically.Especially those at high school level.

the role of dancehall music really plays an important part in society and iim glad you highlighted it

this is a good story and i hope it gets out for more people to hear because the music of a society has so much to do with the change in attitudes and the behavior of the people and im glad your story wasnt biased and in praise as the artistes need to recognised that the lyrics are very important and what they say in songs affect peoples lifes negatively and positively!!! work commended

I truly agree you indeed. I think we need to come together and try to bring back sweet, sweet jamaica....

Music in general,has over the years taken diverse ways,but there's one thing we forget n that's what the honourable one Bob Marley always said;'u can change the style,melody n rhythm but never change the message".RasTafari

This is a true!!!Dancehall has a mass influence on our teens and as such there should be atleast more moderate songs that people of all ages can listen.But there will always be that set that will always like "slack" songs.

most of the artistes are only chatting about what the people want them to chat bout. Cos dem know seh, if dem dont flow with public demand, their stuff might not sell

I totally agree with you. Many of the youths are influenced by these negative lyrics and sometimes take what they say literally. I must say, dancehall music is great and it helps people to recognize us but we have a concern with violence and I believe that dancehall music contributes to it. These constant gun talks should stop and let’s have our SWEET SWEET Jamaica.

what are you people talking about, gun, and murder lyrics are not played over the airwaves in Jamaica, they are banned. Dem likle hurry up nowadays dancehall people are not real artist. Most of dem too dame dounce to write a tune with substance. Most of the violent portrals of Jamaica are written by non- Jamaican film writers. But we support it because IT'S JAMAICAN, when it's not authentic. Yes dancehall need some cleaning up. But seem like dancehall dwellers don't want authentic dancehall music, they love the non- sense. One good thing I have to say about dancehall, is that I love how some dancehall artists support the development of the Island, by supporting schools with supplies, cumputer, building roads, and more.

A very well written comentary. I'm torn because I love dancehall music, the lyrics are violent and degrading and I think that artist's should also look to positivity. But on the other hand realistically, we see violence on TV, and movies everyday and no one has a problem with that. It's because dancehall is poor people's music is why it get's more heat than say a white actor from hollywood. I also want to comment on the part of this article talking about sex and transmitted disease. The writer says that "men are involved but we really can't blame them" WHY NOT!!!! Why should we always look to women to establish the moral fabric of society and let men off the hook? Consenting adults MEN AND WOMEN are responsible for practicing safe sex.

I Love Dance hall, but I don't like the negative messages. "Tek B gyal, Mi murda people inna broad daylight, The first thing be do when me wake up=smoke weed"

Media is a tool that Satan uses. Ephesians 2:2 calls him the prince of the power of the air which is talking about air waves. He uses T.V. and radio to influence people to do wrong.

You all are gonna start seeing more Israelites doing dance hall to send the proper message out there. One is already doing his thing, check him out at www.myspace.com/shawabiz

this is a good article it seems as if the author put some real thought into it however i disagree with its premise. I think the real problem is that music has such a profound influence. that shows that the children of jamaica are not being properly supervised or educated by their parents or teachers. the fact that music alone can sway the people so greatly is a testament to a failing education system. dont get mi wrong i really love my music both conscious and dancehall but i do understand that the music is simply artistic expression and so should only be taken as that.

I never expected such unbiased truth from yardflex since they rely so much on this same industry for their work. Good work.

I have one comment to make:

If negative music is not demanded, it will not be supplied. It is up to us as as consumers.

i agree with all a that you saying. but i want you and all readers to know that elephant man lyrics are good and full of energy, if you are feeling sad then it will definately up lift you.

Very true indeed.