Dance Hall Music and Jamaican Society

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34 Comments

By: Jodi-Kaye Watson

Jamaica-flag_dancehallmusic.jpgDance Hall music is a vital part of Jamaican society. What would Jamaica be without dance hall music? It is unimaginable. Although dance hall music is an important aspect of the Jamaican society this genre of music has proven to bring about both positive and negative effects on Jamaica.

Economically, dance hall music contributes to the National Income of
Jamaica. Tourists are drawn to Jamaica because of our music. When tourists visit Jamaica they bring in foreign exchange that helps in the growth of the Jamaican economy. Many of our artists contribute to the economy in the form of taxes. Several of our dancehall artistes have charity programmes and help in the building of community centers. This is referred to as Social Responsibility.

Whether you are a fan of dancehall music or not you will still come in
contact with it. Dancehall music is everywhere in Jamaica. You may hear it while travelling in buses or taxes, while walking down the street and just about anywhere. For a genre that is so popular in society why has it been having so many negative impacts on society?

Some dancehall artistes promote violence. This can lead to an increase in criminal activities in Jamaica. Some of these lyrics make it seem
acceptable to just hurt or kill someone without showing any remorse. It has also been alleged that some artists have been involved in some of these criminal activities.

What some of these artistes fail to realize is that they are role
models. Men, women, boys and girls look up to them. When will some of
them realize how influential their lyrics are? Just imagine a Jamaica with only positive and uplifting music? Crimes will decrease and then we can truly say "SWEET SWEET JAMICA".

Teenage Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases are on the
continuous increase in Jamaica. Teenagers seem to be having more sexual relationships than adults. Promiscuous behaviours that are taking over this beautiful island have become one of many reasons for an overwhelming increase in the number of HIV/AIDS and STD cases.

Some of these dancehall lyrics promote immoral acts. Women nowadays no
longer seem to be concerned with establishing relationships or marriages before "sleeping" with men. Many women are guilty of having "one night stands" (unprotected).

Although the guys are involved we truly can't blame them. If women
respected themselves men would show them respect. If dancehall music was to address and speak out against these behaviours it is safe to say there could be a decrease in the number of teenage pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Whilst there is a negative side to how dancehall music impacts on the
Jamaican society it has also brought about positive impacts. Some lyrics of our dancehall artists uplift men and women in society. They often push ghetto people and people in general to be strong and never give up regardless of the situation. Some lyrics stress the importance of education and encourage children to stay in school. Kartel has a song titled "school girl," where he encourages school girls not to have sex in buses and to put their education first.

Our dancehall artists are extremely talented. They have the power to
encourage, uplift and influence the actions of those who come in contact with their music. They need to unite and take a stand against
counter-productive vibes!

  • sam

    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.

  • zan

    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.

  • brianna

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

  • rcbmafia

    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??

  • miz rudee

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

  • Wess

    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!

  • t

    ur rite

  • sarah lattibeaudiere

    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.

  • troy weed

    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!

  • Althea

    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.

  • LGSHINE

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

  • S. T. Love

    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.

  • Dana

    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".

  • ltb

    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

  • shaneka

    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

  • Monique

    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.

  • Da King

    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.

  • SHANNIEL JONES

    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.

  • deeka

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

  • SHAYENIQUE

    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

  • Alicia Mckenzie

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

  • Mac10

    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

  • Nelia

    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

  • Summer

    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.

  • TiTI

    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.

  • Sexxxy S

    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

  • jermz

    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.

  • Sheldon

    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.

  • DD

    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.

  • wade cameron

    Very true indeed.

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