Does Dancehall music serves a purpose?

[Justice]

After reading a thread by Xeno entitle: “Dancehall Music: Explain it to me” I wonder to myself if dancehall music serves a purpose.

Recently dancehall music has come under numerous attacks from different groups, such as the Gay community, Churches and other social groups. These groups are of the belief that dancehall music is sending the wrong message to young people and is creating a divided society (where it concerns homosexuality) and violence in society at large. Some of the arguments being put forward is that dancehall music is fast becoming a source of violent thinking among young people as some of these some boast lyrics such as “kill informers”, “homosexuals must die” and “run out with long gun” among other rhetoric.

On the other hand these ‘artists’ have come and support their right to freedom of speech and the right for individuals not to listen to their music, also it must be noted that dancehall music is fast becoming a icon from which Jamaica and Jamaicans world wide can be identified and can be used for an economic bases from which to develop a sustainable income baring sector which can and have provide numerous jobs for Jamaicans.

So the question is posed: Does Dancehall music serves a purpose or are we better off ridding Jamaica of these ‘songs’. If you agree that it serves a purpose state the purpose, if you believe that it does not then state why.

[Drew]

there are alot of dancehall tracks thats fine. its just that majority of them have negative impacts on issues, so there is a bad overall picture of dancehall music. that kartel song that identify several problems in the community like paying to cross the causeway and ediat ting dat by assassin (to name a few) have purposes. it might not be the best execution because of the way it sounds but quite a few dancehall tracks can and should be taken seriously.

...can be used for an economic bases from which to develop a sustainable income baring sector which can and have provide numerous jobs for Jamaicans.

the more popular artists are signed to overseas record labels after them buss. even though it problably is, i don't think its helping the economy very much. people overseas are making money by selling bootleg stuff in their own country, but that doesn't help jamaica's economy alot.

[Justice]

that kartel song that identify several problems in the community like paying to cross the causeway and ediat ting dat by assassin (to name a few) have purposes.

Emergency, we a suffer roun ere
Roun ere, man a ded, tings tougher roun ere
Crime scene gone up, tall up man ah go fa roun ere
Missa man, whe yu doing fi the gutter roun ere?

What purpose does that section of Kartel’s song serve?
I have two cousins who swear they are shattas and everyday they listen to this same Kartel brother and I don’t see what good message he is sending to them.

Both songs you mention above does have some good points, however, today they sing a song with some good points and then tomorrow they sing three other song talking about big up ‘shattas’ and ‘buss yu gun in di air’. They are counteracting their own messages.

[Xenocrates]

Dancehall and rap have the same kinds of problems. What's interesting is that they're both being purported primarily by black folks. Now while black folks are probably the second most musically gifted set of people in the world, it begs to wonder why so many of us who are musicians fall into the stereotypical necessity; that just because we can make a good beat, we should also make it dirty.

I don't care who sings the praises of Dancehall. I could never wrap my head around music that is consistently profane, gross, and inexplicably belligerent. I used to be a huge Rap music fan, until Dr. Dre. and Rick James brought the "gangsta", "Street" and "crunk" sound to it. For me it was downhill after that. I don't care that it's an iconification of what goes on in the streets. Once you set it to music, you glorify and embellish evil.

I remember back in the 1980's when dancehall was all about coming up with clever rhymes. Who here remembers Tiger's track called "Zeen, come again"? It used to be fun back then, but now so much of it is trash, it doesn't really give the listener much to write home about. That's why I had to start that thread, because I just couldn't understand what the appeal of this music is. Now that I do, it still holds no appeal for me.

I say more power to those who's ears can filter out the trash and embrace the beat (the common denominator for those who like dancehall). But for me, music has to come not only with a beat, but a strong emotionally inciting melody. If there are lyrics, it must be meaningful, sensational, or thought provoking. At the very least, the lyrics must be clean. Dancehall has nothing emotional or melodic about it, and most of the times, the lyrics are either utterly ridiculous or celebrate everything decrepit about society. Thus, I will probably never embrace the genre, with the exception of a few tracks here and there which go back to what made dancehall fun: Clean, hilarious, rhymes.

But no matter how much I give it a whirl (and God knows I made a genuine effort), the crass, gutteral sound instantaneously turns me off. It sounds like pigs grunting over a mike to a beat. Very disconcerting. However, I probably shouldn't expect ears trained on that kinda stuff to appreciate the cleaner, melodic sounds of pianos, violins or synth. The two genres are diametrically opposed.

To each his own.

[acidblade]

yea, entertainment.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

The content of the music is what is important. What message is being sent? Dancehall music serves several purposes. Some positive, some negative. Which one depends on the content and the message being sent.

Clearly, plenty of what is popular today serves only to re-enforce a criminal mentality.

"Mi murda people eena broad daylight" - Kartel

"Amazing grace
Shot fly tru face,
The bwoy dem a trace
Shoot up dem base" - Mavado

"Anytime mi hungry again yuh a go si mi nine" - Bounty Killer

Glorifying and re-enforcing the criminal mindset.

There are people trying to do positive things with music, but sadly, those efforts are not as popular.

Parents need to shield their kids from the negatives and instill in them positive values so that when they can shield no more, and the kids get exposed to these various messages, they can discern sense from nonesense and right from wrong.

[Manu]

Art mimics life....and in turn....life mimics art. No one to break the cycle.