The evolution of dancehall to where it is now has taken some four decades developing through the eras of rocksteady, ska and reggae. It is the belief of many experts that the origin of the word comes from the term used to refer to a dance venue, instead of a genre of music as it is now.
Many have paved the way to make dancehall what it is now, or at least, what it used to be, since the early 1980s. Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer are only a few who personify dancehall music and have mastered the art of deejaying, all using some level of artistic expression, be it positive or negative.
Whether you agree or not, dancehall music is successful both locally and internationally. If one has not been living under a rock, one would have notice the success of Jamaican crossover artistes such as Wayne Wonder, Beenie Man and Grammy kid, Sean Paul.
Sean Paul, for example, got his break with a very well directed video to go with his hit single Gimme Di Light. The Gimme Di Light music video portrayed body-defying dance moves and good photography, which are very essential in having success at the international level.
Ever since this good example of what a dancehall video should look like, everyone has somehow seen the 'light' and have both made Jamaica proud and dancehall more visible.
But the strong positive branding of dancehall and by extension product Jamaica is now being severely tarnished by a serious deterioration of lyrical content.
As we are all well aware, dancehall has come into the spotlight recently because of the use of violent lyrics by some of its exponents to the point where even a local show, Sting, is writing into the contracts of artistes that they should refrain from using violent lyrics on stage.
Quite frankly, it shouldn't have come down to this. Artistes performing in whatever genre should know that they have the responsibility of upholding at least a modicum of decency.
Let's hope they will now learn and act responsible.
