"At present, Jamaica is ranked among the top three countries in the world with the highest murder rate annually. Violence is high in Jamaica, especially in poor urban neighbourhoods, where many forms of violence--interpersonal, domestic, gang, political, drug--are ever present in daily life." ~ Vision 2030. In a report from The Gleaner on January 10, 22 the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported 37 murders in the first week of 2022 across the island representing a 32.1 % year on year increase. Jamaica, in 2018 had a rate of 43.85 murders per 100k (https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/JAM/jamaica/...) followed by Venezuela (36.69) and Mexico (29.07) as the top three countries with the highest murder rates in the similar country ranking.
A fundamental place in addressing this problem is putting an end to lyrics that justify and encourage murder of people who "diss" or "violate" and explicitly go into gruesome details about the time, place and choice of weapon involved in these murders. This is not entertainment!! This is not wholesome!! Lets ask for more from the creative minds behind our music industry. Lets give our children a better Jamaica than the one that exist.
The following are quotes from songs by popular dancehall artists:
Mavado - Warn Dem
"Kill dat inna Church when di pastor ah pray
Murder yuh likkle bredda pon di funeral day
Cut di newborn throat cause yuh know mi nuh-
Yuh body float like boat when di seed tek away"
Vybz Kartel - Broad Daylight
"Me murder people inna broad daylight
Six pants me walk with cah the AK light
A wha' do some bwoy weh win a play, play fight
We a hot head weh strap up like a airplane flight"
Vybz Kartel - Dem Bwoy Ah Baby
"It nuh tek mi nuttin fi murder dem dem bwoy deh ah baby
Bwoy dem ah pree mi nah guh wait til dem ready
Whole ah mi rifle dem grease up like ah pot full ah gravy
Nuh likkle .380 mi nah guh buss"
Alkaline - Wul De Claffy Dem
(expletive) mi momda should of just abort mi and done
now a bag of (expletive) a go down
mi nah have nothing a live fo
so a no nothink fi mi tek weh couple life with me under ground
demedecus mumes taleno sacdeo tucasmo deabalos ideoush
Big up every (expletive) bad pickney
And big up ever (expletive) man weh fire gun
Masicka - Eaton
Yuh cyah diss badman Genahsyde
Beg which (expletive) fren from bwoy yuh mussi idiot
Gun shot any (expletive) a just we that
Steal knock inna yuh (expletive) face the nozzle real hot
Yuh correct name a Eaton squeeze one yuh knee pap
Yuh big (expletive) mada know yuh born fi eat cat
Three slap the freak drop, bloody like a meat shop
Career done crash now a time fi heart beat stop
When man a beat strap dem have dem head underneath frock
Boom! bwoy kongo a wreak mi nuh broke mi wi broke a neck
Updates
January 16, 2022
Reaching this point has been an exhausting uphill climb but seeing this level of momentum proves we are not alone in our grief. It would be easy to look away from the violence in our streets yet you have chosen to stay with me in this fight for the future of our children.
Reached 100 supporters
January 16, 2022
42 Comments
We also need to find ways to help the people who have a craving to consume this type of music too
The lyrics have subliminally contributed the scourge of violence in Jamaica. It must stop!!!!
Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. However, it may be restricted as necessary for public order and safety. Violent lyrics are not historical ballads, they praise and systematically indoctrinate people to embrace violence and desentise persons to the sanctity of human life. The form that the restriction takes is up for debate, but something must be done to produce a culture that values life and peace.
I think this is a great idea that the prime minister of jamaica should consider. The crime rate is getting higher and the music is getting more and more gruesome. We all know dancehall is very influential, and thats why this is a great start ....wish i could sign this 1,000 times. Ps hope it brings forth change
Kartel once said his music is "art", an expression of society. He also suggested that his violent "art" is comparable to the chicken and the egg theory and that in this case violence was here long before violent lyrics. The problem isn't music depicting violence in society but the encouragement, support and glorification that these so called "artists" use in their songs. This at the very least is helping to create a culture of violence in our society.
I fully support this initiative!
Not supporting no slackness...
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"At present, Jamaica is ranked among the top three countries in the world with the highest murder rate annually. Violence is high in Jamaica, especially in poor urban neighbourhoods, where many forms of violence--interpersonal, domestic, gang, political, drug--are ever present in daily life." ~ Vision 2030. In a report from The Gleaner on January 10, 22 the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) reported 37 murders in the first week of 2022 across the island representing a 32.1 % year on year increase. Jamaica, in 2018 had a rate of 43.85 murders per 100k (https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/JAM/jamaica/...) followed by Venezuela (36.69) and Mexico (29.07) as the top three countries with the highest murder rates in the similar country ranking.
A fundamental place in addressing this problem is putting an end to lyrics that justify and encourage murder of people who "diss" or "violate" and explicitly go into gruesome details about the time, place and choice of weapon involved in these murders. This is not entertainment!! This is not wholesome!! Lets ask for more from the creative minds behind our music industry. Lets give our children a better Jamaica than the one that exist.
The following are quotes from songs by popular dancehall artists:
Mavado - Warn Dem
"Kill dat inna Church when di pastor ah pray
Murder yuh likkle bredda pon di funeral day
Cut di newborn throat cause yuh know mi nuh-
Yuh body float like boat when di seed tek away"
Vybz Kartel - Broad Daylight
"Me murder people inna broad daylight
Six pants me walk with cah the AK light
A wha' do some bwoy weh win a play, play fight
We a hot head weh strap up like a airplane flight"
Vybz Kartel - Dem Bwoy Ah Baby
"It nuh tek mi nuttin fi murder dem dem bwoy deh ah baby
Bwoy dem ah pree mi nah guh wait til dem ready
Whole ah mi rifle dem grease up like ah pot full ah gravy
Nuh likkle .380 mi nah guh buss"
Alkaline - Wul De Claffy Dem
(expletive) mi momda should of just abort mi and done
now a bag of (expletive) a go down
mi nah have nothing a live fo
so a no nothink fi mi tek weh couple life with me under ground
demedecus mumes taleno sacdeo tucasmo deabalos ideoush
Big up every (expletive) bad pickney
And big up ever (expletive) man weh fire gun
Masicka - Eaton
Yuh cyah diss badman Genahsyde
Beg which (expletive) fren from bwoy yuh mussi idiot
Gun shot any (expletive) a just we that
Steal knock inna yuh (expletive) face the nozzle real hot
Yuh correct name a Eaton squeeze one yuh knee pap
Yuh big (expletive) mada know yuh born fi eat cat
Three slap the freak drop, bloody like a meat shop
Career done crash now a time fi heart beat stop
When man a beat strap dem have dem head underneath frock
Boom! bwoy kongo a wreak mi nuh broke mi wi broke a neck
Updates
January 16, 2022
Reaching this point has been an exhausting uphill climb but seeing this level of momentum proves we are not alone in our grief. It would be easy to look away from the violence in our streets yet you have chosen to stay with me in this fight for the future of our children.
Reached 100 supporters
January 16, 2022
42 Comments
Words are power and they take on a life form of their own. Violent lyrics do impact behaviour. Why so many of our men use the "gun fingers" when pointing at someone they disagree with? I support banning violent/murder/gun talk lyrics.
We also need to find ways to help the people who have a craving to consume this type of music too
The lyrics have subliminally contributed the scourge of violence in Jamaica. It must stop!!!!
Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. However, it may be restricted as necessary for public order and safety. Violent lyrics are not historical ballads, they praise and systematically indoctrinate people to embrace violence and desentise persons to the sanctity of human life. The form that the restriction takes is up for debate, but something must be done to produce a culture that values life and peace.
I think this is a great idea that the prime minister of jamaica should consider. The crime rate is getting higher and the music is getting more and more gruesome. We all know dancehall is very influential, and thats why this is a great start ....wish i could sign this 1,000 times. Ps hope it brings forth change
Kartel once said his music is "art", an expression of society. He also suggested that his violent "art" is comparable to the chicken and the egg theory and that in this case violence was here long before violent lyrics. The problem isn't music depicting violence in society but the encouragement, support and glorification that these so called "artists" use in their songs. This at the very least is helping to create a culture of violence in our society.
I fully support this initiative!
Not supporting no slackness...
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Words are power and they take on a life form of their own. Violent lyrics do impact behaviour. Why so many of our men use the "gun fingers" when pointing at someone they disagree with? I support banning violent/murder/gun talk lyrics.