the effect of dancehall music on teenagers

Dancehall Music is a popular genre of Jamaican music. It is composed of ‘riddims’, fast upbeat rhythms than the traditional reggae music. Dancehall music has become a symbol of explicit sexual imagery and violence. Despite the positive effects Dancehall music might have on our young people, it has become more a pathway for moral degradation with our young people. Dancehall lyrics are found to be crude as it promotes sexual behaviors, sexual imagery and violence. It is expected that the youth of society are going to follow the message that is being portrayed in these songs, as some of these artists are role models
According to C.J. Cooper, in July 2000 “Jamaican dancehall culture is commonly disparaged as a homophobic, homicidal, misogynist discourse that reduces both men and women to bare essentials: skeletal remain”.
Most of the dancehall lyrics that promote violence impacts our youth of Jamaica as the lyrics makes it seem as though it is acceptable to just kill or hurt anyone without showing any remorse. Some of our dancehall artistes are even committing crimes themselves. An example of this can be seen in a song by popular dancehall artist Vybz Kartel- Broad daylight.
“ Mi murda people inna broad daylight, six pants mi walk walk wid cause di AK light”
According a study done on The effects of Dancehall genre on adolescent sexual and violent behavior in Jamaica: A public health concern “19% male and 13% females demonstrated violence in schools, in their communities, and/or in their homes – 7% females and 9% males were taken to the Principal’s office; 3% females and 5% males suspended”.
Sexual behavior in public and Promiscuity are also rising factors in the Jamaican society among our youths as it has contributed to increasing level of Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Transmitted Diseases. Dancehall also has influence on this as it promotes sexual immoral acts. An example of this can be seen in a song by popular dancehall artist Lady Saw- Stab out the meat.
“Mi hear yu can grind good and yu can fuck sweet
Stab out mi meat, stab out mi meat”
According a study done on The effects of Dancehall genre on adolescent sexual and violent behavior in Jamaica: A public health concern by A.D. Crawford, 2010 ‘Of the 100 respondents, 52% males and 58% females claimed to be sexually active’ In a study also done by Crawford 2010“out of 238 cases of 9-17 year olds, 10.1% male and 3.4% female were sexually influenced by dancehall genre. 42% respondents (18.5% male, 23.5% female) contracted STIs/HIV”
In article written by E. Tyson entitled ‘Slackness and more slackness’ published April 6, 2008, it the fact that parents and guardians introduce their children to the dancehall lifestyle ruining their innocence.
“There are parents who are indulging in this dancehall lifestyle and who, therefore, cannot guide their children to lead moral, self-disciplined lives. The children and the parents are now both indulging in the dancehall slackness. We see the effect of this in our schools. We see it when little children are taken to Passa Passa and adults delight in watching them wining and grinding their undeveloped hips in imitation of their slackness. Before these children can begin to know what innocence is, they have lost it. Their innocence has been aborted. This exposure to unbridled slackness from an early age has ensured that we produce a generation whose morality has been warped from the beginning. They will now believe that this slack and loose behaviour is the norm.”

In an interview conducted by E. Tyson in the article entitled ‘Slackness and more slackness’ published April 6, 2008 with teenagers about the effects of dancehall music the responses were as follows.
"It makes me break out of my little shell. I am an innocent girl and dancehall music breaks that barrier."
"It makes you feel all gangsterish and cool. And the music teaches you how to dress."
"The lyrics are influential. They tell you to walk roun', smoke weed and buss gun. Many people, children in particular, look up to some of the artistes who feature these lyrics in their songs and they actually do some of these things because they feel that if their favourite artiste is doing it and they are 'hip' and admired, then why not do it too. Hence, dancehall music is influential, not only to me, but to the wider society."
"I have stopped listening to dancehall music now and that's good because it had such a negative influence on me. At one point, I found myself acting in the way that the songs portray a 'hot girl' should be."