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Jay Wil - Game Over Pt. 2
Jay Will - Game Over Pt. 1
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Beenie Man - Setting The Trend
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Q&A with Bascom X - Part 1
Q&A with Bascom X - Part 2
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CelebrityFest Part One: Di Ting Sell-Off!!!
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Jamaica Explode
Dancehall: a street ting?
Tek the wha? And lef the wha?????
The Other Woman
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Music Edition
Dancehall: a street ting?

Dancehall: a street ting?
Written by Malessia Martin

How do we classify dancehall? Is it merely a sub cultural element of Jamaican Society? Dancehall has a culture of its own which over the years has found itself among the mainstream. Yet some view it as a street ting, this sort of perception tends to create the impression that anything goes. It is no secret that dancehall can be a bit on the extreme what with the language and some of the sexually explicit material. In situations where there is strictly an adult audience and no major media coverage then it is possible to conclude that anything goes. However dancehall has long surpassed the stage where it s strictly a ghetto thing therefore artistes and selectors alike need to tailor their acts.

Lewdness, obscenity and wantonness are predominantly characteristic of the material that many selectors exude in their performances. The music often gets lost amidst outbursts of foul language and continuous profanity. No one event is comprised of a distinct set of patrons; it is most often a mixture of all ages and backgrounds. Disc Jockeys or selectors as they are called do not appear to possess enough versatility to control a crowd that is of a fairly diverse nature.

Parties, stage shows or sessions or what ever they may be called are a part of everyday life in Jamaica. Now more than ever before these sessions are being sponsored by large corporate entities, which not only provide financial backing but are also putting their reputation and their brand on the line. So they expect a certain level of censorship both from entertainers and selectors. In fact most of these major sponsors have now made it mandatory for censorship of material that is meted out to patrons. Undoubtedly this is problematic because some selectors feel that they are being restricted and boxed in. After all the dancehall is their space, their zone, an area which they are supposed to be in control of. One DJ expressed his discontent with the Guinness sponsored events because nobody can t dead on the show, can t play gun tunes, nothing. Does this therefore mean that the demands of sponsors could somehow be stifling or minimizing the creativity of those who entertain us?

Lord knows Jamaica has not had it easy bringing dancehall to the level that it s at now; we still have to be fighting to clear the negative stereotypes. As such it is imperative that each individual plays his part in conveying dancehall in a positive light and not just as a street ting.

The views expressed inside this editorial aren t necessarily the views of PeppaPot.com or its employees.


Comments

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goodas mini ah seh:
as a entertainer my self I thing that kind of ting is just unreal because as an artist i want to express my self not
somebody else. when we express our self
then people relate.when we express how
a co-operation wants us to express thats not art zeen, faze se dat up and coming artist, bless
Posted: Sunday August 13th, 2006

shoops ah seh:
that sound good
Posted: Tuesday August 15th, 2006

Jhammy ah seh:
I TotaLy Agree with the article...Dancehall is a way of life its not just music with alot of cursing and bashing of homosexuals..and for sponsors like guiness to penetrate and try to censor dancehall to suit themselves is changing dancehall as a way of life and not just as music.
Posted: Wednesday August 16th, 2006

babyfaces ah seh:
the people come to see the dj so give them wat they want
Posted: Thursday August 17th, 2006

si_gal ah seh:
that only one kind gives u low-kick of power n some good vibes
Posted: Friday September 1st, 2006

shan_05 ah seh:
i dont no wa ta sey
Posted: Friday September 1st, 2006

Luv2dance ah seh:
as a dancer i dont think that it is a street ting it is a culture and a way of life.
Posted: Tuesday September 5th, 2006

spanish town ah seh:
dede dance is what most of the jamaica really like to do but their thing.
Posted: Wednesday September 6th, 2006

lady zee ah seh:
peolpe don like de trut,dancehall is all about that.its real no doubt ive it an ear youll tel me
Posted: Thursday September 28th, 2006

STEPHON ah seh:
THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT TRY TO DISS REGGAE AND IT,S MUSIC SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH ,AMERICA FEELS SAY IT RIGHT FI FUC ----, NO ONE DONT SEE NOTING RONG WED THAT, SO LEFF WE REGGAE THE WAY IT IS , IT IS OUR CULTURE.
Posted: Monday October 9th, 2006

ray-za ah seh:
http://www.myspace.com/1rayza

I am an upcomming reggae artist...thats currently on a mini- tour in Japan.
Posted: Saturday October 14th, 2006

fuzzydon ah seh:
dancehall music appeal to a whole heapa diffrent people at di same time cah it a promote a whole heapa diffrent mesages, yuh seet. No man can tell mi seh a only 1 message dancehall artists sen out to di people dem. And ana jus ghetto yute who a rate dancehall music. Mi live ina new york now, and mi see nuff white yute, spanish yute, african yute wheh bump dancehall music all day, all night.
Posted: Saturday November 4th, 2006

nexxstudio100 ah seh:
some selector can read crowd and play the right tunes, change up the mix fi certain high level events.
The one dem who gwaan with the folly a dem followers who a try get a hype whe no last long anyway,
promoters need fi know who fi book on certain shows at each level.das all
Posted: Friday February 23rd, 2007

yardi3000 ah seh:
Big up lyssons man dem st thoas kleen kut family jah bless.
Posted: Saturday March 3rd, 2007

yardi3000 ah seh:
Big up lyssons man dem st thomas kleen kut family jah bless.
Posted: Saturday March 3rd, 2007

drippz ah seh:
dancehall is music, dance, entertainment and enjoyment

if u take dancehall away we got stress and depression
Posted: Tuesday March 13th, 2007

Rkatec ah seh:
Dancehall is a street ting dont mistake Reggae music fi dancehall music...reggae rep. Jamaica as a country/culture...Dancehall music represent the voice of jamaica streets and it should stay in the streets b/c it can not be clean up fi di appeal of high society people who downgrade wi music..remember these same people talk bad bout Bob Marley but yet his songs is use by America Airline n Air Jamaica as the place to be..dem fight against weed but dem sell images of bob marley smoking weed....Dancehall music a street music and a music fi di people raw n real...jst like every garrison yute...bless
Posted: Wednesday March 14th, 2007

jamaicanbrownin ah seh:
I say let the people play what they want and what the crowd wants to hear, i say this because i love the hype up stuff and i wouldnt the music to change
Posted: Monday May 21st, 2007

nicole02 ah seh:
i say let di music play cause its enjoyabble and a it a buss nuff getto youth career ya now.
Posted: Wednesday June 20th, 2007

sweldon ah seh:
when good music hit you. you feel no pain.
Posted: Friday July 6th, 2007

missukku876 ah seh:
mi luff fi dance it not a crime its ah dancehall ting
Posted: Saturday December 29th, 2007


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