Mr. Vegas Calls Out “Hypocrisy” Of Dancehall Artists Who Deny Music’s Influence On Crime
Dancehall singjay Vegas has given credence to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ comments in Parliament that some lyrical content in Dancehall music has contributed to the widespread violence that is wreaking havoc across Jamaica.
The Hot Wuk deejay, who took exception to recent statements made by Dancehall aritst Cham, explained that art and artists have an effect on the people and the content of the art is what determines whether it is received negatively or positively.
“He (Baby Cham) refuses to accept responsibility that our music, that our lyrical contents in the music, we as influential people, the lyrical content that is in our music, he failed to point out that, of course, it is also impacting society, when it comes on to crime and violence,” deejay Vegas countered in an Instagram video two days ago.
The deejay also took aversion to Cham’s reference to poverty as a reason for societal ills. Vegas struck down the Joyride artist’s comment, saying that Mavado’s son downfall could not be attributed to poverty, since his father is not viewed as poor. The deejay added that his “brother” Mavado is not the first to experience this kind of misfortune.
Mavado, Cham, Bounty Killer, and other artists have largely disagreed the PM, who has since doubled down on his remarks. He has insisted that while the lyrical content of the music may be rhythmic and catchy, “at some point we have to realize that what we may be doing, is glorifying; that what we may be doing, is legitimizing violence.”
Mr. Vegas, in stark contrast to his fellow Dancehall compatriots, believes that the utterances of celebrities are influential.
“We are influential… we place images in the yute dem mind, an when wi place di tings dem inna di yute dem subconscious, that ah weh dem ago gravitate towards,” the singer stated.
To argue his point, he cited the extraordinary attention and sway of Vybz Kartel’s Clarks which featured Popcaan and GAZA Slim. “When Vybz Kartel sing him song bout Clarks, every yute wanted a Clarks or most yutes wanted a Clarks, people jus want Clarks,” Vegas highlighted.
He explained, “So, dat mean seh if every yute want a Clarks when him listen to Vybz Kartel Clarks song, and Vybz Kartel is so influential to them, of course, di same way if Vybz Kartel sing a song bout gun, killing, wateva, yute ago gravitate toward it as well.”
“It’s just like bleaching. Di man dem seh bleaching good. Bleaching acceptable now. Of course, boom, we see everybody start bleach.”
“Don’t tell me that our music nuh influential to di yute dem, people use to hide and bleach and shame fi bleach,” the Heads High singer stated to support his point that “we cyaan go around dat.”
“Look at a thing like even oral sex. We used to sing against dem thing deh inna music. We used to seh, ‘Hands up, gyal from yuh know seh yuh never bow’ [Yu Sure]. Used to go dance and hear Beenie Man seh, ‘All a di man dem weh know dem nuh bow, put up unno hand and seh yow’ [Nuh Bow] …Now we hear girls inna music a sing seh dem waan man do this to them. Man inna music a sing seh dem waan do this to girls and it is acceptable so the influence weh we as celebrities have yuh cya pussyfoot around that.”
Vegas held firm to the unpopular opinion that the lyrical content of the music and the performers of the content do have a strong influence on the behaviors of Dancehall consumers.
The deejay called out his fellow artists’ hypocrisy for being selective in the manner they choose to highlight which influences they have. “Mi nah seh yea wi nuh have experience, and wi ah sing bout wi experience, but come on, we’d ah be hypocrites fi seh wi nuh have no influence ova di yute dem,” Vegas said, adding that “Baby Cham know dat, of course yuh influential, my yute.”
The deejay wrapped up his video, acknowledging that he may receive some flack for his opinions, but, “lets not jus keep pointing fingers, the Prime Minister seh something and wi go after him, and wi fail to accept seh we play ah role.”
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