Sean Paul Has Some Advice For Trinibad Dancehall Artists
Grammy award-winning artist Sean Paul has given props to the Trinidadian version of Dancehall, known as Trinibad, and in the same breath has warned artists to try and infuse more reality into their music.
Speaking with Nigel Telesford of Overtime Media (TT) recently about his new album Live N Livin, Paul praised Trinibad artists Prince Swanny for helping to keep Dancehall culture ‘live and living’ and for telling the stories about life on the twin-island republic.
“The album is called Live N Livin to reaffirm that I am alive and living – it’s a positive affirmation to anyone that’s listening to realise that I understand this and also to reaffirm that dancehall music itself is live and living – even in different territories such as the ‘Trinibads’ and these places. I have heard Prince Swanny and dem boy dey,” he said.
The Temperature hitmaker, however, advised the fast-rising stars to ensure they aren’t glorifying violence.
“So, that’s my only thing with the badness: meh just wha big up everybody who ah do music and say yes, yuh must reflect the badness that is in society cause yeah, because that is what the music is for, but also tell the real story dem – tell de story when yuh shoot somebody an afi go hide inna hill and yuh cyah see yuh baby mother nor yuh baby dem for months, yuh understand?,” he said.
He added that he believes that music should be used to show the reality of a situation and that artists shouldn’t try to enhance their lyrics to get more clout.
“This music is to tell people what’s going on in our lives and I encourage people fi talk the truth every time. A lot ah time now we kinda embellishing or over-exaggerating or over glorifying ah violent type ah lifestyle like it is the realist thing – like we get up every morning and drink we tea and buss gun inna boy head – and that ain’t true, or else there would be none of us left on earth. Scene?” he continued.
To this end, he encouraged Trinibad artists to not paint a story of glory after violent crimes are committed but rather to let listeners know what some of the consequences are.
“Tell de story when police ah come look fuh yuh and yuh frighten and yuh paro because yuh cyah even trust yuh best friend cause dem will sell you out cause dem know wha yuh do. So tell dem story dey too, not just the ones where you afi the baddest ting and no boy cyah test cause if dem test ah pure problems and violence!”
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Most recently, rising artist, Brad “Bradbadlikedat” Bailey, was shot and killed in the Santa Cruz area. Last year in July, Kyle ‘Rebel Sixx’, was also shot and killed at his home in Arouca.
Live N Livin was released on March 12 and featured several collaborators such as Damian Marley, Mavado, Buju Banton, Serani, Busy Signal, Suku Ward, Govana, Intence, Masicka, Skillibeng, Quash, Jesse Royal, Rassa Joy, Sutu Bless, Luga Man, and Chi Ching Ching.
A second album, Scorcher, is expected in May 2021 with features from American singer Gwen Stefani, Australian singer Sia, UK-based deejay Stylo G, and Dancehall songbirds Shenseea and Jada Kingdom.