10 Times Grimy Dancehall Artists Did Inspiring Songs

The once-in-a-blue-moon treat of grimy dancehall artists giving their fans inspiring and uplifting music comes like a flower that rarely blooms. When this happens, lovers of lewd lyrics gain the opportunity to be cleansed with musical greatness beyond the dirt.

Here are 10 dancehall tracks to soothe the soul, authored by those who are known to muster up the muck.

Chronic Law – Hillside

Akeeme Campbell’s breakthrough in dancehall music came when he decided to drop the melodic track Hillside. The song from Elite Generation Records generated much buzz within the dancehall space and put the newcomer on the map with lyrics unlike the subsequent gun-wielding, murder-promising songs he is now known for.

Hillside speaks of yearning to be alone, far away from everyone, after an unexpected betrayal. The talented singjay introduced fans with the lyrics “rather deh pon a hillside with nobody fi talk to”.  The complementing video has close to 9 million streams on his Vevo channel and serves as the most viewed production from the St. Thomas native, amidst the 100 record uploads on his channel.

Vybz Kartel – Unstoppable

Vybz Kartel is highly regarded as one of the most influential dancehall artists.  His quick-witted lyrical appeal has surpassed that of the simple-minded and his controversial antics are headlining topics.  Within the grit and risque that have become synonymous with his name, is the powerful song Unstoppable.

With deliberate and meaningful life lessons for every dancehall-loving listener, this 2015 radio banger not only mentions the resilience Kartel witnessed from his father as a youth, but it also clearly outlines the innate desire the young aspirant had from an early age to achieve his main life goal as a dancehall superstar. 

The listener journeys to the persistent mental attitude and unwavering self-confidence that one needs to win at any task in life.

Tommy Lee Sparta – Blessings

Who would have ever thought that ‘Uncle Demon’ could recognize the blessings from His Majesty? After all, his catalog of music suggests ominous activity and evil rituals, but not this time. Blessings explores a man who is highly blessed and favored by the most high, despite mankind being “so evil”, as he puts it.

Bounty Killer – Book Book Book

He said it himself, Bounty Killer is ‘the Warlord’ and has a career spanning close to thirty years with songs to prove just that! He is also extremely cross, angry and beyond miserable; no jokes, have you seen some of this man’s interviews?

In 1995, the Seaview native’s Book Book Book gave school children a very catchy, radio ready, fun track to make going to school absolutely cool. “If yuh nuh have nuh education people treat yuh like a crook, tun yuh inna handyman dog food yuh affi cook”.

Alkaline – Never Lose Hope

The lyrics “give thanks for a new day, a better tomorrow” is the mere intro to this very inspiring, one drop reggae song from the ‘Vendetta boss’, who is known for his not-so-charming songs with x rated content.

The slow-paced beat allows the listener to retain with introspection on their own life choices, while encouraging hope in those moments of self-doubt.

Jahshii – Born Fighter

Jahshii may not have much of a catalog, but this new track Born Fighter is a very touching tribute with wise words to inspire any youth from the garrison. His preceding songs are not much like this production where in Gvnman Town he actually tells his fans that he isn’t just singing a gun song, but that he is actually just that in “real life”.

Skillibeng – Powerful

In Powerful Skillibeng speaks of excellence, self confidence, success, beating the odds against hard times and self doubt. “Eastside is aiming for excellence” is sure to put the fans in a very powerful position. Nothing like his sloppy and “unuh doe grimy” lyrics.

Mavado, IVoltage – Never Go Win

In his earlier days ‘Gully Gad’ was known for spitting songs of grit and grime to the pleasure of his legion of fans.  Growth and international success took over, as a result, Never Go Win is the hit song from the Gully side’s Mavado and Bull Bay’s IVoltage. They speak of triumph despite being handed several setbacks from known and unknown sources. The Tommy G Records and Keno Four Star Productions tune has close to 6 million streams on YouTube since its release 9 months ago.

Spice – Black Hypocrisy

Black Hypocrisy is probably the only, if not one of the most eye-opening and chilling songs ever done by Grace Hamilton who is very well known for her extremely raunchy lyrical content.

The song of her true story has highlighted a deep-rooted and ugly fact facing dark-skinned women and men around the globe — a far cry from telling said black women to “skin out mi pum pum” for absolutely nothing. Black Hypocrisy teaches them that “I am dripping melanin and honey, I am black without apology”.

Govana – Impossible

In this May 2020 release, Govana has demonstrated with his lyrics that nothing is Impossible. In a video loaded with graphical texts of positive affirmations, the Big Dreams deejay seeks to uplift his fans with words of wisdom and optimistic self talk.