Sizzla Okay With Young Artists Experimenting With ‘Trap Dancehall’

Sizzla Kalonji has come out in support of Trap Dancehall—a sub-genre of Dancehall that has gained popularity over the last four years—and he’s leading by example and urging young artists to shun violent lyrical content and embrace ‘consciousness’ when experimenting with the new sound.  

The Solid As A Rock singer was speaking during a backstage interview with Reggae Vibes Media following his performance at Dream Weekend’s Yush, held in Negril, Jamaica earlier this month.

“It’s a part of life. Music is fun, music is life, music is mathematics, music is love. It’s nothing illegal just keep it clean and put a bit more lyrics for education and keep the party going,” he said, when asked about the shift in the music among newer artists.

According to Sizzla, new sounds are important to cater to a wider audience.

“If you should check, in the Caribbean, they’re very popular with the Calypso and the carnival but if you should check right around the world; it’s always Dancehall and Reggae music having these clubs banging and Hip Hop and R&B,” he said.

“So, if there are a new set of kids who have created a new genre of music to make money, nothing violent and they’re loving it and it’s good just go ahead. Just keep it conscious. We’re creators and African awaits its greatness. You’re gonna see a lot more going on. A lot more kids singing…leave them kids let them enjoy themselves, but stick to your roots. Always remember to stick to your roots.”

Sizzla, himself, has dabbled in the Trap sound, recently teaming up with Yeza on her Glory (Remix) and with Trinidad-based artist Jahllano on the track Freedom Now, which was produced by Kelly Beatz.   

Freedom Now, which has close to 200,000 views on YouTube, is lined with conscious lyrics that encourage liberation.

Trap Dancehall is said to have been popularized in Jamaica by Squash and Rygin King.

For veteran acts like Bounty Killer, the new sound should be considered a trap fusion with Dancehall.

“Nothing name Trap Dancehall. Trap music is trap music, and Dancehall is Dancehall,” Killer told Onstage’s Winford Williams in 2019.

“So you can’t take two genre and make one. Weh name so? You can’t have Reggae Soca? You hear dem did try ‘soggae’ like dem did want mix Soca wid Reggae; you can’t do dat. You couldn’t have Rap-Trap. So how you have Dancehall Trap? That is like stealing people’s music to make one. No. And Jamaica have such creative music? Why are we gonna thief people music?” he said.

The veteran dancehall artist, known for his hit songs like Benz and Bimma, noted that the two genres of music had their own distinct sounds and while dancehall artists have taken to voicing trap riddims, that doesn’t make it ‘trap-dancehall’.

“Dancehall a Dancehall; Trap a Trap. So those young artiste who are coming doing the Trap thing; it’s OK; it’s the new trend; it’s the hip music for the kids and tings have to evolve, but you cannot take it and make it Dancehall; it’s not. It was Trap and you take it. How it turn Dancehall? Yuh no do nuttn else but teck it and sing pon it now,” he added during the interview.

“It’s not even like they are making the Trap music different; you know, like you woulda take two a di kick and put a different vibes to it, like when dem make ova di Afrobeat here; you know dem put likkle Reggae vibes to it, but yuh can hear di Afro instruments. They are not doing that with trap; they are playing the same groove, am tempo and just because we are singing patois pon it we say a dancehall trap,” Bounty said.