Dear Editor,

There is no doubt in my mind that the content of dancehall lyrics is a significant contributor to the violence and wickedness perpetuated by a certain segment of the population.

The artistes are encouraged to sing music that is inflammatory and the very same people who attend these dances and encourage these artistes to be nasty should consider if they are not contributing to many of the brutal robberies and murders that take place every day in Jamaica.

I have noticed that when these so-called hardcore artistes perform the crowd near the stage is populated mainly by women, and the nastier the lyrics get the nastier they behave, and this tells me that many of these women may be sex-starved, so when they hear these songs it practically drives them crazy.

Vybz Kartel is a major proponent of this type of music which made him very popular, hence when he was being tried and on the day of his sentencing his supporters expressed great disgust. In fact, one of his supporters said that Kartel and Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams used to “run up and down the place so ah no big ting if him kill him”.

This is what the music does to the minds of these people; hence murder to them is a way of life.

Ken Spencer

Kingston 8

ken3_1999@yahoo.com