KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed concern about the state of the country, highlighting that Jamaica has allowed itself to be defined through a limited scope.

Speaking at a meeting of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in St Catherine on Sunday, Holness once again zoned in on dancehall music and its influence on Jamaica’s status on the international scene. Describing a ban on Jamaican artistes by other countries as “an embarrassment”, the Prime Minister said things like ‘whap whap, chop chop and Ensure’ should not be allowed to define Jamaica.

“Whap Whap and Chop Chop and Ensure and all a dem…all of those things have their place but they can’t define us, we should not allow that to define us,” Holness said. “When another country say I don’t want your artistes in my country, it’s an embarrassment.”

Holness was making reference to Skillibeng’s mega-hit single, Whap Whap, which talks about murder in catchy but graphic terms and Brysco’s Code which explicitly highlights the act of oral sex using the popular drink, Ensure.

Both songs have been heating up the local music scene but have been a source of concern for many who believe the songs reflect negatively on the industry and the country as a whole. Holness in his address says he believes some of the things being portrayed in the music being produced are seeping into the nation’s school and has left him “very concerned.”

“We see it trickling down into the fights in the schools. We are concerned, very, very concerned, and worried about it. What has happened to us as Jamaicans is that we are being defined by some very limited things. Jamaica has allowed itself to become defined by a limited way of thinking,” the Prime Minister expressed.

This is not the first time in recent months that the country’s leader has expressed discontent with the quality of music coming out of Jamaica. In April 2021, Holness shared that while artistes are “free to reflect what is happening in the society, you also have a duty to place it in context.”

He shared that although artistes reserve the right to artistically express themselves, they should also be mindful of children who are listening to their music and the impact those songs can have.

“In as much as you are free to reflect on what is happening in the society, you also have a duty to place it in context,” he said. “That is not right, and though you have the protection of the constitution to sing about it, you also have a duty to the children who are listening to you to say ‘man, that is not right’.”

Holness’ most recent statements come against the backdrop of a Guyanese ban placed on dancehall artiste Skeng. Skeng has been forbidden by Guyanese officials to hit a public stage in that Caribbean nation after shots rang out at a concert he headlined back in May.