Veteran deejay Peter Metro says dancehall music has deteriorated into “duncehall”.

Metro commented on the state of the genre, while performing a Father’s Day set at ‘Big Tunes for Dads’ at the Little Little Theatre on Sunday.

According to Metro, the genre had effectively become murder music, with most male artistes glorifying guns and violence in their lyrics.

“Weh the deejay them weh a talk bout wah gwan inna society. All dem boy a deejay bout a gun, dung inna woman throat, how much people fi dead and, dis and dat. In a me and Admiral Bailey days, Professor Nuts, Papa San… Josey Wales, Charley Chaplin… a love we preach – we make baby born, we make pickney born,” said Metro.

“We don’t promote murder music,” he added.

Metro condemned what he said was ageism in the industry, favouring younger artistes while devaluing older ones as outdated and without wisdom.

“Sometimes when yuh see them and want say something to them, ‘Them seh weh yah do. You ah old boy enuh. You think you are in your days’. So, me just hold my old boy corner,” he said.

Metro, who used his 45-minute set to showcase positive lyrics, captivated the audience by giving them a Jamaican history lesson from the 18th century to 2008 in a 45-second rap.

“We nuh dunce!” Metro declared.

“I hear them a talk bout fully dunce and dem thing deh. Dat nah go work bout yah! Dancehall and nuh dancehall again- it tun duncehall,” he added.

Metro further used his platform to make the connection between music and the role it plays in shaping and reflecting society, as he encouraged fathers to play a more active role in family life and society.

‘Big Tunes for Dads’ also featured performances by Delano McFarlane, George Nooks, Gem Myers and Admiral Bailey.