Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, in response to critics of the Government’s handling of Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts, made a defiant call for them to “Go make a song of it”.

His comments were apparently in reference to dancehall veteran Beenie Man, who took his concerns about the Government’s distribution of relief funds to the recording studio with Weh Di Money Deh.

“I will continue to say it over and over again, and I don’t care who vex. Go make a song of it,” Holness declared.

But the prime minister’s challenge is hardly a novel one. Music has long served as a voice for the people, providing Jamaican artistes with a platform to question authority, expose inequality and demand accountability.

Long before social media became an outlet for political criticism, reggae and dancehall artistes were using their lyrics to confront those in power and highlight the struggles of ordinary Jamaicans. Some songs became international protest anthems, others sparked political controversy and at least one was considered so provocative that it was banned from the airwaves.

Here are 10 Jamaican songs that challenged authority and called out injustices over the years.

1. The Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up (1973)

Over the years, Bob Marley has made many protest anthems like Revolution and Them Belly Full (But We Hungry), both featured on the 1974 Bob Marley and The Wailers Natty Dread album, but few songs have captured the spirit of resistance quite like Get Up, Stand Up.

Released in 1973, the Bob Marley and Peter Tosh composition became a rallying cry for people demanding justice, equality and freedom from oppression.

Its message was simple but powerful: people should not sit quietly while their rights are denied.

More than five decades later, the song remains one of reggae’s most recognisable protest anthems, proving that a powerful message can outlive the political climate that inspired it.

2. Peter Tosh – Equal Rights (1977)

Peter Tosh was never an artiste known for sugar-coating his opinions, and Equal Rights was a perfect example.

Released in 1977, the song demanded more than superficial promises of peace, arguing that genuine peace could not exist without justice and equal rights.

Tosh used his music to confront racial discrimination, political oppression and systemic inequality, establishing himself as one of reggae’s most outspoken voices.

For the fiery reggae icon, music was not simply a form of expression. It was a weapon against injustice.

3. Delroy Wilson – Better Must Come (1971)

This classic reggae song by Delroy Wilson spoke to the struggles being faced amid social injustice and economic inequality while enduring hope that brighter days are ahead.

It became a powerful anthem for working class Jamaicans at the time, with lyrics such as: “I’ve been trying a long, long time still I can’t make it/Everything I try to do seems to go wrong/It seems I have done something wrong/But they’re trying to keep me down/Who God bless, no one curse/Thank God I’m not the worst/Better must come one day.”

So popular was the song that then Opposition People’s National Party adopted the name of the tune as the official party slogan in the run-up to the 1972 general election.

4. Junior Byles – Beat Down Babylon (1971)

Another song that captured the frustration young people were feeling with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government of Prime Minister Hugh Shearer.

The song expresses militancy, from the perspective of a Rastafarian, against an oppressive system, with lyrics such as: “Say, mi no like dem kind of Babylon/Say, mi no dig dem kind of wicked men/For, I am a righteous Rasta man/And I am a dread dread one I man.”

The conservative JLP administration of the day had a tense relationship with the Rastafarian community, who faced heavy-handed treatment from actors of the state, including forced hair trimming by the police.

5. Junior Murvin – Police and Thieves (1977)

This 1977 hit by Junior Murvin is about police brutality and social unrest of the time.

The song, which was produced by legendary producer Lee Scratch Perry, became synonymous with the riots of Notting Hill Carnival in 1977.

It was ranked at number 66 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time.

6. Tanya Stephens – The Other Cheek (2004)

Tanya Stephens has never shied away from using her music to challenge social expectations and confront uncomfortable truths. In The Other Cheek, she takes aim at political hypocrisy, disrespect and injustice, questioning why ordinary Jamaicans should tolerate mistreatment from politicians who fail to practise what they preach.

She drives home the point with pointed questions, asking: “Do you expect me to turn the other cheek, taste my tears and admit defeat?” and “Do you expect me to still come out and vote?”

7. Bounty Killer – Fed Up (1996)

While Bounty Killer is widely celebrated for his commanding dancehall delivery and clash anthems, his catalogue also reflects a longstanding concern for Jamaica’s less fortunate.

Fed Up captures the social commentary that has remained an important part of his musical identity. The song speaks to the struggles of people facing poverty and hardship, and is a reminder that dancehall’s aggressive energy has often been used to demand social justice, not just dominate the entertainment scene.

8. Ernie Smith – The Power and the Glory (1976)

Not every protest song simply sparked conversation. Some attracted serious political backlash.

Ernie Smith’s The Power and the Glory emerged during one of Jamaica’s most politically volatile periods, when tensions between supporters of the country’s two major political parties were running high.

The song criticised the destructive pursuit of political power and the violence that accompanied it.

Its message proved controversial enough to be banned from the airwaves during the 1970s, and Smith subsequently left Jamaica amid concerns about his safety.

The veteran singer has maintained that the song was not intended to support either political party but rather to condemn the violence consuming the country.

It remains one of the clearest examples of how politically sensitive Jamaican music could become.

9. Vybz Kartel – Emergency (2005)

Known internationally for his provocative lyrics and dancehall dominance, Vybz Kartel has also used music to examine the darker realities of Jamaican society.

Emergency reflects the social commentary found throughout parts of his catalogue, drawing attention to hardship and the struggles facing ordinary people.

The track demonstrates that even artistes primarily associated with dancehall entertainment can use their platform to highlight issues affecting the communities from which the genre emerged.

10. Protoje – Blood Money (2017)

If there is one song on this list that fits neatly into contemporary conversations about accountability and corruption, it is Protoje’s Blood Money.

Released in 2017, the song takes aim at corruption, political hypocrisy and the influence of wealth on Jamaican society.

Protoje questions a system in which powerful individuals can accumulate wealth while ordinary citizens face hardship, violence and limited opportunities.

Its message challenges listeners to examine not only where money comes from but also who benefits from it and the consequences for society.