Singjay Azee has lost friends to the virus that causes AIDS and joins the call for the greater use of safe sex practices, especially among young people, in Can’t Tell, his latest song.

The single, which also features Mr Lexx, DYCR, Power Man, and Junior Cat, was recently released on the Sweet Lyfe rhythm, which he co-produced with his brother Ansel Owen for the Crown International label.

“Why I do this song is because I know five people who died from it [HIV]; two of them in the music fraternity. The message is to open the eyes of the people in the world because HIV is still around and anyone can catch it,” said Azee.

Can’t Tell was released last week, seven months after Dr Richard Amenyah, regional director of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, reported that some 30,000 individuals in Jamaica were living with HIV. He disclosed that every week there are “close to 27 Jamaicans becoming infected”.

Azee, who lives in New York, is concerned by those statistics. In Can’t Tell, he and his colleagues call on their compatriots to avoid making those figures even more frightening.

“All wi a sey is, do di right thing. Too much people getting infected, and some are dying,” he said.

Respective governments through the Ministry of Health, have released various PSAs and literature appealing to Jamaicans to refrain from dangerous sexual behaviour.

Several Jamaican artistes have also recorded songs that promote safe sex, including Buju Banton’s Willy (Don’t be Silly) and Rubbers by Frisco Kid which encourage the use of condoms.

The Sweet Lyfe compilation album was released in 2016 and contains songs by Half Pint, Sizzla and Gyptian.

Can’t Tell was recorded on a remixed version of the rhythm by veteran engineer Steven Stanley.

Azee (given name Norman Owen) is from Central Village in Spanish Town. A recording artiste for over 20 years, he entered the 2006 Jamaica Festival Song Competition with You Are Love, a collaboration with Ruddy Thomas.