Dancehall breeding violence amongst the youth - Luciano

Jamaican reggae legend, Luciano, born Jepther McClymont, says dancehall music is breeding violence amongst the youth and should be looked at again.

According to him, most of the current dancehall artistes preach violence and promiscuity which does not help the society.

Dancehall has gained popularity worldwide and is currently one of the most revered music genres in Ghana.
It has produced stars who have made hit tracks and won awards like, Samini, Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Jupitar, Kaakie and MzVee.

But speaking in an interview with Black Rasta on the ‘Taxi Driver’ on Hitz FM, ahead of his music concert in Ghana, Luciano stated that most of these dancehall artistes start on a descent note but later veer into morally reprehensible lifestyles and later begin to preach such lifestyles in their songs.

He cited Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel who was sentenced to life imprisonment last year for the 2011 murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams and is now languishing in prison as a typical example of such dancehall artistes.

The ‘Sweep Over My Soul’ hitmaker said that there are lots of artists like Vybz Kartel who are currently behind bars for engaging in violence.

“Dancehall has brought violence into the hearts of the youth,” he said.

Another Ghanaian dancehall star, Stonebwoy who won the Dancehall Song and Dancehall Artist of the Year including the overall Artiste of the Year Award at the just-ended Vodafone Ghana Music Awards also conceded that dancehall has contributed to pockets of violence around the world.

“Luciano is a well-respected artiste and for him to say that [dancehall] is breeding violence, it calls for concern,” he lamented.

The ‘Bihm Nation’ founder explained that some of his colleagues are engaging in violent acts because they need attention.

He said he has dedicated himself to being an example of a gentle and peaceful dancehall artiste.

Another dancehall artist, Abdul Razak Issahaku, known in entertainment life as Iwan, also conceded that violence is gradually creeping into the dancehall industry.

He therefore advised his colleague dancehall stars to refrain from violence and use their music to preach peace and not violence.