Deejay Ninja Man - NATHANIEL STEWART
EVEN AS DANCEHALL music infiltrates markets all over the world, there are some who think that the lyrics used by some artistes encourage a breakdown in moral standards. We wanted to get the real 'dirt', so we asked:
Do you think the vulgar and confrontational lyrics that are used by some popular DJ's in Jamaica have contributed to lower moral standards?
Yes 62%
Not much of an effect 31%
Don't know 8%
It seems the majority feel that dancehall lyrics are indeed contributing to the decline of morals. This is somewhat ironic as the local dancehall sector has a very large following. What is of note also, is the fact that older people are the ones who lean towards this thinking.
Forty five per cent of 16-17-year-olds believe that the lyrics do not contribute, while only 22 per cent of men 55 and older think it has no effect. This trend goes for women as well. Forty per cent of women 18-24 said no, while only 27 per cent of women over 55 said no.
DEPENDS ON THE CROWD
Popular DJ Ninja Man, known for his biting lyrics told THE STAR that "it depends on the crowd". He says the types of songs an artiste performs will vary by location. "If dem put yu a university, yu talk 'bout schools and students and if dem put yu a Cockburn Pen, an a bad man town, yu gi dem bad man lyrics." He added also, "music is a ting like a cycle. Yu can come wid slackness an it lower it [standards], or it can lift it, an den yu can come wid reality an it lower it too."
Among his many controversial songs is Renkin Meat, where he begs: "gal gi mi piece a di renkin meat. Renkin meat nice and renkin meat sweet."
The poll was conducted on January 28-29 by Johnson Survey Research Limited
Sample size: 1008 residents
Age of sample: 16 and older
Sampling error: +/- 3.1 %
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