Razz (left) and Biggy.

Carolyn Johnson and Krista Henry, Star Writers

Some sound system selectors and radio disc jockeys are taking a stand against violence in music.

Lyrical violence has slowly spread throughout the dancehall, resulting in feuds that incite fans and ruin dances. However, members of the Bembe Squad, and at least one radio DJ say they are not into promoting the violence.

Selector Jigsy made his first announcement last Saturday on CVM TV's Hitlist, where he reportedly said he has stopped playing songs that "make no sense".

"Certain music dat misleading people, me, Razz & Biggy, Richie Feelings and Rolexx (members of the Bembe Squad), we taking a stand in de music. Like certain cuss music we not playing, certain controversy song, we not playing dem," Jigsy told the STAR.

So far, the only prohibited songs are those from Ninja Man and Bounty Killer done against each other in a recent ongoing war. The boycott began last Thursday at Bembe Thursday, a weekly dance held at Weekenz on Constant Spring Road.

Feud

One recent feud that caused conflict and generated a great deal of attention was that of deejays Vybz Kartel and Mavado.

Jigsy claimed that the reason the songs were played was due to the popularity of the two artistes but now the fans have tired of that lyrical battle. Despite the reconciliation that took place, Jigsy was quick to point out that should the lyrical battle restart, he would not hesitate to discontinue their rotation.

His decision was influenced by radio disc jockeys such as Colin Hinds, whom he says does not play certain songs.

Hinds confirmed that he is very guarded about the songs he plays on radio and stated that he does play "rude-boy" music but not "kill people" music.

He told the STAR: "I avoid certain songs. It's not necessary to play it. I listen to the context of the song and see whether it's a violent song that people will react to. I am not saying people mustn't make rude-boy music, but it had drifted from making ghetto street music to 'kill people music.'"

Hinds went on to say that the music has changed from 'shotta music' to songs that bluntly celebrate, in a serious and unapologetic way, the violent taking of another's life.

He said: "So-called gangsta-music has (got) from being an artful collection of lyrics to an open exhibition to shoot someone in (the) head."

Songs such as Mavado's Wha Dem A Do Hinds says he does not play. This decision is sparked by the belief that certain messages should not be conveyed on the radio.

According to Hinds, the dancehall is an open adult venue, however the radio is open to a large cross section of society.

"I don't think radio should mirror dancehall that closely. A lot of radio stations are aspiring to becoming a dance broadcast on air," he said.

Bembe selector Richie Feelings said he has made the decision for his children.

The Captain Colin Hinds showing the ropes to an aspiring DJ at Donald Quarrie High. - Contributed photos

"Wen you look on de radio, we are like di outdoor radio station. Most a de people on de radio deh people don't see dem but dem listening to dem every day. But people see we every day. Me hav me kids a grow up an me a try hard fi mek it work, me haffi tek a stand," he said.

"We have a Thursday night which di whole a we organise and keep. We can get rid a di gun songs. I play mostly for the females and I get caught up in de gansta ting nuff time. Nuff a de song wey we a play nuh really uplift we," he continued.

Jigsy explained that the artistes are giving the wrong impression of their relationships. He says their lyrics suggest that they are at war when they are not, but the metaphors are lost on the youth.

"I'm not a young selector. I've been doing music for 15 years, me not a selector that people can bad up. We take stand against music that throwing words at odda artistes. It a cause too much controversy and taking lives and it a cause artistes fi dis selector. Many selectors and many people call me an say 'me like wa you say and me hope you mean wey you say'. Me really mean wat me say. Me get a lot a compliments so me haffi keep up wit it," Jigsy said.

However, Jigsy says songs done by long time rivals Beenie Man and Bounty Killer are not ones on the banned list. "Dem people deh a go always play. I'm not going take a stand between the two giants," Jigsy said.

His explanation for this is simple, these artistes have been feuding for a long time and this is how they became popular. This is just their thing. Fellow Bembe member Razz also commented that the Beenie and Bounty feud was mainly fun and had never turned violent.

Razz whose fellow selector Biggy, had been the victim of an attack as a result of the Mavado-Kartel feud claims that the selectors need to convince the artistes to stop the lyrical feuds. He said "Di only way dem ago stop it is if we de selectors and people stop support dem. Stop support de almshouse inna de dancehall because de man dem a bring it to a nex level, dem a get real physical wid it now. Artiste a attack selector cause dem a big up odda artiste, it nuh supposed to reach deh so," Razz said.

What can fans expect from Bembe now? According to Richie Feelings, "any song talking bout dat man bedroom life. I don't waan hear nuh song wey talk bout nuh odda artiste. No name calling song, we nah play it. An de song dem dat have less impact on people life I not playing it, more positiveness."