CARICOM Heads Concerned Over Music’s Impact On Crime

Undoubtedly, some dancehall music and its hybrid spinoff, “Trinibad” music, have become grimier in recent years, with a plethora of artists glorifying guns, drugs, promiscuity, and unabashed violence. The genre is often celebrated for its infectious rhythms, clever braggadocio lyrics, and influence on dance and pop culture. However, lately many have ventured where only Hip Hop music once dared to tread, with a legion of followers in tow, mainly from a younger demographic. Heading the list of these acts are names like Kman 6ixx ( allegedly an affiliate of the notorious Six gang), Skeng, Skillibeng, Kraff, and RajaWild, among many others. For example, the music video for Trinidad’s Kman 6ixx’s “No Lethal” has garnered more than 7 million views. In the song the singer boasts of what will happen “when me catch a 7,” a reference to a rival gang. Last year, St. Kitts Byron Messia’s “Taliban” became the biggest dancehall song of that era. Portions of the lyrics vividly describe gun use and bloodbaths. Then there is Jamaica’s Skillibeng, rated by dancehall fans as one of the best, consistently describing his use of deadly arsenal. These lyrics and songs of that nature have fuelled the discussion on the influence...