Click image for larger version Name: image.png Views: 0 Size: 1.03 MB ID: 61​The musical term dancehall, as defined by Chris Mugan’s article, is a distinct style of music that emphasizes rhythm over melody. In Jamaica, dancehall became popular in the early and late eighties until its mortal demise in the early twentieth century. What seemed to be homophobic sentiment marked the lyrical content causing great injury to the gay community, and something that led to anti-dancehall campaign from the gay right movement against the industry.

As the industry suffered wounds, some of the attempts that were made to resurrect its past glories included the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007. It was an act that aimed to clean up the mess caused by dancehall artist, and to protect the industry from hatred and violence against minority groups. Banton, who’s “Boom Bye Bye” had ostensibly threatened the gay community of murder, signed his support for the Reggae Compassionate Act. Initial signatories included, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Capleton, and Sizzla.

The Act, though not every artist was satisfied with, signaled to the world “repentance” on the damage dancehall lyrics had caused to marginalized groups. Some artists desisted from signing the Act for reasons of its poor wording whiles others felt their freedom of speech has been threatened. TOK and some others signed their own declaration.

What came to be a heavy comeback for Jamaican dancehall was the coming in of the American DJ and producer Diplo. In 2009, Diplo released his Major Lazer album, “Guns don’t kill people…Lazers do”, that featured Jamaican artists like Vybz and TOK and international collaborators such as US artists Santigold and Nina Sky. Diplo’s contribution came as a redefinition of dancehall from all anti-gay sentiments and also with Western tweak that makes it finds its way into the international markets.

Reference
Mugan, Chris. “Dancehall's new steps.” http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/dancehalls-new-steps-8601597.html Last visited 02/12/2017.
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