Cham Rebuts Holness’ Claims That Dancehall Influences Violence, Crime
Reggae-Dancehall stalwart Cham took to social media to air his concerns and subsequent opposition to comments made by the leader of the Jamaican government, Prime Minister Andrew Holness. The PM, in a parliamentary address, insinuated that the purveyors of the country’s popular music form have major influence on framing the character of the nation’s people; and, by extension, their behavior.
“Is audio communication more effective than video communication?,” Cham countered in the Instagram video, before adding that, if this is so, he would be more than honored to rally fellow deejays to join him in assuming the affairs of the country and “bring some order and restoration” to Jamaica.
The deejay, who addressed PM Holness by title, also inquired if the prime minister’s “conclusion arrived from studies done, or did it arrive from guilt of mismanagement over the years?”
Coincidentally, Cham collaborator Bounty Killer, who also chimed in on PM Holness’ address, recited the lyrics “ah our country, dem fi lef it mek wi manage ee” on the duo’s Another Level, which was released some two decades ago.
The deejay explained that he believes artists are mirrors of society and, as such, the artists are merely reflecting the ills of society through “music, melodies and words.”
During the audiovisual statement, Cham reeled off a number of searing questions that he directed at Holness. Cham was also stern in reiterating that his largely proven stance is one that easily dispels the PM’s claim that artists and musicians should shoulder the responsibility for the longstanding and widespread violence that has been plaguing the country.
“Are we going to slam or blame Netflix, who is one of the world’s top streaming platforms for violent content?,” the respected lyricist said, posing introspective questions to Prime Minister Holness, adding “Are we going to remove data from everyone’s smartphones, and their homes?”
The PM charged that artists have a responsibility to put out content that have a positive effect on the nation’s children.
“From where I stand, as someone from the inner-city, the ghetto, and a public figure, I have observed where poverty, poor leadership, illiteracy and lack of opportunities for the Jamaican youths are the top four contributors of for the country’s high crime rate, not the music,” the entertainer hit back in the video.
Baby Cham released the video statement to rebut Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ claim that Dancehall music should bear some fault for the violence that has been permeating across the country.
“Never would I imagine that I would take on the responsibilities of a country’s governing body or parenthood for an entire nation,” the Ghetto Story deejay remarked in the video.