D’Angel Cautions Students About Being Influenced By Certain Songs

Right after dropping her son off to school this morning, reggae/dancehall singjay D’Angel headed over to St. Catherine for a motivational session with Cumberland High School students. 

With the music industry constantly under attack for its sexually explicit and crime-glorifying lyrics, the Exposed entertainer urged students to be mindful of what they consume, but also to think independently.

“You can listen anything enuh, but make sure out of it all, you don’t mek it influence your actions,” she said. “Listen to something positive. Wake a morning time, listen likkle gospel before yuh come out of your house. If you’re going through a trying time, put in a little gospel music. No put in nothing weh a go incite crime and violence. If yuh mek music and what is going on out there influence your actions, then you’re wrong…

“Have a mind of your own. You may have entertainers that you look up to and admire and emulate, but at the end of the day, their music mustn’t make you do anything that you’re going to regret. Be leaders… be that positive change.”

The school was thrusted into the spotlight in June when a student was stabbed by men after intervening in a dispute between two other students. D’Angel and fellow singjay Razor B had condemned the incident at the time, even joining a protest for peace outside the school. The artists followed up with today’s visit, commemorating International Peace Day.

“It’s okay to hold your brother and sister’s hands, and it’s okay to forgive because you feel better in yourself to forgive…” D’Angel said. “If somebody a try bully you, just give them love man; it don’t have to resort to violence. We say no violence in schools.”

She encouraged them to make the best of their time in school, considering it’s where they are most occupied. Tying in her own story of being active in school, doing everything from drama and modelling to netball, she highlighted the importance of using school as a foundation for developing one’s skills and talents. 

“If that’s offered in school where you can do drama, acting, modelling, singing, whatever your potential is, start basking in your greatness from now,” she said. “Not everyone is gonna be lawyer, doctors, all these things. Some people a go be hairdresser, barber, stylists…you name  it… But as long as you get your education… Spend your school days dem achieving, accomplishing, focusing, not no baby, ladies… A we seh get your education. A we seh be independent…”

On that note, she cautioned students about being drawn into the glittery lures of the fast life promoted on social media. 

“Don’t follow social media hype and waan inna dear hair and dear lash and dear this and dear that. Wait yuh turn. Be independent and can stand on your own because a lot of women are being missing in our country because of several reasons. Yuh see when yuh have this (education), nobody cya tek it from you. And learn a skill as well. Don’t watch flashy life. Satisfy wid weh your mother can afford to give you. If your mother give you dollar, mek it work.”

The morning also saw her opening the floor for students to ask questions and be vulnerable about their struggles. 

The visit is in line with D’Angel’s philanthropic efforts in recent years, usually with her eponymous foundation at the helm.