Young artistes say trap-dancehall is here to stay

For as long as there has been a conversation about music, there have been those turning up their noses at the latest popular form of a genre.

In the most recent Jamaican context, the new sub-genre being snubbed is trap-dancehall. Characterised by fast-paced production and synthesised drums, trap-dancehall is the Jamaican counterpart to the hip-hop/trap music originating out of the southern United States. The genre has become popular among the TikTok generation and was centred just before the famed producer Rvssian introduced his ode to the 'Go Go Club' rhythm. With young stars like Najeeriii, Pablo YG, RajahWild and Kraff pushing this new style forward, many have said this style of dancehall is watering down what makes Jamaican music strong.

But trap-dancehall artistes insist that the sub-genre is here to stay. V6 singer Malie Don said he even started to believe what the critics were saying, but stopped after he realised how his music is taking him places.

"Me see seh me nuh come off a plane. From 2023, every single week me deh pon a plane because of the music weh me sing, weh dem seh never a go past airport. Dem seh it nah past Negril Point, dem seh it nah past Norman Manley or Sangster (International Airports), and me see it past it 10 time," he said.

He continued, "Mi go how much country weh me never know this woulda bring me right here. But a just chu you believe. That's why mi a tell you seh, yow, more while when you a do a thing, before you listen to people, just listen to God. Listen to your instincts. Listen to your heart, your mind, your soul, and give everything your all. Believe inna weh yah do. That a di ultimate thing fi deh pon top."

Similarly, Pablo YG said he expected the claims of illegitimacy that followed the new era of local music.

"Trap-dancehall been a carry dancehall still, people just nah guh say that," he said. "Mi nuh know why. A whole heap a hit song forward out of trap-dancehall same way, even if you nuh know seh a trap-dancehall you a do. 'Cause you will a do trap-dancehall [song] and you nah seh a it you a do, but your brain develop inna the new style. We used to modern things, so we a go sing like modern way, even if we nah try," he said.

Brushing off any criticism in his usually sedate way, he added, "Nothing nuh too make me stumble, nothing nuh make me feel a way. All a we as artiste a do a good job, man. Even the comedian them a do a good job same way fi bring di culture. [But] some of them mislead the culture, so as long as you nuh mislead the culture, you a do a good job."

Malie Don added, "We a cement we self. Mi nah do no self-recommendation, the people dem affi do that. Mi just a put in the work and do my honest work. Mi just a happy fi everybody else and happy fi myself."