Name: Othniel Campbell

Teacher: Ms. Preddie

School: May Pen High School

Year: 2020
 Table of Content
Plan of Investigation……………………………………………………………….3

Piece1……………………………………………………………………………….4

Piece2……………………………………………………………………………….5

Piece3……………………………………………………………………………….6

Reflection1………………………………………………………………………….7

Reflection2………………………………………………………………………….8

Reflection3………………………………………………………………………….9

Written Report………………………………………………………………………10
 Plan of Investigation
The topic me and my group members chose was “The Effects of Dancehall On The youth”. We

chose this topic because we ourselves listen to this genre of music at times. We know this topic

by heart because we live and breathe it every single day. During the time I will spend studying I

will try to learn more about this topic and try to understand the effects it has on the youths. The

way I intend to collect the information for this SBA is by going online and looking through local

newspapers. I will use this information to write my reflections and written report.
 Piece 1

Jamaican youths are easily attracted to this genre by its rhythm, beats and lyrical content.

Dancehall artists have continued to portray sexual images, violence, aggressive behaviors,

smoking, promiscuity and the promotion of alcohol and skin bleaching in the lyrics of their

songs. According to Manning 2008, these contents have the potential to impact the brain and

influence emotional behavior in humans especially among adolescents. As a result of hearing

dancehall music very often, they seem less of a nuisance and more of a norm to adolescents. In a

study conducted in 2008, 30% males and 50% females said that they sometimes heard the music

in their heads while focusing on other things. It has become prevalent within their subconscious.

Songs like Movado’s “Neva Believe yuh” and Vybz Kartel’s “Dumper Truck” depict lewd

images of how women in particular and men should behave.

Is this what we want our teens to be emulating? “Backing it up” on each other to loud music in

public displaying sexual behaviors. Artists fail to take responsibility for their strong influence on

the nation’s youth. Women are also degraded in these songs; referring to women as “Gyal” in a

demeaning and derogatory manner.

Parents play your role and educate your children. Monitor their behaviors and ensure that they

maintain a level of respect for themselves and towards others.

 Piece 2

Song by WayneJ- Slaky Mouth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol4j-Px1TmY
 Piece 3
A poem by Althea H

https://www.booksie.com/507714-dancehall-rhythm
 Reflection1
After doing my research I have seen how dancehall has a great effect on the youths of today.

According to the article we chose these types of songs have the potential to impact the brain and

influence emotional behaviors in humans especially in young adolescents. After reading this I

have to re think the songs I’m going to play the next time I decide to play music.

The second piece was a song by “Wayne J”. After listening to this song with my group members

I saw that in the video even the younger children were under the influence of the so called

“Slaky” mouth singer. This goes to show that even the younger children are also hearing these

types of songs and are replicating what the adults playing the songs are going.

The poem I read showed me how the older generation reacted to the modern day dancehall

music. The poem was about and old woman reflect and comparing music then and now. When I

finished reading the poem I understood how the older generation looked the dancehall music of

today. In the poem it showed that music back then was fun and safe to the children’s ears.

Modern day music talks about guns, sex, drugs and wars.
 Reflection2
The language the writer used in the article was easy to understand. It very straight forward and

did not stay from the main point. The author used research evidence to support the information

he presented on the influence the music has on adolescents. For example when he said

“According to manning 2008, these contents have the potential to impact the brain and influence

emotional behavior especially among adolescents”.

The second piece was a song by “WayneJ”. It was song in Jamaican creole so it was easy for me

to understand. The artist used to the term “slaky mouth” to describe the artists who are singing

lewd and explicit music. He also said that their mouths need to be washed out with “Jeers Wata”

which is implying they have a dirty mouth which needs to be cleaned.

The third piece was a poem titled Dancehall rhythm. The poem was written in creole it was not

very easy to understand as it was a mix of both Standard English and creole. The writer used the

phrase “Literacy they can’t proclaim but to pull a trigger is they aim” this is used to tell the

reader that the youth don’t learn to read and write but they would rather handle a gun.
 Reflection 3

After doing my research on this project I now understand the real dangers of listening to

malicious dancehall music. These songs are very addictive in nature they are like cocaine once

you take a sniff of it there is no turning back. I have learned that these songs influence the

younger children not just teens and adults.

I became aware that I was poisoning my mind with these types of songs. After completing my

research I have changed my view on music completely. I have learned about the effects

dancehall music can have on me in future if I continue to feed my ears these dreadful music.

I have become a better person after completing this project. I have cut down on the amount of

negative dancehall music I listen. I have started to listen some motivational songs, songs which

exhibit a positive feeling and turns me into a better person.