DEPENDING on who you talk to, you may hear that deejays or singers proclaim themselves as having greater longevity in the dancehall.
Artistes aside, there is strong consensus that it is quality that will make them last in the long run.
It is often said that the singers outlast the deejays because of the content of their music. However, others argue that deejays such as Yellow Man, and in recent times Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have lasted for years and still command an audience.
Veteran producer, Sly Dunbar, said: "If you put out good music you will last longer."
Several deejays whom THE STAR spoke with also agree with Dunbar.
"No sah, yuh mad! Singer don't outlast deejays. The singers cater for the ladies while the deejays are more. From a deejay can find quality music and record on a good rhythm, he will last in the dancehall," Elephant Man said.
Snagga Puss, said everyone has their time.
"Music in general is a spiritual thing. It raises who it wants to spread the message. It can raise the deejay or it can raise the singer so anyone can last in the dancehall as long as he is delivering that message," he said.
The singers disagree on the longevity of the deejays in the dancehall but they too agree that quality is what counts.
"Singers outlast deejays. First and foremost it has to do with lyrical content. Sometimes too many songs are on one rhythm and so a deejay who sings on the same rhythm may find himself going out of style when the rhythm is no longer popular. But you have some deejays who are still around after such a long time because they sing good songs and at the end of the day, it is quality that will make you last whether you are a singer or deejay," said Stevie Face.
Veteran singer, Gregory Isaacs says while the deejays will reach out to more people, at the end of the day, the singers do hold their own.
"I agree that the deejays will reach out to people faster but the singer lasts longer. The quality of the lyrics and the melody are reasons the singers hold their own. At the end of the day both have their place in dancehall," he said.
While both sides agree that it is quality that lasts, there are those that say it is the hype that surrounds the deejays that causes them to last and when the hype dies they too die.
"I think a hype can destroy a deejay. You can't get too hype on the fans or on the people that made you because as soon as the hype dies yuh a go dead to," Elephant Man said.
But Dunbar insists quality is the key: "I don't think it's hype because hype is not real. Shaggy has come through and showed deejays that if a song is good it's just good."
