Teino Evans, Staff ReporterWITH THE fast pace at which dancehall music has been evolving, music lovers are guaranteed a new tune or new artiste to break each year. However, despite the frequency with which hot new artistes may rise, there is no guarantee of quality.
In recent times, Jamaica has
witnessed a number of new artistes rising to the top of the dancehall heap, as the likes of Vybz Kartel, Wayne Marshall and Assassin emerged in one batch, while Bascom X, Ras Gandhi, Fantan Mojah, Mr. Perfect, Turbulence and others followed in another wave.
However, the latest set of artistes to make their mark on the dancehall scene, including Aidonia, Busy Signal, Mr. Peppa, Einstein and Shane-O, may not have reached the same level as their immediate predecessors.
Mr. Peppa was quick to defend his fellow artistes now on the rise, as he says it was really unfair to compare them with other artistes who came before.
"Right now, da group a yout ya, including myself, wi have the fullest potential fi tek it to the next level. We are all different, bringing different styles to the table, and people should have high hopes for this crop of artistes. Suh me disagree. Yuh si music, it is different expressions, an wa dem artiste deh do before, a dat set the stage fi other artiste come up and what we doing now a guh set di stage fi other deejays fi come inherit," Peppa explained.
According to Peppa, the latest batch of artistes to burst on the scene has unity in their corner, while others before have resorted to clashes as the way to go.
"If like Kartel and Assassin did unite they would have a stronger presence now. An di clashing ting mi nuh support, cause it put dem under pressure at a young stage in their career. Mi nuh think dem career did evolve as yet when dem did start up di whole clashing ting," Peppa said.
UNFAIR
Aidonia, while agreeing that it was unfair to compare them so soon to others, feels that clashing is not all that bad.
"The current crop has a strength that should last. All a wi lyrical an di people dem like dem image. I say let the work tell. Dem man deh were before us, suh dem have two, three years inna di business, suh gi wi some time cause wi fresh. Nobody yah suh nuh really have four solid months yet, suh jus gi wi like a year an si wah wi have, an then yuh can compare wi to like Kartel or Turbulence them batch," he said.
Aidonia said it was because of clashes why he is now in the music business.
"Wa mek me decide fi be a artiste was Sting '93, when Bounty and Beenie clash. Competition is good, nuh really seh clash. Me talented and Busy talented, him know it an me know it, suh it a guh bring out the best inna him an it a guh bring out di best inna me. A nuh seh a war ting, an me feel seh dat do good fi di music," Idonia said.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Serene Miller, a regular patron at stage shows and parties, has her favourite picks from each set of new artistes to rise to stardom and says in every batch there are going to be strengths and weaknesses.
"I have artistes from all batches that I love and rate, so I don't really compare because all of them are different and they achieve success at different points in time. So I don't really compare, but just choose favourites as each new batch comes," she said.
However, another dancehall fan, Lisa, said she has not yet warmed up to the current batch of new faces and would rather see other already established artistes in action at stage shows.
"I don't really have much favourites with this current crop of artistes; only Shane-O song mi really like, an him have a unique voice, the others mi nuh too sure 'bout yet," she said.
