Krista Henry, Staff Reporter 
Dr. Leahcim Semaj. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer (left) and RiaJam chairman Cleveland 'Clevie' Browne. - File (right).
Music has long been a form of rebellion for kids who wish to shock and infuriate their parents. Parents are faced with music that is often explicit, highly sexual and now very violent with no prior warning as to whether the CD is child- friendly. Should parents allow their kids to listen to some of the lyrics that are spouted from the lips of dancehall artistes?
The 'Parental Advisory' symbol is supposed to advise parents as to whether they should or should not approve a CD for their children's listening pleasure. According to www.freemuse.org, it was the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that implemented the first advisory in 1985. The 'Parental Advisory' is a message with a black and white logo that is attached to audio and video recordings containing offensive language and/or content. According to wikipedia.com, in some countries a person has to be at least 17 years old to purchase a CD with a Parental Advisory label.
No parental advisory warning on CDs
Psychologist Dr. Leahcim Semaj points out that CDs coming out of Jamaica do not carry the Parental Advisory warning, where it would be applicable. He told The Sunday Gleaner that there are no laws or rules that enforce the advisory system on the works of local artistes. Semaj said that it is only CDs that are put together outside of Jamaica, such as in the United States and Britain, that have the label.
In an address at the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica annual conference at the UTech auditorium, on Friday, July 6, 2007, Semaj challenged the association to seriously look at what the Americans and the British have done as it relates to the Parental Advisory system, so that parents can make the appropriate own decisions.
Semaj told The Sunday Gleaner that "in 1985 it was the National Parent-Teacher Association that pressured groups to put on the label. Once the album has explicit lyrics parents have the right to determine whether their child hears it or not. In Jamaica there is a large number of children being raised by one parent and they do not have the time to listen to all the CDs their child has. It would be easier if the CDs were labelled. The movies are rated, whether it be PG-13, PG-16 or R, so too should music."
In the United States and Britain the movie, electronic game, music, cable, broadcast television and radio industries have each voluntarily developed clear and informative parental advisorysystems to provide families with advance information on the content of entertainment products.
RIAjam confirms
Cleveland Browne, chairman of the Recording Institute Association of Jamaica (RiaJam), confirmed that CDs coming from Jamaica are not labelled for explicit content. He, however, said that in a recent meeting with the Broadcasting Commission, RiaJam suggested that it should be made a requirement to label the CDs for the benefit of parents as well as radio stations, so that violent or explicit content will not be aired to children.
"Parents will find it helpful in deciding what is suitable for their kids. It's important to define PG; that's the pledge of the RiaJam in spearheading something like that. It's hard to control it all the time. Ultimately they are open to it on the Internet. It's up to the parents," Browne said.
Semaj argued that "The 'Parental Advisory' label is designed to give the appropriate warning so that, as parents and guardians, you'll know not to play such songs for your children, because not all music is appropriate for everyone, therefore, you need to pay attention to the music our children are listening to."
Semaj said that the dancehall is not a playground for children; it is a place for adults only. As such, the lyrical content of dancehall is for adults. Semaj sees dancehall as revolving around two main themes: violence and sexual lewdness. When children constantly hear these themes they become desensitised. "When you hear something all the time, you begin to accept it. A lot of violence in Jamaica results from so many young people who don't have parents telling them what they can or cannot play in the house," he said.
Reggae artiste Chuck Fendah claims his music is wholesome, righteous and suitable for all ears. However, as a father, he claims that there are certain lyrics, especially violent ones, that he would not want his children to listen to. "I don't want my kids listening to anything that will damage them. I would love for the CDs to be labelled, but it's very hard. The average person don't have the money to buy a CD, so the kids burn it and listen to the violent lyrics. Not everything in dancehall is children-friendly," he said.
Protecting our children
Ultimately, a huge part of protecting the children from inappropriate lyrics is up to the parents. According to one parent, Julian, who has a seven year-old daughter, she tries as much as possible to censor what her child hears. No CDs with explicit language are allowed in the house and she doesn't want her child to hear that sort of music. However, she attests that she cannot always control what her daughter listens to, especially when she goes to school.
According to Julian "today's music isn't good for kids, not with the amount of violence and you want to teach them certain values. If you see the Passa Passa videos you see these seven year-old kids and you wonder where their parents are. They repeat what they have heard and don't understand what they say. But they still repeat the slangs and it's not healthy".
"Parents need to set standards for their children. Yes, it's all good and well we advocate free expression. Yes, entertainers have a right to sing and deejay what they want, but does that means it is good for your child. I don't think so! Therefore, I am urging you to work with the recording companies to help do some thing about the music. Have them appropriately label the music so that, as parents and guardians, you'll know not to play it for your children," Dr. Semaj said.
