Hollowpoint (left) and Hitlist (right)

There are artistes who embrace the fact that they sound like another performer and say it has been working in their favour. One such person is Hitlist.

"Bounty Killer a mi idol because Killer make something out of nothing and was from the low stream and him deh yah so because him work hard. He is a role model for me because it show say I can make something out of nothing," Hitlist says.

Not deliberate

Still, he says he doesn't deliberately set out to sound like Bounty, he just does. "Me nuh know, because a mi idol, ah mi Daddy and him accept me as him son. It's just natural. No matter how me try fi change how mi sound, a just so me end up sounding," Hitlist said.

Then there is Hollowpoint, who sounds like Supercat. He says he grew up listening to artistes such as Supercat, Major Worries and Nicodemus and prefers their deejaying style. "Nothing nuh better than the original. Old school is the best, so you can't lose. What we do is just materialise pon the old," Hollowpoint said.

He explained why some younger artistes refuse to give credit to those who inspired their style. "For some of them is just an ego thing. Every man is just a me, me, me thing, So is mainly a ego thing still," he said.

Not many of the younger artistes seem to be following in the footsteps of one of dancehall's seasoned performers, Beenie Man. Whether it is because it is difficult to catch his style or there is no interest in doing so is up for debate. However, the Monster Twins who have come close to sounding like Beenie Man say they know this and it isn't deliberate.

"It just come naturally. From I used to go school in '93 and '94 we used to deejay some of his songs. Him a we deejay right now," says Ringo of the duo. He also says it has been working for them thus far.

There is no doubt that there will continue to be fresh faces with some not-so-new voices, but what remains to be seen is if it will work for or against them and if they will give credit to their predecessors.

- K. A.