Mr. Lexx, the veteran deejay known for his unvarnished remarks, is once again making headlines with his recent comments on the lack of support for local genres in the dancehall community.
In a tweet posted on Saturday, Mr. Lexx criticized some disc jocks for playing R&B for the first two hours of social gatherings, neglecting to showcase dancehall and reggae music.
He wrote, “Dem selector yah play 2 hours ah r&b bout dem a start party fi gweh enuh!! Kmt Look how much Dancehall an reggae deh deh fi play!!!!”
This issue resonates with many of his peers, who have been calling for more local offerings on the Jamaican airwaves. However, implementing policies for more local music on the party scene may prove challenging, as disc jocks enjoy the freedom to play an array of selections unbridled by any rules.
The latest issue comes on the heels of Mr. Lexx’s previous comments on the dominance of Afrobeat over Dancehall, which caused a stir earlier this year. In a tweet, he claimed that Afrobeat was winning because 90% of their music is about feel good and partying, while 90% of Dancehall’s current output is about violence, scamming, and lewd uncensored sex.
Tanya Stephens, another outspoken entertainer, chimed in on the topic, calling for an honest conversation instead of a “them versus us” mentality. She also challenged the notion that Afrobeat is the winning nemesis, stating that not all Jamaican artists make feel-good music. She further noted that the reason current Jamaican artists do not sell more is that their audience does not buy, while Africans subscribe to what they produce.
Stephens explained why Afrobeat is ahead of Dancehall and reminisced about the once controversial issue with Reggaeton. She added that the competition between genres is counterproductive, and artists should focus on creating good music instead of pretending to be the standard bearers.
Mr. Lexx, who underwent surgery for a collapsed lung last year, seems to be in good health but is yet to release his promised sophomore album.
