Accomplished dancehall producer Cordel “Skatta” Burrell has sparked fresh debate about the direction of Jamaican music, arguing that modern dancehall has become somewhat diluted and lost some of the raw authenticity that once defined the genre. Speaking with Anthony Miller on Entertainment Report, the producer behind the iconic Coolie Dance rhythm suggested that the shift away from traditional sound-system culture towards PA systems and mobile phones has fundamentally changed how audiences experience dancehall.
According to Skatta, the change is not necessarily the fault of today’s producers or artistes. Instead, he believes the wider culture has shifted. “It wasn’t the fault of the producers or the artists. It was the fault of the country and the culture,” he argued, explaining that dancehall has moved from clubs and sound systems to smaller, more personal listening devices. In his view, audiences no longer experience the full impact and sonic detail of a rhythm in the way they once did.
The veteran producer, who reflected on the creativity behind classic dancehall productions, also questioned the absence of the kind of infectious club records that once dominated dance floors. Skatta pointed to the distinctive sounds created by legendary producers including Steely & Clevie and Dave Kelly, arguing that experimentation was central to dancehall’s identity. “We don’t have club bangers anymore,” he said, before stressing that dancehall should be treated as an art form where creativity and originality remain essential.
Skatta believes modern listeners are now more likely to connect with melodies through their phones than fall in love with the powerful, raw sound of a dancehall rhythm through a major sound system. As a result, he feels the music has become “smooth and nice” while losing part of its traditional edge. Whether fans agree or disagree, his comments have reopened an important question for Jamaican music: has technology helped dancehall evolve, or has it taken something essential away from the genre’s authentic sound?
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