Who the hell is Marvin? I wanna meet dat Pimp!

Drake's latest single Marvin's Room has triggered a number of celebrities to create their own remix of the chart topper. Among the singers who remixed the single are Chris Brown, Romeo, Jojo, Teyana Taylor, Sammie, Kim Morrell and a really good "Youtube celebrity" Skye Townsend.

All the versions stay true to the essence of what the original version is about - a drunk, nostalgic individual trying to convince his/her ex to come back to them. Chris Brown gets dirty in his remix with the line "If lick that spot then you wont act like that", it's one of the most favored remix.

There has been speculations that it's a Drake diss. Funny how the song drops two days after the BET slip up where Drake accepts the award for rumoured girlfriend Rihanna, just to find out that it was a mixtake and had to give it to her ex, Chris Brown. awkwaardd.

Jojo shows how much she's grown with her remix telling 'Marvin' to F**K the girl he's with because she cant sex him like she (jojo) can. It's the most favored version by many and they're buzzing about how raunchy it is, JOJO girl we love the grown you!

RnB singer Sammie dropped his piece, taking it up a notch by suggesting that he's prepared to fight 'Marvin' to win his girl back. He also gave us a preview of his rapping skills and Sammie we're impressed!
#SideBar: why are people saying that he's trying to sound like Trey Songs? Sammie has been in the business from he was a child, thats how he sings.

Teyana Taylor shows us how amazing her voice is when she belted out the final few lines of the songs. She WORKED those vocals!

These are just the few that stood out for me. The other artistes did a very good job with their renditions. I love 'em all. You guys should check them out!

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Dancehall then and now

"Gimmi di gyal dem wid di wickedes slam", "big tings a A gwaaann fi you baby", "it was unda di sycamore tree" the music back then was a far more subtle than the "Back it up like a dumper truck" we're hearing now. The rhythms were light and playful and familiar, triggering an immediate spontanious response in your muscles resulting in the "bracing up pan a girl" or the occasional whining to the ground. Yea, we see the same thing happening now, but the rhythms and beats are different. Today, they are heavy and aggressive stimulating a rather vulgar response from both males and females, we've all seen and most of us have actually participated in what seems like hardcore sex on the dance floors, some like it, some dont, like me.

We cant really talk about dancehall and not touch a little bit on the vile aspect of it. "Violent" music has been around since dancehall's inception, I might even go further to say that this type of music is what started the Dancehall genre. It's an excuse oftentimes used by entertainers when we tell them that their music is too violent and causes violence - it's been around since forever so why the problem now.

True, but that's not what this is about. As mentioned before it has been around since the beginning but as the music progressed, it became too violent. Compare gun chunes like Ask Fi Way which was released by Bounty Killer back then to songs like Movado's - Buss Bwoy Head.
Maintaining the same point as earlier, the music back then was much more playful and less intimate, you could find people whining while listening to those type of song. Now? When they start to play you're greeted with a plethora of gunshots and a few dead bodies scattered here or there.

Let's mention a point that I'm always so silently vocal on (lol). The change in the music. Producers have been complaining that Dancehall music has been changing and is no longer true to dancehall. They say the rhythms and beats used now are not "dancehall", they're more so hip hop. They also say that most dancehall artiste are making songs that sound like hip hop.

I'm strongly of the belief that things evolve as we move into another era or period, so of course the change in dancehall music is inevitable, but it is still dancehall and no one can take that from us. The rhythms will change, it could be to keep up with the challenging industry and to remain relevant both locally and abroad or something else.

I do however feel that we should somehow try to balance it out: reserving the earlier style of music (like what ShabaRankings did with his latest single) while adapting to the change. But always remember that it's still dancehall. BTW, Hip Hop is Dancehall's brother, Hip Hop originated from Reggae, the same parents of dancehall, so it shouldn't be a problem if we borrow some stuff from it right?

Lady Saw in her element

Tifa

Let's have a round of applause for our female entertainers who have stepped up their game in the dancehall arena. In an industry that was once reserved for men with only one or two female musicians, it is heartwarming to see them all over the market now. They've become more lady-like, a major difference than in the men's section whose content have gotten worse. Comparing songs by Lady Saw back then to songs by Tifa and others now you'll see that the women have become more delicate, though still singing the same messages like independence and the taking of another woman's man.

So there you have it, my view on a few topics relating to Dancehall then, and now.

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Positive Vibrations: Dancehall Music

Positive Vibrations

I recently raised the question to some of my friends and followers on twitter asking if they could think of any positive impacts the Dancehall music has on the society. Many were hesitant in responding for numerous reasons, some instead of giving positive impacts they gave negative, some said that the dancehall music has no positive effects, some gave basic answers like “it’s a stress reliever” and some thought pensively and could yield no answer. It’s quite ironic that the same persons who love the music, the originators of it, have not even an inkling as to the effects their music has. It is necessary to highlight that it is easier to indicate the negatives in the dancehall music. It’s more vivid and it is often discussed on a wider scale. However in a society as hearty as Jamaica, we should not dwell on the negative but embrace the positive.

Our music to some extent, promotes female independence. Look beyond the rae rae and wifey and matey saga or even promiscuity. The entertainers often times seek to promote female power and confidence. Refer to songs released by Lady Saw or more recently Certified Diva by Tami and Tifa. And even men embrace the idea of independence among females, Tony Matterhorn a big contributor.

We must also give credit to Dancehall for being an effective advocate against political oppression. Amidst the restrain and submission inflicted on citizens by actions of government for example tax increases the dancehall music acts as a voice for the people. Reflect on Kartels’ Emergency which touched on the government inactions. Through such an avenue the music highlights struggles faced by the poor, note Poverty by I-Octane
  
A pure heart is a sermon preached by dancehall entertainers. In it, speaks of grudge and jealousy and hatred against each other, look at Ioctane’s hit Nuh Love Inna Dem which shows the extent to which people will conspire. Dancehall’s doctrine teaches us to be satisfied and be happy and work towards what we desire.

Which leads me to my final point, the Dancehall music promotes endurance, dreaming big and never giving up. This aspect of the music is more vivid and emphasized than the others. Whether it is dreaming to be a successful musician, a millionaire or merely buying a car or a house the music of dancehall is a great motivator towards such goals.

The music however, profoundly dictates violence which is accentuated beyond pleasure. That must be toned down and allow the positive to shine. Do this and expect to see greatness within our society.

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