The new brand of dancehall music has breached geographic boundaries and infiltrated the wider Caribbean market making its way to the shores of Guyana.

Many local performers have taken up the dancehall genre and have made major contributions. Timeka Marshal, Azariel, Lill million, Esan Benzy, and Baby Skello are just some artistes making their stamp on the dancehall fraternity. Like their Jamaican and Trinidad counterparts, their music often features profane and controversial lyrics. However, today’s audiences can’t seem to get enough as these artistes perform to multitudes of adoring fans screaming.

Early dancehall music would mask racy and controversial undertones through the skilled use of literary devices. They featured captivating beats, a definite feel-good vibe; the type of music that makes you forget your troubles and dance the night away. Dancehall today however maintains many of its early redeeming qualities but is now trending towards rawness and lack of subtly which the young audience seems to be loving.

It is puzzling that songs regarded by many as degrading to women are major hits with primarily female fans, even in this age of political correctness. Guyanese artistes Esan Benzy, Azariels, Drew Thoven Ckush, and Gully Rass, following the Jamaican trailblazers Dexta Daps and Alkaline, have released some of the rawest and profane pieces of music with lyrics that should make any feminist cringe. These musicians however have a cult-like female following.

Many have argued that the music being created today has a negative influence on the population, while many artistes propose that the music they create is based on what is happening in society. Although there is no shortage of ‘clean’ tracks being created daily, the younger audience has gravitated towards the more indecent. It then begs the question is it the art that influences the culture or rather the culture influencing the art? No matter how you regard it, no matter your opinion of it, dancehall music continues to make waves in Guyana and remains a majorly successful musical genre with Caribbean cultures and is even gaining increasing international acceptance with western civilizations.

We here at Caribbean Entertainment Hub will continue to cover Caribbean music and its culture and keep our fans fully informed of the latest as regards this growing Caribbean art form.

To give readers a true representation of the dancehall trend in Guyana we have included some songs that are not suitable for children.

1. CHANGE THE STORY - Saiku | Samuel Medas | Timeka Marshall undefined 0:48

2. Ben Mi Ova Timeka Marshall 0:45

3. No EggBall Gully Ras, Drew Thoven, & cKush 0:45

4. Gyalis Chat Jay Supreme 0:45

5. 64 Bars Azariel 0:45

6. SmallMan | Official video Stiffy stiff 0:45

7. NUH FEAR DEM LIL MILLION 0:45

8. All Night Timeka Marshall 0:45

9. KNOCK IT AGAIN LIL MILLION 0:45

10. Boujee But Hardball Esan Benzy x Issibaby 0:45

11. DUNCE THUGS cKush X DrewThoven 0:45

12. We Outside (No Eggball diss) Esan Benzy 0:45

13. Guyana Badness Junior Bee 0:45

14. Drew Thoven Toxic 0:45

15. TOP Gallis Babyskello 0:45