“Leave the youth them mek dem do them music,” Dancehall legend Shabba Ranks said as he chided older acts for their constant criticism of young artistes.
Shabba shared his views about dancehall’s ‘Young guns’ speaking to the media following an electrifying performance on the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise recently.
“Mi Waa mek unnuh know enuh, seh a same way unnuh did a gwaan like seh unnuh did waa control my state enuh an looks what i’ve become inna di face of the world because of my music”.
Without saying names, the two-time Grammy winner chided some of the veteran acts for what he believes are attempting similar efforts in monopolizing the direction of content and creativity by the new school of deejays.
“None a unnuh nuh know the distance weh a yute melodies or the words that he says on records is gonna reach so unnuh cant gwaan like unnuh waa kill the yute dem talent give the yute dem a chance with the music”.
Shabba in his usual direct manner did not mince his words as referenced his own experience of dealing with criticism from many industry players even his family who were not sold on his content
However, noted that had he listened to others and not stayed true to his formula, he would not have attained the level of crossover success, he has achieved Grammy awards, platinum records, and hit collabs to name a few.
“When me did a do the music my madda use to seh a buga-yaga music me a do” he explained “because me neva did a do the music like how she used to listen to the music, but guess wah a two grammy mi get the music,” he said light-heartedly.
Shabba then delivered a stern caution to those who seek to criticize this generation of artistes – “leave the Yute dem and mek do them music. Your time nuh pass yet enuh but your time is your time” he said adding but now is the yute dem time”.
Let the yute dem have fun inna fi dem future and help guide di yute dem inna along fi dem future and stop criticism dem”.
He further stated that a lot of the more hardcore content must not be taken to heart and is strictly for entertainment, not to be categorized with real-life negativity.
