messages to its listeners.
However, not to be outdone, some artistes have been pushing the envelope a step further by merging sexual images with their songs in an effort to kick-start their promotions.
Vybz Kartel and Spice can arguably be credited as the persons who started the movement, after they released semi-nude pictures of themselves in 2008 promoting the Daggering Condom and hit song Rampin’ Shop. The song later catapulted to the billboard charts where it debuted at 96. According to Karl Durrant, who acts as publicist for Baby Chris and Keda Fire, controversy sells.
“Dancehall strives off controversy. People will say how it’s the new generation that is pushing certain new things that never used to be popular in the ‘90s, but back then we didn’t have Internet and such, so the artistes had to use other methods of controversy.
“We know that if certain things are placed on the Internet, the inquisitive nature of humans will cause them to view it and share it, so the artistes have found ways and means to capitalise on it,” Durrant said.
The publicist claims that the music industry strives on negative actions as much as it does positive actions.
“Say, for example, Baby Chris and Keda had released a picture fully clothed and below it they wrote ‘Support our music’, I can bet most persons would not share the picture. — Jamaica Star.



