Vybz Kartel
Jermaine Williams, Outlook Youth Writer
THE RECENT trend of hair cuts among some of dancehall's more prolific artistes has led us to wonder if dancehall artistes are making a change in image so as to make themselves more marketable.
The famous and sometimes infamous DJ Vybz Kartel has been renowned for his very catchy and creative lyrics and is sometimes accused of being too loud in articulating his talent. Many do consider him a very creative and innovative DJ who has definitely worked up a storm since his arrival in the dancehall arena. However, many have the opposite to say. Among the older generation especially, he is too "loud", "too slack" and "too pro violence".
ATTENTION
His lyrics aside, his hair style, like those of many of his colleagues in the industry, is also getting attention. It could be that they are now trying to make themselves more marketable worldwide. It could be that they are trying to get the attention of corporate Jamaica.
We put the following question to some persons on the street: What do you think is the reason for the trend of hair cuts among some dancehall artistes like Vybz Kartel, Assasin and Elephant Man?
This is what they had to say:
Annette, 42: To make themselves more marketable. Roneiph, 20: To change their image. Aisha, 19: Just another hairstyle.Rory, 21: To change their image.The artistes have their views. It's their hair right?
Vybz Kartel in an interview with Yardflex.com said: "I am flipping the game, changing things up, and I thought it would be a good idea to go with a more corporate, clean-shaven look."
Assassin said: "For me, my hair cut wasn't really an image change, furthermore corporate Jamaica doesn't really have any problem with corn rows. Your career has more to do with what your music and you as an artiste are about and not necessarily your physical appearance."
