Violence in Dancehall

Violence can be defined as the strength of an emotion, which may result in unlawful behavior involving physical force, intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. Music plays a great part in shaping and influencing the ideas and behaviors of an impressionable adolescent, for it is so prevalent in worldwide media and everyday life.“In the dancehall, violence is manifested in the lyrics of the songs and portrayed in the interaction between artist and audience, and among audience members.” Claims Hope. An example of such explicict lyrics can be seen in the lyrics of "Ova di wall" by artist Elephant man which says“Ova di wall, Ova di wall, Put yuh AK ova di wall…Blood a go run Like Dunn’s River Fall.” “Flesh deh all about. The mother bawls out. She step up to his body and see his brain a crawl out”. This translates into,put your rifle over the wall, blood flowing like a waterfall, Flesh all around as a mother cries about as she sees brains falling out.