In a recent report by Chris Mugan in New Zealand Herald he pointed out that dancehall is back on the rise as it was A decade ago a gay rights group called for the arrest of several singers over lyrics they said incited violence.With Bruno Mars and Wyclef Jean guesting on Diplo's new Major Lazer album, Jamaican artist Busy Signal guesting on No Doubt's comeback record and bass-heavy tunes heard in Britain's hipster clubs, Jamaican dancehall seems to be enjoying a peak of influence on mainstream pop and underground dance.
And yet, a decade ago, the genre was mired in controversy.
As a musical term, dancehall has been used since the '80s to describe a distinct style emphasising rhythm over melody, with Sly & Robbie among its most famed producers.
A step-change came with the ditching of in-house bands for pure digital instrumentation, providing a platform for the high-energy ragga vocalists that emerged in the '90s and vied to provide the killer line over popular backing tracks, or riddims.
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