Despite the arguments made by a number of Jamaican dancehall artistes, that their music is not to be blamed for the country’s crime rate, industry veteran Mr Vegas is defending Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s claims about the role violent music has played in glorifying crime.

In an IGTV post titled “Does dancehall lyrics play a roll in crime and violence?”, the Bruk It Down singer sought to address arguments put forward by Cham and other artistes who cited the ‘true’ causes of crime in Jamaica, which notably did not lay any responsibility on the influence of dancehall music.

In his video, Vegas argued that “He (Cham) refuses to accept responsibility” and “fails to point out that our lyrical contents in the music, is also impacting society, when it comes on to crime and violence”.

In the words of Vegas, “We (as dancehall artistes) are influential… we place images in the yute dem mind, an when wi place di tings dem inna di yute dem subconscious, that ah weh dem ago gravitate towards”.

The Heads High singer furthered his point by recalling the influence Vybz Kartel’s Clarks had on sales of the shoe brand after the song’s release.

“When Vybz Kartel sing him song bout Clarks, every yute wanted a Clarks or most yutes wanted a Clarks, people jus want Clarks,” Vegas said.

“So, dat mean seh if every yute want a Clarks when him listen to Vybz Kartel Clarks song, and Vybz Kartel is so influential to them, of course, di same way if Vybz Kartel sing a song ’bout gun, killing, wateva, yute a go gravitate toward it as well,” he argued.

Also referencing the changing attitudes towards skin bleaching and oral sex in the island, to which dancehall music has contributed, the singer lamented, “don’t tell me that our music nuh influential to di yute dem”.

In closing his video, the Hot Wuk singer urged: “let’s not jus keep pointing fingers, the prime minister seh something and wi go after him, and wi fail to accept seh we play ah role.”