'Every man inna Alliance me giving shots

All Sharon Burke haffi pay frigging tax

Shot spot Marshall like chicken pox

Mince up Killa head wid a kitchen axe'

(Vybz Kartel)

It is nothing new to dancehall music, where artistes use their real life conflicts and experiences to generate their lyrical content. However, one thing is evident, the lyrics nowadays have become much more prolific and witty.

Information age

According to deejay Vybz Kartel, artistes nowadays are living in the information age and so have more access to a broader scope of knowledge.

"Is a science to music like every ting else. And more words are being used now, we can express more, cause wi have cable an internet fi learn from. Back den wi only did have like Nike Air an dem ting deh, now wi have Versace an with new words yuh get new rhymes," Kartel said.

Kartel says it's not only about just spitting lyrics, but the content must reflect some amount of knowledge.

"A years worth a grooming and mi build pon dat when mi a guh school, cause mi have English, History, Geography and Literature inna CXC, an mi love read. Yuh si reading, neva stop, it help yuh a lot is not jus deejaying gangsta lyrics, it tek education and having a broader understanding. Like when mi seh, 'some breed a gun weh mi a buss some bwoy nuh have dem, di binili, di A-Kalizmic (AK) mi have dem, mi war colda dan Reagan and Gorbachev dem' suh mi still a gi dem a likle history, cause dat was representative of the cold war between America and Russia," Kartel said.

Even the latest round of lyrical battle between Kartel and Mavado is indicative of the skills that these deejays nowadays possess, the ability to build lyrical counteractions within minutes of hearing a song.

Greatest writer

Since Kartel parted company with the Bounty Killer-led Alliance, he has been spitting lyrics at every member and person affiliated to the Alliance. So far, only Mavado has sought to engage him in lyrical battle.

"Well basically, dah song deh, Mofraudo Dis, about 20 minutes it tek fi write, cause mi listen fi him song fi bout a hour an listen di mistake dem weh him mek an inna my mind mi a put together the counteraction an den mi put pen to papa. I have myself as di greatest writer, because all of the artiste dem weh come out inna di early 90's till now, all a dem a mostly producer write dem song or dem have ghost writer, mi nah call nuh name. Every single Kartel lyrics a me write it, if I'm on it, I done it. All like di three syllable an four syllable rhyme, a me bring dat to di game," Kartel said.

Mavado, in his lyrical combat with Kartel, uttered, "New name fi informa ah Mr. Palmer grudge me fi X5 so mi sing dah pslams yah, strap wid mi hamma clip longer dan banana, bwoy come pass di corna, gunshot ring inna yuh ears like llama"

Although Mavado could not be reached for a comment on how he came by his lyrical content, the counteraction songs created by both artistes have been hailed in the streets as being awesome pieces of work.

"Fi Aidonia, is a inborn thing, him don't write. Him wi deh deh, get a riddim an him wi get a gangsta vibes or a girl vibes. But most a di things, a things weh happen to either him or people weh deh roun him, an wi si down an him talk to wi like a story him a tell wi and afta dat wi jus form it into music," Kurt his road manager said.

Marshall's creativity

Adding, "all Ukku, Aidonia guh a Left Side an Esco studio fi do dub, an Left Side play di riddim mek him hear, an di song build pon di spot an record in about 40 minutes."

However, artistes like Wayne Marshall have used their creativity to tone things down a bit, as he says, "a long time di people dem a hit out 'gainst dancehall, a talk bout it too raw and now, I am just exercising my creativity, so it's saying the same thing only in a more subtle way."

Marshall was referring to one of his hit singles, I Forgot Them which had multiple meanings and interpretations.