Remember when Spragga Benz, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Lady Saw, Cobra, Capleton and others ruled the dancehall in the 80s and 90s creating the culture of dancehall? It wasn't long ago that fans were calling these deejays names in a frenzy as they kept a firm grip on the charts. Over the past three years, however, talk has been circulating of dancehall's new generation who have flourished in 2007.

From the older generation only Beenie Man has really made a grumble this year with Back It Up and others. Yet it is questionable whether his hits are hitting like they used to. In an era of new acts it is yet to be seen if the veterans can live to fight another day with the newcomers clamouring at their heels.

According to Dr. Donna Hope author, lecturer and culture researcher at the University of the West Indies, the older generation of dancehallartistes no longer have the same effect that they once did.

"There is a new generation of dancehall artistes, but they are getting a struggle to claim the top because Beenie and Bounty are still there. You had Aidonia and Busy who were trying a ting and so far Busy Signal has been doing well. Mavado and Munga have definitely made a difference," she said.

Newcomers like Busy Signal have kept it hot with Nah Go A Jail, These Are The Days, while Munga dominated with Bad From Mi Born, and Gangsta Ras. Vybz Kartel has, among other hits, Whine Pon Yuh and Sen Fi Di Army. Erup's new Click Yuh Finga has been dubbed the hit tune for December, while Mavado is arguably the most popular newcomer this year.

With these songs moving up the charts from new artistes, Hope believes it is time that the older generation like Beenie Man and Bounty Killer abdicate the throne.

"They should step down," she said. "They have been reigning since the 90's taking over from Yellowman, Ninja Man and Shabba. They are always trying to find new ways to stay on top. Bounty has gathered a lot of newcomers around him and absorbs from them so they cannot 'kill him' symbolically," Hope claimed.

However, while they may not be turning out the hits like they used to, a number of the older generation artistes have taken the new generation under their wing. For Bounty Killer there is Mavado, Busy and Vybz Kartel who all came from the Alliance. Munga came forth from the Capleton camp and Spragga helped push Assassin. In a way, the legacy of the older generation lives on through their well-trained heirs.