Mavado

'Money makes the world go round' seems to be the popular message in the dancehall, as seen by the recent songs about money that have come to the fore. Deejays seem to be in a 'moneymaking mood'.

Girls, society's ills, dancing and sex have all been hot topics in the dancehall for years, but of late the focus seems to have shifted. Money is talked about in a variety of ways in the dancehall and making money is the clear focus.

In Stinking Rich singer and DASECA producer Serani proudly proclaims: "I got money in di bank so ma momma won't worry no more I'm living a poor man's dream/investing in housing scheme/ no more unsure meals, contract sealed/no need to rob and steal."

According to Serani, he coined the lyrics for the song before he became an artiste, while making the song's rhythm.

"That is my reality. I work really hard because the people that I care about most, especially my mother, depend, on me so if I don't mek it, dem won't mek it," he told THE STAR.

Not a novelty

Konshens

For Serani, he believes the focus on money is not new in the dancehall. However, when one 'money' song becomes popular for the purpose of 'musical juggling', songs with similar topics and tempo will gain popularity as well.

Though money is important in his life, Serani says he is not materialistic and "will neva buy a luxury car before he buys a house".

Newcomer Konshens is also 'all about di paper' in Winner, when he says, "rich mi seh if yuh need mi I'll be on the streets a roam wid plans of moneymaking circulating in ma drome."

Konshens wrote the self-explanatory lyrics after the birth of his daughter, which has encouraged the artiste to aim to be rich. He also noted the demise of investment schemes and the general increase in prices as reasons for the current focus on money.

Comprehensive

Assassin

Nonetheless, the most comprehensive money song goes to Assassin in Money Makes the World Go Round as he declares: "(money) keep di globe turning like a merry go round everything in life takes money."

Assassin sheds light on money being made in music saying, "Dem seh music mek all di money cause dem see Lenky Diwali money/ worse when dem see Bob Marley money." He also focuses on the demise of investment scheme Cash Plus saying: "lemme tell yuh bout di worse money a money weh yuh loss or money yuh caan get back like Cash Plus money."

In Trailer Load of Money from Vybz Kartel and Money Changer by Mavado the need for money means rising from the garrison. Kartel says, "mi no born rich/but mi nah dead poor ... The only thing that can satisfy me is a trailer load of money mi waan fast cash, grab di stash/touch di road, mek money/like mi print it, print it ..."

While for Mavado, money has its importance, but not at the cost of his soul, as he says: "we work for de paper/cause we want big van, an we want sky scraper nuh sell yuh soul, fi change a gillopy."