Renegade of dancehall duo RDX said he is dissatisfied following Friday's meeting with Prime Minister Bruce Golding on the recent ban placed on songs and music videos alluding to daggerin'.

However, Spice, whose controversial song with Vybz Kartel, Rampin' Shop, is at the centre of the ban, said it was a move in the right direction.

The Broadcasting Commission two Friday's ago placed a ban on the word daggerin', images of the daggerin' dance and songs that have to be edited for radio and television. The commission also said the ban applies to all genres of music.

On Friday, the prime minister invited music insiders to Jamaica House to look at what could be done to clean up the content of dancehall music while maintaining the artistes' freedom of expression.

However, Renegade was not pleased after leaving the meeting.

"Dem done mek up dem mind already. Dancehall was not represented properly, it was just RDX and Spice. Come een like wi did just a talk up against a wall," Renegade told THE STAR.


Speech and expression

Renegade

"Mi nuh have nothing else fi seh. Wi (RDX) just ago move forward and continue creating music. Wi nah go mek dem stop wi freedom of speech and expression."

Spice said she was glad for the opportunity to voice her concerns and that the meeting was held.

"I saw the ministers writing and taking notes. I don't know if our words will go in vain. The fact that they set up the meeting to hear our views, I have to applaud them for that. I want them to take into consideration everything that we have said," she stated.

Spice, however, believes a meeting with the music industry stakeholders prior to the ban would have been more effective.

"It was a hasty decision and if they had this meeting before they would be better able to understand where everybody is coming from," Spice said.

Likewise, Big Yard's CEO and Shaggy's manager, Robert Livingston, thinks the meeting served a real purpose.

"It was very effective because everyone voiced how we could reach a solution.

The prime minister understood the whole thing. Everyone seems to have a clear picture of what needs to be done," said Livingston.

Mr Golding said while he was interested in hearing the artistes' concerns, he was backing the Broadcasting Commission and that the commission has the law on its side.


Issue of enforcement

"Part of our problem is the issue of enforcement. I am prepared to go all the way in enforcing these laws. If it's the mini-bus operator or the radio stations who must lose their licenses, I am prepared to go all the way to enforce the laws," Mr Golding said.

Also at the meeting were Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, minister of information, culture, youth and sports, Education Minister Andrew Holness, members of the Broadcasting Commission, Mutabaruka, Queen Ifrica and Ardenne High School's principal, Esther Tyson, whose article in The Gleaner about Rampin' Shop's lyrics sparked the public debate.