I think it's been around the music for some time. Probably now it's a bit more noticeable because as mentioned above society has changed-certain things are considered more acceptable now as compared to before. No artiste blatantly mentioned it in a song before but the undertone was there.
Spragga say dat from 96 witrh the tune "we nuh like" on the showtime riddim with the line " we like when dem can chat pon the mic...but freak nuh stay over night"...long time dem thing deh a dj bout....but a fi deh business dat still