Dear Editor,

The other evening I found myself in the company of a group of teenage boys. The youngest among them was 15, the eldest 17. As I sat and listened to the music they were playing loud and proud I couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of foolishness is this y’all are playing?” That simple question sparked a deeper conversation, one that left me deeply concerned and reflective.

The music they were enjoying openly glorified scamming. But what disturbed me even more was not the content of the songs, it was the fact that these young men genuinely believed in the lifestyle the music was promoting. It was as if, in their eyes, scamming wasn’t something illegal and it is a legitimate way out, a pathway to success and perhaps even the only one they felt was available to them.

Intrigued and troubled, I engaged them further, wanting to understand why they held these beliefs so strongly. Their responses revealed a harsh truth that too many of us overlook: Music, while a beautiful form of expression and creativity, can also be dangerously influential, especially for impressionable young minds still trying to figure out who they are and what their futures might look like.

Now we all understand that musicians and entertainers, like everyone else, are trying to make a living. We also recognise that music often reflects the realities, struggles, and ambitions of those who create it. But with great influence comes great responsibility.

Entertainers are not just artistes, they are cultural leaders. Whether they like it or not, they shape attitudes, define trends, and often set the moral compass for the younger generation. When a young man sees his musical idol boasting about “chopping line” and acquiring fast money through illegal means, what message does that send? When a young girl hears lyrics that glorify using her body as a tool for survival or fame, what does that teach her about her worth?

Let’s take, for example, the impact of reggae legends like Bob Marley. His music didn’t just entertain, it inspired. It carried messages of peace, unity, resistance, and consciousness. That is the power of music at its best.

Today, however, too much of our popular music celebrates instant gratification, moral decay, and the glorification of crime.

Just as we hold politicians, teachers, and community leaders to certain moral standards, so too must we hold entertainers accountable. Their influence is far-reaching and they are shaping the next generation, whether they intend to or not.

This is not a call to silence creativity or censor artistic expression; rather, it is a call for consciousness. A call for balance. A call for those in the entertainment industry to recognise the power they hold and use it wisely.

Tahjai McNeill

Tahjaimcneil@yahoo.com