Queen Ifrica has asked Jahshii to stop producing gun songs. She encourages him instead to continue making great music that doesn’t promote violence and crime.
On Wednesday, Queen Ifrica spoke at the Security Summit of Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce in St James. She highlighted the talents of Jahshii, a upcoming dancehall DJ who she believes has the potential to become a star outside of Jamaica.
Ifrica advised Jahshii not to dilute his music in order to promote violence and fraud on the island.
Jahshii is well-known for songs such as “Born Fighter”, “Cream of the Crop” and others. His strong lyrics promoting hard work and helping his family and friends succeed have made him a household name.
Queen Ifrica looked disappointed in “When we Step”, one of her latest songs, featuring dancehall legend Bounty killer.
“Now Jashii. I love him very deeply. Jashii is one our budding superstars out of this country…now, the song that Bounty Killer performed with Jahshii was a serious gun song. We’re not talking about freedom of speech or the right to express yourself through music. It’s all about being who you are as an artist. It bothered me as an artist. She began, “Bad as the song is, it’s nice, it’s catchy and all,” she said.
Queen Ifrica suggests that Jahshii might be led astray from older influences who failed him.
“We are here today due to the violence that we see play out amongst young people particularly. And if Jashii comes as a joker who did not get into the business with gun lyrics let me say that it was a joker that was talking about elevating him, coming out the inner city, making mommy and dadmy rich, making his families rich and not just doing crime and that,” she stated.
Queen Ifrica, the daughter of Reggae legend Derrick Morgan, is an advocate for her song “Daddy”, which has been funded for numerous government campaigns to end child sexual abuse.
She said that she had expressed her disapproval to Bounty Killer regarding the content of “When We Step” because he is now considered a grandfather by many of the younger artists.
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Bounty Killer, I said that as much as I love you, and the fact you have brought so many great artists to the space, we can’t name them all. Now you are becoming a grandfather role, these are great-grandchildren you have now. We propose to change the strategy. Don’t necessarily do a culture song, but a song that speaks to youths like Jashii. Let’s change the way we communicate with each other through music.
Queen Ifrica singled Jahshii as her representative, who she spoke directly to.
Jashii, you are an industry elder. Let’s do these songs to lift your peers’ minds so that they don’t believe that chopping is the only option or guard rings are the best way out.
She said that older artists should mentor the younger generation and be responsible for their guidance.
She said that she was making every effort to meet with younger artists in order to offer perspective and help them see the importance of the role they play, even if it isn’t obvious to them.
“I am trying to arrange a meeting with them now so that they can understand that Vybz deh, Tommy Lee dem dem deh are in prison. We don’t know why they are there, but we do know that they have a lot of influence even though they are not in jail. Let’s examine what is wrong with the industry and try to reach these youths, who look up to us in the same way that they do. That’s the only way to escape,” she concluded.
Jahshii and Bounty Killer have not responded to Queen Ifrica’s comments.
