RBPF official: Collaboration irresponsible and disrespectful

THE Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) has deemed the Trojan Riddim collaboration of local artistes as “irresponsible and disrespectful”.

“How can established artistes release such a video with profanity, inciting violence, using and glorifying guns and regard it as exploring creativity? To me that collaboration can be deemed as irresponsible and disrespectful, especially as so many young, impressionable minds are in our society listening to music,” said Officer in Charge of the Community Policing Initiative and Juvenile Liaison Scheme, Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler.

He made the statement while citing research showing the negative influence various types of music and lyrics can have on the minds of young people.

“Research has shown the exposure to violence, sexual messages and the use of drugs in music videos may result in significant changes in behaviours and attitudes in young viewers. Similarly, research shows violent song lyrics increases negative emotions and thoughts that can lead to negative behaviours and this is what we are encountering in our society where young people, in expressing their views, singing the lyrics being sung by popular artistes – local, regional and international,” he said, while speaking on the recent episode of the People’s Business.

Insisting that music does not make a person take a particular action but can influence one’s behaviour as some persons were mentally weaker than others and would be swayed easily, President of the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes, Sean ‘Apache’ Carter, said however, it would be wrong to lay the gun violence pervading the island on such songs.

“If you are pointing the finger solely at these artistes that are on the Trojan Riddim, then to me at that point is where a level of error and hypocrisy will come in because there are many other factors which I am sure that have contributed to the increase of gun violence we are seeing in this country,” he stated.

Nevertheless, Carter admitted the artistes should have employed their sense of responsibility before adding their voices to the tune.

“With artistic license and artistic creativity also comes a sense of responsibility, so because you are an artiste you can’t just sing anything at anytime, anywhere and anyhow,” he said.