Venus
Yes its too violent and degrading, I can't bear to listen to it anymore. Its good that the sponsors are not supporting the brainwashing of Caribbean youth with music which encourage immorality. With Caribbean societies being faced with alarmingly increasing crime rates and incidents of HIV, the youth need positive influence through music.

stan smith
Dancehall has been what it is for more than a two decade, both Red Stripe and Guinness have supported these artists and have used them to make money and promote their products, where is the sudden pang of moral conscience coming from.Red Stripe and Guinness, like any corporate interest it about money. They have found another to make it elsewhere.

Dj Pisces of One Tribe Sound,Gambia.
Artistes should cut off the gun thing,sex etc in music. Its getting out of hand. The gay issue too.Red Stripe.......When one door is closed many more are open

Jaxx
Honestly...I love the violent lyrics (to an extent)...but I don't follow it as instruction...but there ARE people who do...and while I am not "blaming music" I must admit it does have SOME influence...of this I am CERTAIN...and so do movies..to children for whom these are the ONLY personality models (there is a lot of neglect here..)

empress
Red Stripe management is being hypocritical...they wont sponsor the events, but will still sell their product at venues where the music is performed....feh...and now they r sponsoring hard rock...what a laugh...but then, it is not Jamaican owned anymore..i know that i have ceased to buy Red Stripe here in the US...as a Jamaican transplant of 30 yrs, they will never see another dime of my money and I recommend the same to all i can

.Mark
Whenever I listen to these artist they like a two sided sword. They would shout out peace and love to the crowd on the stage and right they sing a song that talk about guns and all sorts of craziness on that same stag. Then they follow it up with their famous excuse that they came from a background full of violence.. And they seem to think that they've right all their wrongs after making that comment. These are grown men talking this trash. These artist are not the sole reason for what is going on now, but wouldn't u do anything to prevent atleast one person from getting shot, stabbed, murdered, crying, rapped or beaten today?

Tricia
I am Jamaican straight from Kingston. I APPLAUD DIAGEO (parent company of Red Stripe & Guiness) for pulling their sponsorship of dancehall stage shows. Have u guys seen select artistses (not all) perform on stage to 10,000 people? They ENCOURAGE AND BEG you to kill homosexuals and SALUTE the killing of policemen and civilains. The artistes are out of control with their inciting violence and hate.To each is own but don't incite and encourage the impressionable youth that this way of thinking is correct. Its not and its wacked.Red Stripe & Guiness - Bigs Ups to you each and every time. Respect.

Desmond
I think that the pull out of Rstripe from reggaesumfest is due to the fact that dance artist continue to hit out hard lyrics against homosexuals.

R
I totally agree, it does not in any way edify and uplift the race.

Jamila
A lot of people say we shouldn't blame the music, but the fact is that people are willing to do what they hear in the music they listen to. It's even worst if it's in the lyrics of a prominent artist.

Tyrone
A company has the right to decide what activities are in line with its image so if Red Stripe deems LivE PERFORMANCES AS BEING against its view of its self then it has the right to witrhdraw support.We need to get real man, we can't have role models propogating violence. Jamaica needs a change and that change is now, a great start on Red Stripe's part.

Nannhy
I agree with the sponsors, i've listen to the music all my life and it's gotten to the point where it's nothing but guns and sex, and many of the people who think not dont realize is that here in jamaica lots of youths dont know the difference and try to life the gangster/bad bwoy life style.,all this music and still jamaica is in a horibble state with killings left and right..dont compare other places cause i live here and i know it.

tinashe arnold
Hey its just music. You jus listen to a record, dance to it if it sounds right, wait for the next brand new record. Anybody who tries to imitate should have his head checked. Have you ever noticed that people who start fights in a club go there already armed. So there are violent people and the rest of us.

stone
If it was a hip-hop show in jamaica i can bet red stripe could not take that stan they could spancer the show. dance hall is make up off both good on bad. RED STRIPE must remmber that there products are not sell in school, but in the dance hall, only adult buy their products . they have use dance hall to advertise there producte world wide.

owen
Whenever the topic of dancehall comes up there is always a mention of some form of degredation, morals, family etc. DH is a like a hmmm…its hard to describe - its ever changing. The first time I heard “tek buddy gal” from the cubicle of a co-worker I thought that that record would NEVER get any air play. Turns out 6 months later it was the biggest thing in dancehall (after some editing and the like). After that it became evident to me that DH isn’t funny or witty or hype or popular or anything, it just is. Its like that girl you meet on the bus that you think was hot until you actually get to know her for the crazy person she is inside. Its a kitten that grows wild in the bush that comes down and rubs on you when its hungry and bite you if you try to pick it up. Yes its voilent but its so much more.

Jeff
Dancehall has definitely too much violent lyrics - that's not being creaive but abusive and insuling!!!!!!!!!!!!!

G.H. Weekes
My only question would be...why did it take so long?These artistes continue to spread their musical thuggery throughout the region without much regard for the impact they have, particularly on the youth.Ultimately, this decision is about money- the potential loss of it rather than any overt appreciation for human rights.Either way, it just may be the thing to get the message across that violence, whether by word, act or song, just doesn't pay.

shawexz
if the world offers violence then let it be but don't embrace it. you might suffer in the end. music is just something to be listened to. thus, emotions are included. don't put violence on music. it might lead to destruction.

Mama Stalawatt
The last time I went to Sumfest the most unnecessary violence I saw was from the guards on the gate. Like Baggy says, the emphasis in my opinion has always been on peace, love and unity. The thing I was most inspired by was all the pickney running around and having pure, utter fun!

rastich
Dancehall is just like the weather. No one owns or controls it....it has many moods..and it is this aspect that makes it successful....who says its red stripes right to decide the content of dancehall anyway?

titinesx
I think the lyrics are out of control.... when you have songs like that promote senseless gun violence you have to think how this affecting the youth of Jamaica. For a country with the world's worst gun violence it's time to take a closer look at what's fueling all of the tension. Not only are the songs heartless and violent...they are degrading. When I say this I am refering to songs like "Hot Fu**" and how the women dance. I didn't know different sexual positions would be tranformed into the "hottest" dances that young girls perform on home videos that are sold all over the world for 5 bucks. Where is the dignaty???? You can dance without displaying your body parts and your bedroom skills

Sizzla
So Boring!!

Tracy
Dancehall has always been controversial. Homophobia is NOT acceptable in any music genre. If the 'haters' like to preach this rubbish then sponsors should pull out. Good for them. The less this kind of music is publicised the better.

Stef
Probably just an excuse so they can pump their money into the Camden Crawl which they now sponsor.

wayne usher
I ain't never been to sunsplash , altho i got a couple dvd's & cd's , my opinion is jus' make them tone it down some !Any music or any kind of media that promotes gun in any way is WRONG !

Dave
If people are going to be violent, then they will be violent. Let's stop blaming music!

derek
Well it's lyrically no more violent than hip-hop, but it's probably a lot more overtly homophobic, which may have been a contributing factor.

Baggy
Have to say having gone Sumfest, what on earth are Red Stripe on about. Every single artist was at pains to take time from their set to promote peach & love & unity. Security was super tight so apart from one little scuffle (hey the place was jammed with 1000s of revellers!) I saw pure hypeness, blazing fire and good vibes. And trust I was there from 1am til 8am for Ele, Vybes, Beenie etc.Red Stripe are doing what sponsors doing biting and not supporting.It's not just about the money Red Stripe.