Rags to rhythms to riches
Rags to rhythms to riches: Music a way out of poverty for many
The story of dancehall and reggae is often one of rags to riches for artistes of impoverished origins, singing and deejaying to make a ‘trailer load of money’.
It is no surprise that people turn to music as a means out of poverty, as today it provides many income-earning opportunities. Using music as a means out of the ghetto has been recurrent in the history of reggae and dancehall. Early reggae stars were those from the inner cities, ‘garrisons’ and rural areas, who travelled far and wide to pursue a career in music, believing that it would uplift them from the lives they were living.