Jamaica’s first Dancehall Queen, Carlene Smith is getting some stuff off her chest regarding the current state of the industry.

Speaking with the Jamaica Star, said she believes that money is at the root of the erosion of morals in dancehall, and there is less focus on the talent. In this process of erosion, nudity, unnecessary gimmicks and a lack of self-respect have become the norm surrounding dancehall.

“Each person is going to do what is best for him or her. It is only unfortunate that some of them come under the dancehall umbrella and this creates a confusion in people’s minds, because the focus is not your talent as a singer, deejay or dancer. It’s like everything is now being taken to another level,” Carlene said. “There are no morals, no respect of self, it is all about money rather than the music. But the truth is that good music still sells and doesn’t need gimmicks and nudity.”

The dancehall queen veteran made her mark on the industry in the 90s and early 2000s, with sexually provocative dance moves, clad in racy costumes. However, she was deliberate in emphasizing that her mission during that period was to elevate dancers to the mainstream and help them attain the respect due to them, still deserved, while still showcasing the dance in dancehall culture.

“As a dancer, I wore various costumes, and the purpose was to enhance the moves and the movements. I knew from back then that there was a whole community of girls and boys who could make a living out of dancing. After all, is not everybody can be doctor, nurse and lawyer. But nobody was paying them much mind,” she said.

Carlene added that while other entertainers were using foreign talent in their music videos, she was busy creating dance groups and took other girls along to the shoots.

“Sometimes I even chose not to go in a video because I didn’t want to take away any of their shine, since I was the bigger name. And it worked, so I am very happy that I was able to play that role and that there are other dancehall queens,” she said. Carlene recalled the challenges that she had to surmount as she strutted through the dancehall in skimpy outfits.

“I was turned away from Mirage twice because I was wearing a b***y rider. And, one year when I was supposed to dance at Reggae Sunsplash beach party for Junior Tucker. A woman, whose name I will not call, barred me, my sister Pinky and my other dancers. Junior had to intervene for us to be allowed on stage,” she said.