Promoting gangs?

I am writing this letter as a concerned citizen of Surrey.

Upon reading the local paper, I was excited to read that the City of Surrey was arranging for Fusion Festival, an outdoor music festival put on through funds gained from a cultural award.

But to my disgust and dismay, headlining Friday night’s line-up is a local Punjabi singer by the name of Jazzy B.

This young man is a huge success, however, the contents of his lyrics are something that leave little to the imagination.

Jazzy B promotes the gangster lifestyle through his music, lyrics, videos and attitude.

With lyrics about murdering people, and using guns and firearms as decoration pieces and negotiating tools, this artist is representing and promoting the image Surrey residents, especially young South Asians, are trying steer away from.

And here we have the city paying him to show up and sing about these very things.

Other subjects he sings about include serving time and going to court for murders and assaults, and fights for pride, honour and girls.

His music videos include thugs standing in the background as he sings while they carry around guns and fire weapons or promote them as accessories of fashion.

Also more disturbing are the images of young high school-aged kids swinging to the music wearing clothes which are currently identified by the Vancouver Police Department and other police forces as gangster affiliated.

And at the same time he calls himself a role model for youth?

By promoting the gangster lifestyle and guns?

Sanj Singh