With delinquency among Jamaican youth at a frightening level, social commentators usually point to the influence of dancehall artistes as one of the main causes.

Knavi, a streetsmart deejay with progressive views, has little time for negatives. Most of his songs carry positive messages aimed at young people, many of whom feel wronged by the political system.

On ‘Meech Out’, his latest hit single, the Montego Bay native expresses the importance of achieving, especially for youth from challenged backgrounds.

“‘Meech Out’ is really looking at achievement, no matter how small or big it is. I feel dat wi don’t look at accomplishments enough, an’ if we did, more youths would strive for more. Dat’s why I think so much people identify with di song,” Knavi explained.

Released in February, ‘Meech Out’ maintains Knavi’s rise in the competitive dancehall sweepstakes. Some of his earlier songs, such as ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Balmain Bomber’, helped introduce him to fans beyond Montego Bay but he credits ‘Meech Out’ with increasing his national profile.

According to Knavi, there was no different approach when he wrote the breakout song.

“All a mi songs dem special. Like all a mi songs, ‘Meech Out’ come from a real-life experience,” he stated.

Knavi, who is in his early 20s, has known his share of hardship. He is from Glendevon, a rugged community in Montego Bay with a long history of gang violence.

The hostilities in his hometown never hindered Knavi’s determination to succeed. He graduated from high school with impressive scholastic results and had big dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.

Jamaica’s version of the Baby Boomers often cast the country’s Generation Y as wasters who smoke copious amounts of ganja (marijuana) and are involved in criminal activities. Knavi disputes that notion.

“If you compare nowadays to like five years ago, a lot of young people never used to drive, dem parents did have things different, like a decade ago. Di fact that young people get creative, use the social media, online and thing and do things for themself; dem a drive, dem a own house and all a dat. Everybody feel like dem accomplish, so di whole aspect behind ‘Meech Out’ is just saying, ‘yo, I am accomplished’,” he said.

(Photo contributed)