Shanti Dope’s camp releases statement in response to PDEA

Mitzi Santos

May 24, 2019

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  After the recommendation of PDEA to ban Shanti Dope’s single ‘Amatz’ from airing, the local music artist’s camp released their statement.

  The camp said that none of the parts of the mentioned song promotes marijuana use. In fact, it is clearly showing the persona taking a stand against illegal drugs. At the same time, pointing out what has made him “fly.” It was not drugs but music.

  The chorus even refers to precisely the music through which the persona found his identity. The high he was referring to is the natural high of creativity and knowing he is the only one who knows to do what he does. Everyone is welcome to interpret a song but for an interpretation to be valid it needs to have basis and must be within the context of cultural text. They also believe that judging the song based on the lyrics is just unfair to the songwriter.  This ban is believed to set a dangerous precedent for creative and artistic freedom in the country when a drug enforcement agency can unilaterally decide on what a song is about.

  Lastly, the camp believes that this is a brazen use of power and an affront to their right to think, write, create, and talk freely about the state of the nation.

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