HAVANA (AFP) ― Cuba on Wednesday took aim at “vulgarity” in popular music, decrying the sexually graphic lyrics that are increasingly common in music played by young people on the communist island.

“We note with great concern that in the past few years there has been a ... type of artistic expression, including in popular Cuban music, that leaves much to be desired,” read the opinion piece appearing in the daily Granma newspaper.

Cuba sees itself as the birthplace of salsa, which is seen as a national musical treasure.

But like Cuba’s communist officials, some on the island take exception to reggaeton, a hybrid of Puerto Rican, Jamaican and Latin American urban music that is sweeping the island.