WTF is Dancehall? The Insanely Influential Genre That Inspired Sampling, Hip Hop, Dubstep & More

[@almansouri100]

Jamaican immigration changed the face of music in the UK forever and for the better. So many mainstream genres of music in the UK today have roots or are heavily influenced by music from Jamaica.

[@bontempo1271]

Well i would say that UK underground club/rave culture is the root. And it was the mixing of different races that brought on music that everyone could get down to. Because, West Indian immigrants were hosting their own parties, playing West Indian music. White folk were doing their thing. In UK, they had taken on the hedonistic dance culture going on in Ibizia, which was a mixture of things happening at the time, from latin music, to Eurobeat, disco, and the emerging house and techno. They brought that over here into clubs. And you had this melting pot of music that would lead on to Acid House, and the rave scene. There were some black producers and djs already involved, but that had no West Indian influence into the music. Things really started changing when the Breakbeat was introduced. That spawned a whole new music, Hardcore, and it attracted the ears of new listeners. But, its that music, that was already beginning to sample music from lots of genres. What ever sounded good over the breakbeat, they sampled it. Soul, R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pop, Ballads. You name it. And these creations were being done by producers of all races that were already involved in the rave scene. It began to attract black Uk producers and promoters from the black music scene, and that helped to increase the mixing of cultures. It's when Reggae and Ragga samples began to trend, that began the birth of the Jungle style, which was fully defined in 1994. This also really inspired mc'ing to increase. There always was mcs in raves, but they were just like hosts, giving a rhyme or two, but the main focus was keeping the hype up. It was this mc'ing in Jungle that evolved to spawn all that which followed, from Garage mc'ing, to Grime, to Drill. Of course, at the same time, influence is being take from US rap/hip hop. The evolution of this course of music, is the root for what is today. As is always in art and music. Some influence, some flavours, from Jamaica, were used at times, but there is so much more to it. I would say the breakbeat and house are the biggest and main component of the root of UK music. The mc'ing though, yes for sure, that would be from the Jamaican concept. Even though Rave/Hardcore did have a hype man on the mic. It was UK black youths taking up the mc'ing and borrowing from black music. So, we must differentiate influence from creation. Because UK created its own music. Drum and Bass for example is one of a kind and truly made here, and still going !!

[@HOODCLASSICTELEVISION]

Jamaica didn’t change shit in AMERICA. This video is full of shit. Hip hop created sampling and dancehall is a SPIN-OFF of hip hop. Not the other way around. And EVERYBODY KNOWS IT

[@anubistheii5488]

@@HOODCLASSICTELEVISION dancehall is spin-off of HIP HOP??????😭😭😭😭

[@lilac6799]

@@HOODCLASSICTELEVISION You’re real young young!

[@bontempo1271]

@@HOODCLASSICTELEVISION You are trolling bro lol. "Hip hop created sampling" - no just no lol. Samplers created sampling, Beatles were already using the Mellotron which is a preloaded sampler. Then another famous one is the Fairlight sampler which came out in 1979, that was a full sampler used by all the famous musicians from Kate Bush to Stevie Wonder. How the hell did Dancehall spin off from Hip Hop ? Explain that timeline of events lol.

[@aumakh6634]

Kind of funny to see people discovering Dancehall, and call it weird, as for an islander it‘s normal mainstream music

[@julian27600]

Yeah also tought it was rather mainstream but turns out not

[@hendrixnarine2575]

Fr me from trinidad an meh watch dis video like wah yuh mean wtf is dancehall 🇹🇹❤💯🤣

[@Zesser6ixx]

Like how we find Rock weird and not normal

[@hendrixnarine2575]

@@Zesser6ixx yh fr

[@AB-ts6dn]

Literally

[@matttheking1655]

Moral of the story: King Yellowman is a Legend!!!

[@matttheking1655]

@@BeatsbyCl1max Facts👌👌👌

[@shamarmcdonald6504]

Y'all old

[@zenheadshot3742]

Sorry to write this here, but this video, although is nicely edited, is full of wrong information. Dancehall never invented hip hop. Some of us already wrote trying to reach channel operator attention but seems like he don't care about giving misleading information... It's 2021, people need the true history, enough of myths please.

[@beebee3438]

Great commentary. Hope to see more & hear more of these brilliant artists as they’re in a class of their own

[@zenheadshot3742]

@@BeatsbyCl1max Yes, dancehall and the Jamaican culture influenced Hip Hop and Rap at some point, but it doesn't invented it as this video is confirming, that's false. Check this song in the middle 40's and see it by yourself kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn_dfI1toa-Fi8U same style as Grand Master Flash and the furious five in ''the message''.

[@jaye4521]

As an American who actually grew up listening to primarily Jamaican music, it's always kind of surreal when I'm talking music with people and am reminded that most of this sort of material is essentially unknown within most music circles in the US. It's a criminally underrated wealth of music history that doesn't get nearly enough appreciation.

[@harveymilne1684]

I feel the same. I've managed to convert a lot of my friends to dancehall though. I'm lucky as well that I live in the UK, where reggae and dancehall have a lot more influence. I feel for any US dancehall fan that doesn't live in new york. Shit must be so boring hahaha

[@OscarSlapp]

As a rapper I have always loved hip hop.When I found reggae and dancehall it was like falling in love with my girlfriend's mamma. I could see where hip hop got all her beauty.

[@larrylevan4242]

@@OscarSlapp Spot on comment, my brother.

[@wiseknowin777]

Currently arguing with a few of my contemporaries, about the origins of Rap. We are all DJs and all in our 40s from the NYC area and half of them didn't know this. I told them it's because y'all never listened to Reggae it paid attention. It was in your face the whole time. Take Kool Her out the equation and think about most of the great lyricists of all times. They come from a Jamaican or West Indian background. Usually born in Jamaica or the West Indies

[@RGE_Music]

Absolutely agree with you

[@neiel1]

Considering you had only been listening to Dance Hall for a matter of months, this is a very thorough and respectful educational/historical mini-doc about the innovation, influence, and enduring popularity of Jamaican Dancehall.

[@clayongayle8870]

As a Jamaican, thank you sir, for this introspective look into my culture, and bringing that knowledge to a new generation, and doing so with tact and dignity. I really appreciate this education.

[@ShammyM.]

@@christhomas1904 Thomas A Jamaican's opinion means more than yours. He did a good job, someone else can make one for more modern Dancehall this is the ROOTS of Dancehall. Jamaicans and their descendants respect this because we understand it.

[@dogondeity]

This is very inaccurate sir. U should look into it to see the real foundation of Ska and Toasting.

[@ANUBASS]

he's a clueless american who never listened to a dubplate in his life just spewing incorrect facts he read off internet...

[@notesscrotes4360]

This whole video is such a trip. A ton of these guys are/were family friends. Yellowman lived with my grandma Edna for a while before he hit it big.

[@Bandsplaining]

That's incredible! Did you grow up in Kingston, or just your family? How did your grandma know Yellowman?

[@jackwyatt1218]

InI bet that was IRIE!

[@hyphy9103]

Maybe you can make a video some day sharing stories and information you may know. I'd truly be interested as supportive. Nuff raspekt!

[@shabowhitfield8455]

ROOTS 💪🏿💯

[@silentmoneyxd1477]

🧢

[@Formerlyi]

"pass the koochie"? Yea aite homie

[@spenslaw7857]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sb_dunk]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWGYn2eupb15m6s

[@Sydonnewarren]

Lollll

[@shayneross7922]

Yeah...pass that too...along with the kutchie.

[@Intraloper_]

@@shayneross7922 Big up yuhself

[@Janiiya]

I love that Jamaica and Jamaican genres/artists are finally getting the recognition and attention they deserve. The credit is well deserved, *big up to my fellow Jamaicans* 🤎🇯🇲

[@Kokorisu]

As a big fan of Dancehall, I'm so happy to see this video. Jamaicans are second to none in my opinion in their influence on music worldwide. It's incredible to see how such a relatively small nation has managed to impact the development of music as we know it while often not being recognized for it. Big up!

[@WhiskerWhippers]

Every country I’ve ever traveled to had Bob Marley and reggae playing somewhere. Bob and Coca Cola are truly in every corner of the world.

[@WallKenshiro]

Damn straight.

[@Kokorisu]

@@christhomas1904 I understand your point, but I think that it works as a nice introduction point to give a historical overview and a look at how the genre developed and some of its characteristics, for people who know *nothing* about it.

[@ShammyM.]

@@christhomas1904 Are you even Jamaican? I think he did a good job. This explains the ROOTS of Dancehall. It doesn't matter if it doesn't sound the same as today's music.

[@ShammyM.]

@@christhomas1904 I can agree with you that the title is misleading but I think it's very important to touch on the roots. All people think of is Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, Mavado when they think of Dancehall. There's more but I don't wanna name them all. Today's Dancehall is very slack and has become very mainstream. I think a different video should be done on how Dancehall advanced.

[@Simonjose7258]

Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam' has to be in everyone's playlists! If only for that one song it's worth discovering Dancehall.

[@christinaporter535]

PREACH 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣

[@gwen_gets_got]

I was like, "oh shit it's that Kanye song"

[@gwen_gets_got]

@Landup Skydown - he did. And it's the same one that it's sampled on löl

[@79Glitch]

@@gwen_gets_got The difference is, “bam bam” has been a staple around the world for 30 years and has been in movie soundtracks, tv shows, and pop culture in Africa, America, South America, etc etc. Kanye’s song was popular for a group of millennials for a few years, and will be completely forgotten in a few years, if it hasn’t been already. Also, Kanye doesn’t really “write” music, does he? He gets singers and hook writers to write melodic singing parts for him, and he has a whole collection of producers who do his music, headed by Mike Dean. So, basically, he writes rap lyrics and used to sample songs that were already popular and hits beforehand? Not impressed.

[@gwen_gets_got]

@@79Glitch - You're misunderstanding the vast majority of Kanye's music. Listen to The College Dropout; Kanye's first album, and I'm sure you will change your opinion. It's completely self produced, and every verse he performs he wrote. New Kanye is best when he's bringing several artists from different genres into one piece, making them all coexist in a grand, explosive way. Kanye's music will not be forgotten in the next few decades, and I'm sure people centuries from now will look back on it as an ancient treasure.

[@dtr.nick0349]

If you do a part 2, please talk about clashes, sound system clashes, and influential artists and sound systems from the 80’s-90’s like bounty killer, Beenie man, ninja man, sizzla, Garnett silk, killamanjaro, stone love, and more

[@Animaniacs11]

Hell yea! I love Garnett Silk, and them clashes. Ninja Man undefeated

[@RockyFluffyWhiskas]

4 sound clash ina one big lawn

[@johnogroats3318]

Soundclash and sound systems please. Wanna hear bout stur Mars and them sounds.

[@dj_daddy_yonqui]

I would totally love a vide on this

[@KultureShockWI]

Don't forget the dancers and dancehall Queens.

[@56postoffice]

*RIP* to the great U Roy, the Godfather DJ. He wasn't the first but he popularised the genre. Rest easy, Father U Roy.

[@TheYoungOne-iv9yv]

I'm from the Caribbean. You gotta really respect dancehall/reggae. These riddims, while you can appreciate the beat, they help listeners to focus more on the lyrics because each artist have this ability to make it their own so it doesn't sound too repetitive. You therefore have a deeper vibe and understanding into the music. Most one hit wonders, a catchy beat would grab your attention but that consistency isn't there. Some of my favourite riddims are from 90's/2000's tho like Chi-chi Bud, Joyride, Buy Out, Diwali, etc. There are so so many!

[@misterdeeds7393]

Ok as a jamaican i must give the narrator credit...brother you really did your research.. a lot of individuals aren't aware of the fact that hip hop, rap and dubstep are remnants or better yet evolved versions of reggae

[@YisraelPrince]

That’s just not true.

[@Aboriginal_American_Hebrew]

Not true people need to look more im depth blacks in the U.S were rhyming an rapping for Years! We just called it duwap spoken word jazz an other

[@Burley_Bert]

What?! lies

[@rochelle1192]

Not evolved, because you make reggae sound inferior to these other forms of music when it is not. On the other hand, they may have roots in our culture, but rap and dancehall don't have the same fathers as much as forefathers. Elements of dancehall, dub and reggae were incorporated in with the Duwap and other sounds of the African Americans and LatinX, giving us what we know today as Hip Hop. So it is less of a development and/or evolution and more of an addition of our flavour into the melting pot that is hip hop.

[@DebPercy]

Some commenters dispute hip hop has roots in dancehall. Perhaps they are right.??? But Dancehall seems to have had an influence. Toasting and sound clashes seem to have influenced the hip hop battle rap scene which began in the USA in mid/late 1980s. In fact, a lot of hip hop seems too similar to Jamaican Dancehall to dismiss the theory that Dancehall influenced Hip Hip. That doesn't mean hip hip came exclusively from Dancehall, of course. BUt IMO dubstep & hip hop was influenced by the sounds of Jamaica

[@iamthefirsttosecond]

Yellowman is one of the greatest entertainers to have ever lived. As well, he's an incredible inspiration.

[@jackwyatt1218]

Yes, I!

[@pansysgarden]

Yes he is. Well said!👏

[@JDubKillinKicks]

The GOAT

[@fitawrarifitness6842]

Imagine owning the rights to one riddim and having 200 songs on it!!.

[@hendrixnarine2575]

Bear money man a mek 🤣🤣🤣

[@YouGotOptions2]

Like James Browns music?

[@zyslug7503]

they didn't really profit they were more interested in the music

[@timotheevalentin4179]

There are no copyrights on a riddim (or rhythm)

[@williwonker941]

Back in the days the didn’t make much money from it. They do it just because they love music and it put food on the table.

[@JRAlli]

grew up on dancehall, soca, reggae. never really appreciated it until recently once I started getting into music production. The riddims and basslines are so wavy, I'm trying take that inspiration in my work now. If anyone wants a recommendation check out the "Buy Out" riddim, some great tracks were made off that instrumental!

[@Animaniacs11]

"Just got paaaaid and I got a little money to burn!"

[@BLAKEWOLLERSHEIM]

@@Animaniacs11 hi

[@andrewmcdonald5275]

Riddim huh...?

[@lazerwolf001]

@@andrewmcdonald5275 huh?

[@sickheadsumaddy5231]

Like Notch "Nuttin nuh guh suh" on buy out riddim. Mi grew up with dat music too! Nuff respect

[@treva31]

Dancehall had a HUGE influence on the creation of Jungle/Drum&Bass in the UK in the mid 1990's. 🔥🎤🔥

[@NicholayN]

You forgot to mention how Dancehall inspired Reggaeton, where the Dembow riddim became the archetypal sound of Reggaeton and variations of it can still be heard in popular music today! Early Reggaeton sounded like Dancehall with Spanish lyrics. If you didn't know any better you would think that Rich Girl by Louchie Lou & Michie One (yes, the same Rich Girl covered by Gwen Stefanie) and other songs from the Fever Pitch riddim (like Limb By Limb by Cutty Ranks) were Reggaeton songs with English/Patois lyrics.

[@ThatFilmisGnarly]

And how reggaeton ended up influencing dancehall in the 2000s. It went full circle.

[@NicholayN]

@@ThatFilmisGnarly I think Move Your Body by Nina Sky might have been an example but I can't really think of any others of clear influence over the dancehall sound. Recently there was Samantha J - Tight Up Skirt which sampled Red Rat, very clear cut reggaeton. Do you have any other examples from the 2000s we can check out?

[@NativeNomad10]

Tight up skirt is not from reggae ton but sampled from a earlier dancehall sone that's even in the intro. Hey you girl Ina the tight up skirt

[@NicholayN]

@@NativeNomad10 that's what I said 🥴 I even mentioned the artist - his name was Red Rat. Tight Up Skirt by Samantha J definitely has a distinct reggaeton sound. Again, dancehall influenced reggaeton then reggaeton influenced dancehall (to a lesser extent)

[@rudynathan8852]

Im 30 now. When I was 16/17 I ONLY listened to Dancehall! Thank you Jamaica for this awesome music. Love from Holland 😘

[@jonatanrodriguez6895]

Aw man, before you've made me fall in love with zamrock, now I feel like I have to dive deep into dancehall as well. As a crazy melomaniac I recognize myself to be, I can only say "thank you". Keep up the great work.

[@7firestonesmusic744]

What's ZamRock

[@jonatanrodriguez6895]

@@7firestonesmusic744 classic rock from 1970s Zambia

[@patmccrotch5373]

This is a really great look into the genre, I love how Jamaican music has all these connections, influences, homages, and nods in and amongst its musicians and songs. On the surface, people think it's repetitive, and it is, but when you start to dive beneath face value, it's an interconnected, ever changing, ever morphing, yet rooted in its past, genre of music loaded with amazing musicians, songwriters, visionaries, trailblazers, and legends.

[@theoriginaltoadnz]

I always wondered where "SELECCCCTAAAAAAAAAAAA!" came from in some reggae songs. Now i know.

[@xlgoldfish]

Me too :)

[@Lifestylewithjada]

Nahh selectaa is dancehall not reggae know the difference

[@jmoneydroid]

And its obviously because the DJ "Selects" the records he will play. Also, "Pull up Pull up Selecta" means pause/stop the music ("Pull up the needle")

[@gravestone93]

@@Lifestylewithjada yes, m'bredda

[@Introvertsan]

It's the DJ

[@dsnodgrass4843]

All these folks picking bones in the comments; but I just want to thank you for remembering Tenor Saw, who was killed while touring in TX under still-mysterious circumstances in 1988, at only 21 years old. His voice still sticks with me.

[@Parasitemusic]

I love learning about how Music genres and styles developed due to environmental, political and what not reasons. Culture is so important and I feel like due to the internet and availability of everything, the cultures are all fading. On the other hand the internet is breeding huge amounts of unseen content but it will never be the same. There's two sides to everything and I'm not here to whine about how "back on the day everything was better" i just feel like I will be missing out on actually being part of something like that.

[@seanlewis8423]

well said

[@altervisi7748]

This is a super well-produced video, shocked it has under 30k, appreciating all the found-footage and edit aesthetics as much as the video itself.

[@salmon5456]

damn. check that view count now

[@robertnewell4054]

During my Stomping Days in the 80’s listening to Dancehall & Dub was my main jams .... but then again I bought my first Wailers album (Burnin) in 1973 @ the age of 10. Never underestimate the influence of older siblings. Appreciate how you showed - subtlety - the connection between Dance Hall & Slackness to Hip•Hop & Rap

[@budatx09]

My dad has vitiligo and I always worry at how well he protects himself from the sun. This and his other conditions aren’t helping. Then I find out Yellowman is alive and well and still at it to this day. A person who was doomed to die early in his life. Gives me hope that it’s not as bad at it may seem. But still keep on with the jams brothers, dancehall is here to stay!!

[@myztazynizta]

I've met several female marathon runners who have had every possible cancer you've ever heard of. Being in good shape via running their entire life is why they are still alive after all they've been through. It's the same with Yellow Man. Tell your dad to hit the track and hiking trails.

[@patmccrotch5373]

"NUH-BODY MOVE! NUH-BODY GIT HURT!" I love it, I'm a Roots Reggae guy myself, as a musician, I LOVE playing any reggae song with a steppers beat, especially the minor key, militant sounding steppers songs. But there's a place in my heart for ALL styles of reggae music, including its predecessors Ska and Rocksteady.

[@Keskitalo1]

The thing is this genre is actually live music. It is best captivated by the cassettes of live shows recorded in the 80s. There use to be a website dedicated to these dancehall tapes called "Who Cork the Dance". Now those tapes all over the youtube in different channels. Special mention to General Echo circa 1980 featured in Stereophonic sound system, he single-handedly started the "slackness" trend of the dancehall.

[@koont666]

Yes boss the youngers should listen to the likes of Saxon , Java nuclear ,young lion , volcano express ,jamdown rockers ect 👍

[@fitawrarifitness6842]

Great video, but this deserves a part 2. Topics like stage show & sound system "clash", the influence of dancehall on other genres, the fact that audio engineers like King Tubbys were also electronic engineers and created their own equipment.

[@pansysgarden]

I agree. I enjoyed this video, but there's much more to the story of dancehall between the history and evolution of it, what it came later and where it is today. Hope there's a part 2 and even a 3 coming of this story.

[@realpopcaan]

Job well done, wish everyone would do research like this before posting about anything Jamaican 🇯🇲

[@navykeef]

I used to have a dancehall playlist and half of it was the exact same beat. I rarely even realized because of how different the vocals were and how great the music was. Good times.

[@almightyretrosoul]

I I believe you had a whole “riddim”.

[@RaggaBaby]

Wow just Wow. As an "outsider" i've been into this music for more then 14 years. And hearing you explain the whole genre after just being into it for a couple of months as you said completely blows my mind! This is a fucking A-class documentary! From the Dancehall to the Rub A Dub to the Raggamuffin style you showed such a unique and thorough way of explaining it. The most baddest respect to you!! Again Wow star big up! 💚💛❤️

[@indubiousComrade]

Great video man, I also liked how you did the music acknowledgements with the section markers

[@MrKyledane]

As someone who's watched all the way through Netflix's excellent documentary Hip Hop Evolution, when you mentioned Kool Herc - whoa, mind blown.

[@BlackShadowSoundUK]

As a Jamaican soundsystem based in the UK, you have done a great job of this explaining this. I would also like to say that you mentioned Jackie Mittoo who was on the original full up riddim, well firstly he is my relation as we are Mittoo’s but he also helped create many of the Riddims you played during the 60s on the studio one label as he was usually part of the house band there. Anyway good job

[@jeffsansome90]

Growing up in the suburbs of Toronto, Dancehall music was huge, especially in the summertime on hot summer days people on my street always blasting dancehall....and like you mentioned on the coldest days of the winter it was nice to listen to to take you off to a warmer place.

[@jimmybalantyne5545]

You did a good job here. It's not comprehensive but you yourself acknowledge as much. Thank you. You enlightened me on a couple of things and I've loved Jamaican music for over fifty years. 'Jah-Jah Sir Sufferer'!

[@RevOwOlutionary]

Oddly enough, dancehall and dub is really popular in Denmark despite the country not having any major immigrant communities from Jamaica. Songs from dancehall and dub artists became major mainstream hits throughout the 2000's and 2010's, and as someone who grew up during that time, it was basically the soundtrack of the earliest parties I went to.

[@Bestbeachesincalifornia]

Detta är så intressant… tror inte att detta var en grej i Sverige alls?? Undrar varför. Kanske är ni bättre på denna typ av alternativkultur i Danmark

[@majestik1973]

You did an absolutely phenomenal job! I am jaw dropped at the thought that you only discovered this genre a short while ago. Your knowledge your explanation of terms concepts like the use of words/ lingo (patois) Your depth of research is impressive. Obviously it would be impossible to completely sum up Dancehall its impact and effect worldwide on the past, present, and future of modern music, in a short youtube video. That being said if you had to sum it up quickly and concisely This is so well done! Bravo! Keep up the great work!!! In fact make a whole series where you tie it all together!

[@dexterroberts631]

You missed one of the most energetic eras: 90's dance hall

[@blueorchid2467]

The best, & late 80s

[@africaart]

That was already hip hop.

[@rochelle1192]

True thing

[@freefinancialadvice]

I second that

[@AgentDanielCross]

Pick a Sound!

[@AthenaGM]

You did good! Growing up in Puerto Rico back then, we used to get cassettes of recorded songs on top of songs and it was reggae or dancehall. After you bypass the white noise and poor recording format-what came out of those tapes was AMAZINGNESS! Since then (I was abt. 7yrso), dancehall has been my life. Is my fav music genre and will forever keep listening and dancing to it (not to be confused with daggering). Fun fact: dancehall was what started what many of u know now as Reggaeton. Back then it was called Underground. And many beats of those songs are just, dancehall riddims! Blessings to all!!🔥

[@MrVanysteroy]

Thanks for the video, Jamaica Is great, respect from Panamá🇵🇦

[@isismalls3436]

Yellow man was one of the first dancehall artist I ever saw. It's sad to hear about his health challenges and adversities. Thanks for this video. Incredible job.

[@pansysgarden]

I'm sorry for him. He's been through a lot, but came through. He's a survivor and a musical legend.

[@ThatFilmisGnarly]

It's sad, but he used that pain to become one of the biggest artists in the world. Dude is a living example of why you shouldn't feel sorry for one's self.

[@josephgokool2604]

Ayeeee, nice to see the culture inna spotlight 🔥🔥🇯🇲🇯🇲🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@luxlife1772]

This is, by far, the best, most interesting and well-done music channel out there. I always learn some new things even on the subjects I'm already versed in. Keep up the great work - your a music freaks music freak!!

[@TheMixCurator]

You should get into Dub if you enjoy Dancehall - Scientist being my favourite. His back story is incredible too - believe he worked for King Tubby's studio as an electrician/engineer and was asked by Tubby one day if he wanted to try mixing, did try and it turned out he was pretty good at it. He became his protégé i believe.

[@zeusapollo8688]

The mixing desk is in the emp in seattle

[@StarryBTV]

@Bandsplaining The name of the Unknown Sugar Minott song is *John Boops* (5:12 Sugar Minott - Unknown song (if anyone can ID please comment)) However, in the video it was not performed with the original riddim. The riddim used in the video was Echo Minott - Lazy Body Blessings~

[@dope03pope]

U learned a lot in a few months ! Dancehall to the world

[@allstar930]

I've been a dancehall fan since high school in the '90s. You did a great job breaking it down in this vid.

[@0therun1t21]

I was shocked to learn that none of the ravers and djs I lived in a warehouse with knew anything at all about where dubstep or anything else came from. To me, as an old ass punk, that's absolutely shameful. What's worse is they don't care. I hope they aren't all like that.

[@padawansound6423]

We're not. In my city (Leeds, UK), there's a very healthy cross-pollination between the Dubstep/DnB scenes and the Dub, Reggae and Dancehall scenes. Many of the events, promoters, DJs etc. showcase and champion the genres side-by-side. We're in a constant process of educating each other.

[@vexathebassinjector]

@@padawansound6423 Well said. Check out the events I run on insta @singularity.uk and my label @demolitionsquadron I’m sure you’ll rate the content !

[@5XWAZM]

I'll bet money that they're American ☠️😂

[@0therun1t21]

@@5XWAZM Yes, you're absolutely right, and it's embarrassing!

[@0therun1t21]

@@vexathebassinjector Ok, I'll go now, thanks! ...Oh crap, couldn't go there for some reason. I don't do social media, but I can still google and YT.

[@grantgoodman8415]

This is the music I grew up on. From New York but as a baby I had a nanny that lived with us as my parents worked in the city. She was from Trinidad and was always jamming to dancehall and soca. It really made a lasting impression on me and dancehall will always have a special place in my heart because of it

[@StillOnFire]

Dancehall was a pretty common background sound where I grew up in South London, a lot of the backing tracks used in the video bring back a lot of memories growing up. The more mainstream-ish tracks were often on the compilation tapes my mum made for car journeys.

[@DanColvinart]

fun to see this. When I visited Jamaica in the mid 80's half pint was all the rage. His music still rings true today.

[@iamfishmind]

everything is dancehall. lmao i love hearing this american say riddim like he's david attenbrough

[@dizmop]

I'm British Jamaican and I find Dancehall a weird genre, it has so much influence and power, it's extremely raw, it is expressive and unique, it comes from a tiny Island and had worldwide mass appeal and is still authentically underground which is an oxymoron. Yes, I find dancehall weird in the way that the world has seen nothing like it.

[@jakemorese]

I came here looking for another video actually but this ended up being much more informative and intriguing! Thanks

[@Pooky1991]

As someone who's been exposed to alot of music from a young age, primarilily related to hiphop and R&B, it is weird hearing people finding Dancehall weird or shocking. With that said, it is always cools seeing how music connects and influences each other.

[@chipaway]

not mentioned, but thumbs up for the "Stalag riddim"

[@vnusfmtv]

STALAG 17 ROOTS

[@kelc-1373]

More like big ups

[@kelc-1373]

@Deadly Vibez Noted. But I’m not American

[@anonymouse527]

Great musical education once again. Keep up the good work.

[@blangum]

Bellissimo - this video is quality my friend

[@damonramirez]

Ray..... I've always loved your comedy, acting, and just you!! But now I have a whole new respect for what you, and what you are doing on your channel!! It started with your Silver Apples expose, your Fela/ Baker, and now I'm with you all the way!!!

[@patrickchung7538]

Appreciate your recognition of the contribution dancehall music has given the world. For us Jamaicans music is more than just enjoyment it's a way if life. Can't imagine life without sound systems and dances.

[@jphillips0705]

Rip sugar minnot, one of the greatest ever lived 🇬🇾

[@scafe500]

Facts

[@marley1995]

Favorite reggae artist

[@Algomatartrading]

What Is the unknown song?

[@jphillips0705]

@@Algomatartrading what song?

[@jphillips0705]

@@Algomatartrading tell me what part in the video so I can help you out

[@egregius9314]

Such a quality vid, only 8.5k views. The youtube algorithm doesn't realize what everyone is missing.

[@spectralv709]

Dancehall is one of the most influential genres that rarely gets its due recognition. Without it, there would probably be no hip hop (at least as we know it) and it also birthed a myriad of electronic genres. Big ups and great video.

[@odemata87]

Hardly doubt it. Hip hop is not rooted in Dance hall. Just because Herc immigrated from Jamaica does not mean Hip hop comes from that. Clearly it's rooted in Disco, Funk, Jazz, weren't these what Herc played and used to help develop the break beat? Watch this kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnOulnd4p5eAabc

[@spectralv709]

@@odemata87 Jamaican soundsystems influenced early hip hop block parties due to immigrants like Herc. Herc initially played some reggae/dancehall at his earliest parties but stopped because people preferred American music like James Brown. I would say there is definitely a connection.

[@odemata87]

You must understand that around that time a lot of similar thing were being done at the same time. There's a documentry on youtube that goes into it but I forgot about the name. Of course his experience with Dancehall-Reggae influenced him in his Dejaying, but that doesn't translate as to Dancehall-Reggae being a precursor to Hip Hop. Look at what was going on with disco a the time and what the dj were doing as well the technical innovations they laid out. Also by Hercs own account he dispels a lot of this. If he couldn't play Reggae at these block parties with his setup then why would people imitate him now of course years later where you had a lot of crossing over yes both genres influenced one another

[@khalildewar2950]

@@odemata87 toasting or emceeing wasn't being done tho. Its a fact, Dancehall is certainly not the sole inspiration of Hip Hop otherwise it would sound the same. Hip Hop got introduced to more cultures, dialects, people and music forms. Dancehall itself is heavily influenced by international music and the problem is people with your mindset who refuse to acknowledge it.

[@odemata87]

@@khalildewar2950 you do realize what help influence the toasting? Again then reggae took much inspiration from american funk, soul as well jazz from. Just look at the countless number of covers done to reggae. So with that it stands to reason they were inspired by the then radios dj who were doing toast like boasting over their records, also what you think the djs were doing at funk, and disco, soul parties just sitting on the mic and not engaging the crowd? Again a lot of similar things were being done during such time but you can't deny were reggae has its roots and quite possibly its inspiration for toasting which also heavily influenced rap music as opposed to reggae influencing the act of rapping just because a Jamaican immigrant. That preposterous! Have better respect for the great music called reggae and the various music genres it fused and help inspire like DnB/Jungle, Dub, UK Grime etc

[@smartiee74]

As someone who grew up in the Caribbean on dancehall music, I really appreciated this video. My favourite is anything Buju Banton ever performed....🙂

[@millionsofrecordsernieb7587]

In the last 36 years I have probably handled more reggae records ("Millions") than anybody on the planet. I can tell you that you did an exceptional job on this video! Great! I got into reggae in 1985 and I got totally consumed. You can't beat 80s dancehall!

[@danielitalo5891]

Here in Brazil there's still a LOT of dancehall parties, we play a lot of 2000's dancehall but in some parties they play the classic 90's style dancehall. Its a very cool throwback made by the poor youth. I used to dance to yellowman, supercat, shabba ranks... I miss it a lot, especially because of the girls too... funny how dancehall sound nostalgic to me now.

[@togzinnhla6747]

Dancehall and house music is forever and will never die

[@miles__fm]

Hopefully house music will die

[@noahsimon7658]

I'm perplexed that you haven't discovered Dancehall! Due to a lot of Jamaicans coming over here to the UK, Dancehall was exported here too, where it became quite a big underground scene, especially in the Jamaican community in London. Every year in West London, they hold the Notting Hill carnival, a festival which I love where people crowd the streets of Notting Hill with Sound Systems and play Dancehall, Drum & Bass and other such genres, and it's just a great festival of Carribean culture. You can see the mark that it's left on UK underground culture, with their Toasting being quite similar to what was seen here all the way up until records were phased out. Also, 'riddim' is a word here which everyone knows the meaning of. Here, the UK dancehall scene is still alive, and it's even spawned other genres specific to the UK such as funkyhouse (which is amazing). P.S. Please make a video on Robert Johnson, a fascinating figure

[@Bandsplaining]

I got the sense that it's much more popular in the UK than in the US, and that's interesting that 'riddim' actually worked its way into the general vocabulary there. I swear not a single friend I showed this to had ever heard of riddims or dubplates... well, except one guy who grew up in Florida. And hell yeah. Very into early blues history -- Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson. Also, of course, electric blues like Howlin' Wolf, which hits pretty close to home.

[@noahsimon7658]

@@Bandsplaining Thanks for taking the time to reply man! Love your channel

[@user-vm6oz6wt5g]

This spawned UK “Jungle,” right?

[@JohnDoe-dx7bu]

@@user-vm6oz6wt5g yea man drum and bass mixed with reggae ragga dancehall etc turns to jungle, again jungle or being a "Junglist" is a Cultural influence also

[@noahsimon7658]

@@user-vm6oz6wt5g Yea, I couldn't think of another other than funkyhouse off the top of my head, but that's right

[@blackdrument]

I truly enjoy your mini documentaries. Good stuff!

[@Deryc]

Good knowledge and great understanding, very impressive. Not to mention the well deserved credits to some legendary sound systems. Big up King Yellow!!

[@wholesomebaker5410]

I have fun story about dancehall. My brother, when he was 15-16 discovered dancehall. He got completely crazy about all that vibe. Anyway later he moved from Warsaw to London when many times he was the only white person invited to dancehall clubs. He lived in the most Jamaican areas in whole London and so on. And when he thought he is one of them, he got very disappointed when he discovered that nobody would give him an approve to have black girlfriend. More and more frustrated him and at the end he went back to Poland, found black girl and now he have two beautiful daughters with her. He also time to time gives dancehall DJ concerts and probably has the biggest vinyl collection of Jamaican music in whole Poland. As a kid living in one room with six years older brother who wasn't easy person, I grew to hate that music but now over years is nice to go back sometimes with videos like these.

[@cherblairbear]

HELP😭😭😭 he was mad asf that he couldn’t get him a black girl 😭😭😭😭

[@michaelluciano1980]

Very cool! I have a lot of the Trojan compilation CDs from the 60s and like 80s and 90s dance hall but this ties it all together.

[@MosDev__]

for further research and to check out: dancehall artists & dj´s of the 80`s: burro banton, barrington levy, tenor saw, beenie man, ninja man, shabba ranks, top cat, super cat, eek-a-mouse and many many more... roots and concious reggae: black uhuru, dennis brown, lacksley castell, don carlos, peter tosh, the wailers, the abyssinians, midnight, alpha and omega - i could go on for a while, all of their songs and albums were huge back in the days, worth checking it out ! dub artists: king tubby, prince jammy, lee scratch perry, half pint, mad professor, scientist, ranking joe ska: the heptones, skatalites, tokyo ska paradise orchestra

[@freddierankin3338]

Nice comment , also Loverock

[@MosDev__]

@@freddierankin3338 thanks mate - yes almost forget loversrock with one of my fav artists - dennis brown

[@garyherbert319]

Thanks for this. As a Londoner born in the 70's this is the soundtrack to my youth,

[@POSTELVIS]

At 10:25, Sleng Ting also feels like the DEVO song "Its not right" which could just be a bowie influence as well.

[@lucawhaley8190]

Im from theLeeds, UK, massive caribbean influence. Been vibing to Dancehall n reggaeton at carnival every summer for years!

[@selectoralibaba8838]

Man, if you in Chicago, you’ve missed some serious things that have been happening pre-covid. I held a residency in Pilsen for 3 years. Prior to that there was Simmer Down Sound in Wicker Park. I recently started a full rub a dub and roots with my friend from Evanston. I’m a big fuckin nerd on this shit. There is a heavy carribean presence in Chicago, it’s just sort of “underground” for lack of a better term. Reach out any time. This is dope.

[@galedribble9535]

Used to be a dope reggae club around Wrigley Field called “The Wild Hare”. Don’t know if it still exists

[@harrisonslinger]

Do you have an instagram or any video links of you mixing? Id love to learn more 👍 @harrisonslinger on insta

[@selectoralibaba8838]

@@harrisonslinger yesssir @selectoralibaba

[@selectoralibaba8838]

@@galedribble9535 yeah it still exists but they moved to Lincoln Park after the Wrigleyville location closed down.

[@quingold6838]

My dad would play some of these track every Sunday morning loud enough to wake me up

[@Bandsplaining]

Sounds like a cool dad

[@pansysgarden]

That was my dad.

[@theo1220]

I do the same best music to Start Or end a day

[@eggmi6516]

My dad DJ'd for his college's reggae radio station and had an insane collection of shit to wake me up with to clean house to 😤 not just limited to dancehall, anything with enough bass to shake me out of bed 😐 One morning, he put house music on and for the first time I wondered if my dad might have been cool at some point

[@CaroLMilo-yz7fk]

Narration, writing, research, song list . . . I AM BLOWN AWAY with every single video AND THIS KNOWLEDGE FEELS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. THANK YOU. TANX A MILLION. You (how many of you? one or a team?) are quality.

[@BReal-10EC]

This is such an amazing story- The birth of rap/hip-hop from DJ's needing to keep the crowd pumped between songs so they would keep dancing and buy more beer. I had no idea... And I want Yellowman's story in a movie. I demand it.

[@jdstarek]

I’ve loved dancehall since the first time I heard it (when I joined the the Army in the 90s). I had a roommate from the Virgin Islands and he got me hooked.

[@thegreenonions]

The Full up riddim is in the Musical Youth Pass the Dutchie song! So cool to hear that history

[@raphaelmann]

Which was basically a cover of 'Pass the Kouchie' by the Mighty Diamonds...they just changed the words to make it about sharing a cooking pot rather than a spliff... And borrowed some lyrics from U-Roy for the intro, and from U-Brown's "Gimme The Music"... The re-created the rhythm themselves, though, rather than use the actual Full Up...

[@thegreenonions]

@@raphaelmann well I knew about Pass the Kouchie, I mean they were kids they had to change the lyrics. But I didn't know about everything else that came before, I just think it's really cool!

[@raphaelmann]

@@thegreenonions also because they knew they wouldn't get radio play unless they changed the lyrics. They got themselves a much bigger hit than any other dancehall style artists around that time, by making themselves radio-friendly...and of course they got attention because they were kids... But yeah, it was a very vibrant and creative scene in Jamaica that gave birth to that sound. So much amazing music.

[@kingofnara]

Found this by accident, was going to skip it, I watched it all, I would watch an hour of this, I want a whole series

[@tony9286]

2:47 Coxson Sound System ,London. you notice the big red London Bus pass by in the background.

[@OrdinaryLatvian]

Man, this was fascinating. Thanks for introducing us to this world with the respect it deserves.

[@chefbezos.]

Grew up on this music and I’m from the uk

[@ThatFilmisGnarly]

Americans are more spread out, and more segregated than their UK counterparts (geography and racial history/tension play a huge roll in this.)

[@NickonStark]

if you’re just getting into dancehall you should most definitely look into artists from Panamá. the history of jamaincan and Panamanian dancehall is very intertwined.

[@CaneSugarCane]

didn't know there was Panamainan dancehall... who knew?

[@rochelle1192]

@@CaneSugarCane Yes, expected. there are instances of mass migration of Jamaicans to Panama so we are very much intertwined.

[@Lifestylewithjada]

From when since panama do dancehall?

[@markiec8914]

@@Lifestylewithjada Denis Haliburton and Michael Ellis ( two Jamaican producers based in NYC) collaborated with many Panamanian Dancehall singers who sang in Spanish ( Nando Boom, Renato, El General etc). Basically they created the Dancehall inspired genre called Reggaeton.

[@Lifestylewithjada]

@@markiec8914 Lol ik that but reggaeton is not the topic hip hop is the topic and what and who influence and created hip hop....Reggaeton is puerto rico not panama

[@hectorperezphotographer]

Sean Paul is pop music . Saw him live once , never again . Much respect to all the oldschool pioneers .

[@ThatFilmisGnarly]

That's what ALL dancehall sounded like in the 2000s. Sean Paul is just the only toaster/mc who got famous in the states. We wouldn't have UK grime without 2000s dancehall.

[@ShammyM.]

Sean Paul is Dancehall music.

[@ijustneedmyself]

@@ThatFilmisGnarly I don't know anything about grime and had no idea about its connection to 00s dancehall! Cool.

[@jaydaksy4094]

@@ShammyM. No he’s not lol, he was just a more marketable version of supercat.

[@c.christopher6115]

Listen to Hot Gal Today, that's more dance hall and less pop from Sean Paul

[@leogarcia5467]

This video brought warm memories of listening to ska, rockstead, reggae, and dancehall in my younger years. Even had the pleasure of seeing sister nancy perform.

[@christianmendoza8107]

Got into Reggae/Dub/Dancehall because some of my favourite artists and genres were influenced by it. I listened a lot to Massive Attack, Pil, The Clash, The Pop Group, Andy Stott and I was like "wtf are these infectious and deep basslines?" and did my research after. Wish more American artists can inject some Jamaican basslines in their music like the Brits do

[@GettingGoodatGeoGuessr]

Great video. I'd love to see you delve deeper into Soundclash and make a video on that. I recommend listening to David Rodigan to start off, he is easy to understand for a native English speaker and he is great for talking about the history of songs before he plays them. Plus he has many iconic dubplates. He is a good introduction into the world, then you can go into King Addies, Killamanjaro, Bodyguard, Bass Odyssey, Mighty Crown etc. The clash between Addies and Jaro in 95 is an incredible one, the audio is on KZbin. You can find audio for a lot of 90s dances on KZbin. Such a crazy culture, and very much under documented in my opinion.

[@dantheevilmanthe16th]

I’m a part of the uk rave scene and basically every track you played I recognised even if I don’t know who made it or what its called,almost had flash back for a couple of these tracks

[@ernest2113]

Top quality stuff🤝🏽

[@erock864]

12:20... OK Computer is probably my favorite album of all time!! That “RadioDread” compilation is absolutely phenomenal!!!

[@julesl6910]

This video is fantastically well researched - Sugar Minott is at the heart of all of these stories, coming from Studio One reheats to true dancehall with brilliant artists like Billy Boyo or Tenor Saw. He toured Southern California for years up until his death, and was well loved by the communities. Towards the end, Sugar toured with his daughter on stage and it was about as good as you can imagine, like a time machine travelling to the 70s and 80s.