Hot Shottaz....

Modern Dancehall is a very intricate, exciting genre that defies categorization. The easiest way to explain it to a non-listener would be as the "Hip Hop" of Jamaica.

Dancehall retains the melodic, sing-song flow of it's roots, but the subject matter is decidedly more contemporary. While some artists still call out dance moves, most rely on the "Three G's" of dancehall for their lyrical content. Guns, Girls, and Ganja.

One refreshing difference between American Hip-Hop and Dancehall is the rarity of references to personal wealth. This is mostly because very few Danchehall D.J.s have earned anything close to what even modestly succesful rappers in America make. Though the money may not be there, I personally feel that the creative output of even modestly-succesful Dancehall D.J.s eclipses even the most succesful American Rappers. Hard.


The output of the Dancehall scene is in staggering contrast to that of the American scene. Few D.J.s release full albums, relying instead on constant streams of singles, usually on 7" vinyl. Some release almost 75-100 per year.....

Imagine if Kanye West released song every 3 days... Maybe that's a bad example... he talks about himself enough, I think.

Anyway, I'll post some clips to avoid getting into capillary-like minutiae that no one cares about except me.

Here's Bounty Killer, a.k.a. The Warlord, on his incredible track "Sufferah." This Concious track is a bit of a departure from his normal "Three G's" material. You may recognize BK's powerful baritone from the American Hit by No Doubt, "Hey Baby." He was the guest artist towards the end of the track.



One D.J. that still calls out dance moves is the Energy God "Elephant Man." Kristi and I have seen Ele live, and it truly wears you out - even if you're not dancing along. Frenetic tempos, machine-gun-blast vocal delivery, and a very enthusiastic crowd make it an intense and incredible experience.... especially when you're the only two white folks in the room.

"Pon di River" was a huge hit AND dance move in Jamaica. Here's Ele in Miami at the VP Records 25th Anniversary show:



You saw the crowd, right? Imagine Kristi and I cowering in the back....

Our favorite D.J. has to by the incredible slack genius, Vybz Kartel. His dense vocal texture, wicked wordplay, and unbelievable versatility make him impossible not to admire. His subject matter is occasionally a little much for our delicate ears, but his genius cannot be denied.... He's like Michael Jackson in Jamaica, without the... uh, you know... pedophilia.

Anyway, since he's our fave deejay, he gets two clips. First, the toungue-twisting "Gun Session."



..and his smash hit "Emergency," which decries the Governmental Corruption and Violence in Kingston.

This a very Michael Jackson-like mini-movie-style video, but was WAY cutting edge for Dancehall.



One not-too-subtle stab at the Jamaican Governmental Structure sponsorship of violence goes:

Mr. Bruce, Mr. P.G., this is just a couple questions from Addy the D.J.
Question : Kingston make no A.K.
Question : So how them come inna J.A.
Who own the Docks and the Airport, the Wharf and the Plane?

Obviosuly, I Americanized the prose, but you get the message.

Anyway, Dancehall isn't for everybody, but it sure is for me.... Nothing helps me rid myself of aggresion and hostility like pumping these increidlbe tracks. I'm still not tough, but it makes me feel better.

Alright, more Reggae coverage to come.... one my work permit comes I'll go back to taking pictures of Ghost Crabs and Fruit trees and you won't have to hear any more about my musical obsession.....

TA!