Jamaican dancehall has undergone a remarkable transformation since its humble beginnings in the 1970s . Emerging from the preceding soundsystems of Jamaican music, it initially provided a space for community DJs and artists to express their skills . Early dancehall was defined by toasting over riddims of popular reggae tracks, quickly progressin… Read More

Dancehall sound sprung in the 1970s Jamaica, evolving from roots reggae's more relaxed tempo and adding synthesized instrumentation. Initially a local event in Kingston venues, it quickly attracted popularity amongst young people . The shift toward more upbeat rhythms and deejaying's prominence – whereby DJs rapped over riddims – marked a disti… Read More