Seeking a dancehall introduction
January 19, 2009 12:26 PM Subscribe
I want to learn about dancehall-type music. Other than Sean Paul, what should I be listening to?
You might want to be more specific.
You go to a dancehall around here in Texas (say Gruene Hall or Schroeder Hall) and you are going to hear Texas country music, western swing, or maybe an old oompa band.
After googling who Sean Paul is, I'm guessing this is not what you are looking for. If for some reason it is, let me know and I can give you suggestions!
posted by dios at 12:43 PM on January 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
You go to a dancehall around here in Texas (say Gruene Hall or Schroeder Hall) and you are going to hear Texas country music, western swing, or maybe an old oompa band.
After googling who Sean Paul is, I'm guessing this is not what you are looking for. If for some reason it is, let me know and I can give you suggestions!
posted by dios at 12:43 PM on January 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I'm from Texas, I'm not looking for western swing. Got that covered :) Dancehall is a specific hip hop/reggae mix from Jamaica. Note, I said dancehall, not dance hall.
posted by youcancallmeal at 12:47 PM on January 19, 2009
posted by youcancallmeal at 12:47 PM on January 19, 2009
Ok. I didn't know that dancehall had a reggae-specific meaning in Jamaica. Sorry I cannot help out much there.
posted by dios at 12:49 PM on January 19, 2009
posted by dios at 12:49 PM on January 19, 2009
You should check out its roots - Soul Jazz and Heartbeat are two reggae labels who've licensed many CDs from Studio One, the Jamaican label whose 60s / 70s rhythms provide the basis for so much modern dancehall. Soul Jazz has a series that began with "100% Dynamite" and has continued to "600% Dynamite." These are compilation CDs that mix all sorts of reggae sub-genres that led to dancehall. Heartbeat has a million great compilation albums - "Downbeat The Ruler" features great instrumentals used to back a lot of dancehall hits, "Nice Up The Dance" has some great "discomixes" (in reggae parlance, the vocal version of a song, with an extended instrumental second half.) Really compelling stuff, for me at least.
It's silly to get into dancehall without proper context; you'll enjoy it much much more if you understand its origins.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 1:07 PM on January 19, 2009
It's silly to get into dancehall without proper context; you'll enjoy it much much more if you understand its origins.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 1:07 PM on January 19, 2009
I've linked to it before, but I think that Terry Lynn is taking dancehall in a really neat and unusual direction. (And the rest of the Afflicted Yard site is well worth your time, though definitely some parts are nsfw.)
Other names to search for on YouTube: Lady Saw, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Tanya Stephens, and Damian Marley. Actually, the Wikipedia page isn't bad, for a quick and dirty overview of names to look for, and the bibliography is a decent starting point if you are wanting written sources.
posted by Forktine at 1:18 PM on January 19, 2009
Other names to search for on YouTube: Lady Saw, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Tanya Stephens, and Damian Marley. Actually, the Wikipedia page isn't bad, for a quick and dirty overview of names to look for, and the bibliography is a decent starting point if you are wanting written sources.
posted by Forktine at 1:18 PM on January 19, 2009
Shabba Ranks and Lady Saw are pretty pop dancehall.
posted by electroboy at 1:31 PM on January 19, 2009
posted by electroboy at 1:31 PM on January 19, 2009
Oh man! You need to listen to Brian Tomsic's amazing Dancehall Reggae Show on WCBN saturday nights from 7-9 PM eastern. The live stream is usually pretty reliable and Tomsic is very knowledgeable and cutting-edge about what's going on in the dancehall world. Here's the podcast, and you can also view past playlists at dancehallreggae.org. Tomsic knows his stuff. Worship at his feet. His other show, Train to Skaville, is great too. Enjoy!
posted by ulotrichous at 1:33 PM on January 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by ulotrichous at 1:33 PM on January 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
Also, keep in mind that a lot of dancehall is pretty homophobic, notably Buju Banton and Capleton.
Beenie Man, Buju Banton and Supercat do a lot of stuff with American rappers as well.
posted by electroboy at 1:33 PM on January 19, 2009
Beenie Man, Buju Banton and Supercat do a lot of stuff with American rappers as well.
posted by electroboy at 1:33 PM on January 19, 2009
Mavado
Elephant Man
Vybz Kartel
Assassin
Buju Banton
Beenie Man
Jah Cure
Busy Signal
Sizzla
Munga Honourable
Note: some of these artists produce highly offensive music. You may already know that.
Listen to Chris Goldfinger's show for the latest stuff. It's hard to find a lot of this music so radio shows and mixtapes are the best source for a beginner.
posted by fire&wings at 1:51 PM on January 19, 2009
Elephant Man
Vybz Kartel
Assassin
Buju Banton
Beenie Man
Jah Cure
Busy Signal
Sizzla
Munga Honourable
Note: some of these artists produce highly offensive music. You may already know that.
Listen to Chris Goldfinger's show for the latest stuff. It's hard to find a lot of this music so radio shows and mixtapes are the best source for a beginner.
posted by fire&wings at 1:51 PM on January 19, 2009
The Reggae Gold series will give you a nice sampling of what's popular these days.
Strictly the Best, too.
posted by ThirstyEar2 at 2:53 PM on January 19, 2009
Strictly the Best, too.
posted by ThirstyEar2 at 2:53 PM on January 19, 2009
It's silly to get into dancehall without proper context; you'll enjoy it much much more if you understand its origins.
It isn't. Dancehall is a pretty specific sound, very different from roots reggae, and therefore not necessarily connected to it, especially for someone from a different culture. The last cd )disc 4) of Tougher than Tough (which is availble...around) is dancehall, and there is a Trojan Dancehall boxset. The Trojan boxes are usually very good. Those are the places I would start.
posted by OmieWise at 2:59 PM on January 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
It isn't. Dancehall is a pretty specific sound, very different from roots reggae, and therefore not necessarily connected to it, especially for someone from a different culture. The last cd )disc 4) of Tougher than Tough (which is availble...around) is dancehall, and there is a Trojan Dancehall boxset. The Trojan boxes are usually very good. Those are the places I would start.
posted by OmieWise at 2:59 PM on January 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
Lots of good recommendations here. Definitely pick up Supercat's 'Don Dada' album. I also like General Levy.
And 2nding OmieWise, if you can get a hold of the Tougher than Tough boxset, you will be very happy. The 4th disc covers the early years of dancehall and the entire set covers the songs that were popular IN Jamaica - it's a great history of popular music in the genre. If you PM me I can dig it up and send you the 4th disc via the web.
Also keep in mind that the 80s/early90s dancehall sounds much different than dancehall today.
posted by gnutron at 3:36 PM on January 19, 2009
And 2nding OmieWise, if you can get a hold of the Tougher than Tough boxset, you will be very happy. The 4th disc covers the early years of dancehall and the entire set covers the songs that were popular IN Jamaica - it's a great history of popular music in the genre. If you PM me I can dig it up and send you the 4th disc via the web.
Also keep in mind that the 80s/early90s dancehall sounds much different than dancehall today.
posted by gnutron at 3:36 PM on January 19, 2009
Greensleeves record label has a ton of this, maybe go for some of the sampler albums with the top songs of recent years.
Note, might want to avoid the riddim albums (not because they are bad, but it is going to be 12-15 songs of the exact same beat just with different artists on each one).
also see: Bounty Killer, Lady Saw
posted by citron at 4:06 PM on January 19, 2009
Note, might want to avoid the riddim albums (not because they are bad, but it is going to be 12-15 songs of the exact same beat just with different artists on each one).
also see: Bounty Killer, Lady Saw
posted by citron at 4:06 PM on January 19, 2009
I'm exploring Dancehall and Dub a bit myself. Got deep into Yellowman and Eek-A-Mouse a while back - both are worth checking out.
posted by aladfar at 4:23 PM on January 19, 2009
posted by aladfar at 4:23 PM on January 19, 2009
seconding or thirding: Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Capleton and Sizzla. seconding Omiewise that it is okay to listen to dancehall without knowing the history. have fun.
posted by fieldtrip at 7:39 PM on January 19, 2009
posted by fieldtrip at 7:39 PM on January 19, 2009
Greensleeves Records recently put out a greatest hits called Dubplate to Download. You need this. It's not 100% dancehall, but pretty much every track is a classic and the second disc is loaded with dancehall essentials.
I'll second the guy above who said Tougher Than Tough. Sadly out of print (but you can still find it sometimes if you know where to look), this four disc set is all required ska, rocksteady, roots, and dancehall listening. An amazing, amazing compilation if you're in to Jamaican music.
posted by word_virus at 9:15 PM on January 19, 2009
I'll second the guy above who said Tougher Than Tough. Sadly out of print (but you can still find it sometimes if you know where to look), this four disc set is all required ska, rocksteady, roots, and dancehall listening. An amazing, amazing compilation if you're in to Jamaican music.
posted by word_virus at 9:15 PM on January 19, 2009
The Dancehall 101 compliations (Volumes 1-4) are a great overview of big dancehall hits of the 80's and 90's. For me, this is a singles (as opposed to album) genre, so that works well here.
For what's currently popular, I agree with the recommendation of "Strictly the Best" and "Reggae Gold", but there are lots of similar yearly comps, too, like "Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems" and "Ragga Ragga Ragga".
posted by alb at 11:48 AM on January 20, 2009
For what's currently popular, I agree with the recommendation of "Strictly the Best" and "Reggae Gold", but there are lots of similar yearly comps, too, like "Biggest Ragga Dancehall Anthems" and "Ragga Ragga Ragga".
posted by alb at 11:48 AM on January 20, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by box at 12:33 PM on January 19, 2009