The Culture and Music of Dancehall Reggae

Every 1st of July, music fans are celebrating two celebrations that are connected with reggae. First is International Reggae Day (IRD) and the second is Party in the Park. These events are packed with thousands of reggae music fans. You will see a flood of Rastafarian red, yellow and green colours. You can anticipate performances from popular local and international artists.

As of late, reggae is considered as one of the leading genres in the music industry. Because of its popularity, other styles have sprung up from it. One of these is dancehall, which has developed since the ’80s. The first person to bring this reggae off-shoot is King Jammy, a popular producer from Jamaica. His digital dancehall music quickly captures the hearts of his countrymen, especially the youth. His popularity spreads across the Caribbean and the United States. Now, you can hear several songs from this sub-genre.

Other artists that follow King Jammy’s steps are Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, and Wayne Smith. Shabba Ranks is the first musician of this reggae sub-type, who is showcased on MTV. On the other hand, Super Cat is the pioneer dancehall artist in East-India. Their influence on America’s music industry is so strong that it urged the appearance of other performers. Some of the most popular are Elephant Man, Sean Paul, and Shaggy.

Creating dancehall music is more than a career for the people in Jamaica and the Caribbean. For them, it is a lifestyle. Through it, they are pursuing their passion and informing other people of their views in life.