Jamaican Slang EditorialTHE Blog for Jamaican Slang, Patois, Reggae, Rastafari, Real T’ing dem and Jamaica

Folks, we were honored to do an interview with Jamaican Entertainer Fudgie Springer. The bottom line is this interview is filed with insights into Jamaican Culture, Jamaican Society, Jamaican Slang and it is RAW.

I have to thank Fudgie 1,000 times because he is a good dude, very generous, and a real source for insights into modern Jamaican culture. It is only my hope that we can link up in the future again soon to do something even more insightful.

Anyways, I’ll let the interview do the talking! Bless.

jacqueline-young-chin-choy-interviews-fudgie-springer

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Have you ever met someone and just felt like you instantly would be friends with that person? Well, that is what happened when we did an interview with Selectas Jaw Breaker and Fyah Starter of Riddim Express. These guys are true music heads and focus on quality musical content in every podcast and mix that they do. No, these guys are not Jamaican, but they definitely know their reggae, dancehall, lovers rock and hip hop. Like so many people, their love for Jamaican music came out of a love for hip hop music. Right now, they have a couple of projects in the pipeline. There is even a top secret project that is soon going to take world by storm, so get over to www.riddimexpress.com to stay tuned to updates. Here is the exclusive interview Spliffy and I did with Jaw Breaker and Fyah Starter. Enjoy it and let us know your feedback!

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You can find out more about Riddim Express at :www.riddimexpress.com  or riddimexpress.podomatic.com

Big Up Jaw Breaker, Big Up Fyah Starter and go ahead and subscribe to their podcast…it’s FYAAAHHHHH!!!!

This is one of my favorite dancehall songs to come out in a while. It’s a little old now, but it is 100% relevant and the lyrics are funny and filed with Jamaican Slang. Busy Signal is one of the hottest dancehall artists out right now and he is a member of Bounty Killer’s Alliance. Too bad there isn’t a real produced video attached to the song, but with the massive growth of the Alliance, hopefully it is just a matter of time.

More and more people are learning Jamaican slang because it is fast paced, to the point and fun!!! Check out this video from G4Tv.com as the host, Big C, gets a lesson in Jamaican Slang! Give the video a second to load or click here!

Attack of the Show - AOTS 420: Jamaican Slang - Click here for another funny movie.

P.S.- You MUST watch this video if you want to learn the meaning and origin of the worst Jamaican curse word there is! You know, the “B” word. You could go to jail for saying this word…

We were on a little holiday for a few days, so you probably noticed a slow down in posts. Despite the time away, we are back and feeling poetic. Speaking of back and poetry, I thought it would be a good idea to post a poem about returning to Africa. For those of you in the know, repatriation (returning to Africa) is a big deal in the Rastafari movement, but is it really the best thing for people of African descent brough over in slavery. The famous Jamaican author Louise Bennett aka Miss Lou contemplates the idea of returning to Africa in the poem ‘Back to Africa‘. By the way, this poem is in Jamaican Patois, so you really get an idea of the grammar and maybe some Jamaican Slang.

Back to Africa, Miss Mattie?
You no know wha you dah seh?
You haf fe come from somewhe fus
Before you go back deh!

Me know say dat you great great great
Granma was African,
But Mattie, doan you great great great
Granpa was Englishman?

Den you great granmader fader
By you fader side was Jew?
An you granpa by you mader side
Was Frenchie parlez-vous?

But de balance a you family,
You whole generation,
Oonoo all barn dung a Bun Grung-
Oonoo all is Jamaican!

Den is weh you gwine, Miss Mattie?
Oh, you view de countenance,
An between you an de Africans
Is great resemblance!

Ascorden to dat, all dem blue-yeye
White American
Who-fa great granpa was Englishman
Mus go back a Englan!

What a debil of a bump-an-bore,
Rig-jig an palam-pam
Ef de whole worl start fe go back
Whe dem great granpa come from!

Ef a hard time you dah run from
Tek you chance! But Mattie, do
Sure a whe you come from so you got
Somewhe fe come back to!

Go a foreign, seek you fortune,
But no tell nobody say
You dah go fe seek you homelan,
For a right deh so you deh!

Source: Black Woman Thinks…

So, should we go back to Africa? I’d love to hear your feedback on this, since it is such a big deal in the Rastafari movement. More Time.

So it is finally here, a new album from Jah Cure (born Siccature Alcock, 11 October 1978, Hanover, Jamaica), the rising reggae star who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for allegedly raping a woman in Jamaica. If you are just learning about Jah Cure, you should know, this guy is talented. Before going to jail, Jah Cure was leading the conscious reggae  renaissance with artists like Gyptian, I Wayne, Perfect, and Richie Spice. Jah Cure’s unique voice blessed many classic riddims and kept fans waiting for anything new from the Cure, but fans were shocked when he caught the robbery and rape charges. Despite, going to jail, Jah Cure still recorded music of equal quality from prison. If you haven’t heard the Jah Cure song, Conga Man, please please please download it or do what you have to in order to get your hands on it. It is a perfect example of the quality that he put out behind bars and it is over an amazing riddim. Anyway, I digress. So, in 2007 Jah Cure was released on parole, serving only 7 years of a 15 year sentence, but the world was waiting for the next Jah Cure album.

The Universal Cure is the latest Jah Cure album and the only album he has put out since leaving prison in 2007.  The Universal Cure starts off with “Sticky”, a song that has been out for a while (it was on Reggae Gold 2007 just to give you an idea), but it is definitely a classic Jah Cure song. Sticky is an up beat happy tune made to enjoy while on the beach in Jamaica. Sticky is followed by “Hot Long Time”, a song featuring Mavado, Junior Reid, Flo-Rida, and it is a great forum to hear Mavado’s special voice alongside Jah Cure’s unique voice. The song is Fyah and is definitely a cross-over song. The next major hit on the album is “Reflections” which is a magical Jah Cure song. It almost seems like the riddim was made for him because he just poured his heart out on this song. This song can be a bit confusing for people that followed his sentencing because it almost seems like he is confessing to the charges even though he has maintained his innocence. “Soon Come”, the next song, is just alright. Nothing really special in this song. “Burning & Looting” should be soundtrack music. This song could be the opening song for many socially conscious movies and is another solid track put out by Jah Cure. “My Life” is another song that is just alright. The song just does not standout on the album, but “Mr.Jailer”, the next song is a different song. “Mr. Jailer” featuring Phyllisia is the lead song from the album and is right up there with “Hot Long Time” for crossover appeal. This song isn’t really the traditional reggae song, but who cares, it definitely has potential to be bumped in cars all over the world, by both gyal and bwoy. “Freedom” is pretty self explanitory and is a solid track. “Freedom” is definitely a Jah Cure song because his voice shines on this song and spills his heart about being out of Jail. “Sufferation” is definitely held down by the riddim. Its one of those songs that gets on a riddim where everyone shines.  “Sufferation” is followed by “Journey”, another track that Jah Cure does his thing. I really like this track for the riddim and the content of the song. “Forever” is an upbeat song, but it is the same thing over again and it is just alrght. “U Believe in Me” is the last song that is just alright. The remaining three songs are all good songs and worth checking out. “Green Grass” the last song is fyah, largely because of the Mission Riddim (Mavado’s On The Rock Riddim).  This riddim just makes it easy for artists to make classic tracks. “Call Me” featuring Keisha Cole is a type of song that you have heard many times if you listen to reggae at all, but ou never get tired of that modern day lover’s rock sound.

Overall, The Universal Cure is a good album, but it is not a great album because many of the songs have been out for years. It serves its purpose in reintroducing the world to Jah Cure, but its not ground breaking. It is definitely worth picking up. If you are looking to learn Jamaican Patois/Jamaican Slang, this is not the album to buy. Its more about the content of the songs than how they are said.

Jah Cure - Hot Long Time

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Jah Cure - Green Grass

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Mavado is a big deal right now in the whole dancehall reggae scene. Not only is he holding down the fort for Gullyside aka Cassava Piece (a Kingston, Jamaica neighborhood/community) in the music battle against Gaza’s Vybz Kartel, he is truly experiencing mainstream crossover appeal. He has songs with Jay-Z, 50 Cent and has been remixed by many including Mad Decent’s, Diplo. Mavado is THE HOTTEST Jamaican artist out there right now, but one has to ask what makes Mavado so hot and special.

Earlier this year, Mavado released his sophmore album Mr.Brooks…a Better Tomorrow and from the beginning people were torn whether the album was an instant classic or a flop. The truth is that many of the songs on the album were out in Jamaica months ago with some dating back over a year, so if you heard all the songs before, then you already know what I am going to say. This album is AMAZING and an INSTANT CLASSIC! But before I review the album, I need to talk about my history with Mavado.

When Mavado first came out, everybody was on him like a human shish kabob. It took me a long time to really get into Mavado, there was something different about this guy. When I bought Mavado’s first album “Gangsta For Life - The Symphony of David Brooks”, I listened to it once and told my friends that it was garbage. They thought I was crazy and now, I think I was crazy at the time. But what changed? The Gang War Riddim! Although, I had heard his song “Me and My Dogs” on his album, it became part of a jumbled up sound, but when I heard the Gang War Medley that included Mavado, Sizzla, Elephant Man, Damian Marley, Bounty Killer and more…I became hooked to Mavado. And it is on Mr.Brooks…A Better Tomorrow where we see an even more refined and better Mavado.

On Mr.Brooks…A Better Tomorrow, Mavado continues his portrayal of the ghetto violence and ambitions in Jamaica. He doesn’t deviate from the “badman talk” and he is still a “Gangsta for life”, so do not expect to hear about peace, love and happiness. What makes this album and Mavado so special is his voice. Mavado’s voice is infectious and it is truly unique. No one can ever say that he copied somebody else’s style because they would be dead wrong. Mavado is really a dancehall singer and this album clearly shows that he holds the thrown in that area.

The album starts out with a slower pace with “Every Situation”, a tribute to Jah that Mavado kills. Next up is the radio hit, “On The Rock” which is almost like a prayer in the form of a song. The song’s hook was heard by Jay Z and the remix became an instant hit. Mavado picks up the pace of the album on “So Blessed” another song that could be a prayer or more of a confession. It almost seems like Mavado stuggles with being a “badman” and he wants to thank Jah (God) for keeping him protected. Mavado stays on the “So” themed songs with the next hit “So Special”. This is also a faster paced song and it is truly a song you are going to hear in a party, but Mavado also starts to move away from being thankful and increases the “badman talk.” The next track, “Life of a G” is pretty much a track dedicated to more “badman talk”, but it definitely wins the award for the best song to learn Jamaican Patois. After “Life of a G” there is a brief interlude discussing Armegedeon and then Mavado hits us with another dancehall classic, “Gangster Don’t Play.” This song is “fyah” despite the song not deviating in subject matter. The riddim and the vocals on this song are just sick. The song that stands out from the rest of the songs is “Money Changer”, a declaration of Mavado’s succcess and the fact that he is not going to change regardless of money, success or women. “In Di Car Back” is a faster paced song, almost a pop reggae song. It is certainly a deviation from the Mavado standard, but he still kills it with his special voice.

All in all, this album is a classic and should be part of your collection. Mavado’s voice is his biggest asset and it is a MASSIVE asset. There really cannot be any imitators similar to Akon and R.Kelly. Many will try to repeat the success of the Gully God (another Mavado nickname), but few will succeed. If you want to hear peace and love music, Mavado is not the sound you are looking for, but if you are learning to speak Jamaican Patois or want to pick up a few Jamaican Slang words, this album is definitely worth it. It is also a great album to listen to in the car or to dance to. Just buy the album, you will not be sorry. Mavado’s voice is infectious and never disappoints and neither will Mr. Brooks…A Better Tomorrow. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Mavado - So Special

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Reggae, especially dancehall reggae, is highly competitive and territorial. Similar to hip-hop and sports, there are rivalries. Most of the rivalries develop out of something small and then blow up, but there are definitely some people like Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel that attract drama all of the time. With the Vybz Kartel and Mavado beef continuing to escalate like Ja Rule and 50 Cent or Nas and Jay-Z, I thought it was time to shed some light on some classic dancehall beefs. Here is Jamaican Slang’s interpretation of Complex Magazine’s list of the Ten Biggest Reggae Beefs. We have reduced it to the five best, zeen!?:

#1 - Beenie Man vs. Bounty Killer :

This one is the grandfather, king, and still champion of feuds inna di dance. They’re both legends, and they’ve found more things to squabble about over the past 15 years than a long-married couple. Whether it’s Beenie kissing RuPaul on an American talk show, Bounty appearing in a No Doubt video with a naked man, or most recently Beenie marrying Bounty’s longtime girlfriend D’Angel, they’re the Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant of reggae (except they’re both alive and neither of them has a she-male for a daughter). Their dysfunctional relationship is the defining thread of modern dancehall, even going so far as to entangle their younger protégés (the beef between Bounty’s protege Mavado and Vybz Kartel intensified when Kartel attended Beenie’s wedding).

#2 - Vybz Kartel vs. Mavado :

This feud started back in 2006 when Vybz left The Alliance, an unofficial group of artists (with Mavado, Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, and a few dozen other DJs) started by Bounty Killer. At the time of his departure, Vybz Kartel was a member of the Alliance along with Mavado. Once separated from The Alliance, in typical Vybz Kartel style, Vybz started to diss members of The Alliance and it was the rising star Mavado that responded. There are dozens of diss tracks recorded by both artists and although, the beef take a breather in 2007, the heat was on again in 2008 with Sting 2008 as the battle of all battles to decide who would win. Four months later and people are still debating who won on stage at Sting 2008. This beef is pretty personal because both know each other well.

#3 - Beenie Man vs. Capelton:

This feud made it to the top because it’s like the Crusades. You have the Bobo Ashanti Fire Starter vs. The King of the Dancehall. Two ideologies against each other. Truthfully, this stems from Beenie calling out Capelton’s Bobo Ashanti rhetoric on the song “Hypocrites”. Capleton fires back with a CLASSIC track called “Who Dem.”

#4 - Vybz Kartel vs. Assassin & Spragga Benz:

Kartel and Assassin clashed first as a friendly rivalry, but then things got heated. Eventually, Assassin’s big homie Spragga Benz (pon di ends) had to get involved for the feud’s climax over the “Stepz” riddim. This one turned out like 50 vs Game: both landed stinging shots, but both also lived to fight another day. It just seems like Kartel is looking for fights!

#5 - Mavado vs. Beenie Man:

Mavado’s line in the song “How High” mentions “Baby Brian” (“give him some fat teflon fi try on/mek him madda cry ‘cause him die by my han’”)—and even though the song was released before Beenie’s half-brother Brian was murdered in 2006, Beenie understandably caught feelings. Based on the timing, it might be Mavado making a 50 Cent move going after the King of the Dancehall. For those that do not know, 50 Cent dissed Jay-Z well before Get Rich or Die Trying. Later on 50 admitted that by dissing Jay-Z he figured Jay would come back, which he did, thus helping 50 get on the map. The Alternative view is that Bounty Killer sent his new top soldier to go after the reigning (self-proclaimed) King of the Dancehall.

Here are some other honorable mention beefs in dancehall:

Ninja Man vs. Mad Cobra

Vybz Kartel vs. Bounty Killer

Ninja Man vs. Pretty Much Everyone to Step on Stage

Super Cat vs. Bounty Killer

Super Cat vs. Nitty Gritty

Deva Bratt vs. Munga

Merciless vs. Bounty Killer vs. Ninja Man vs. Beenie Man

To hear more of the songs associated with these beefs to learn more about them, visit the Complex Magazine Feature. Complex probably needed to link up with www.jamaican-slang.com to get better with the Jamaican Patois, zeen?!

Here is a new video that my man Scally Ranks recently worked on in effort to show people how to speak Jamaican….and it does a pretty good job. Check it out. More goodies like this on the way!!!

Jamaican music as a whole has influenced so many genres and cultures around the world. You can find reggae in Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Holland, Germany and many other countries.  We can certainly thank Bob Marley and his legendary music for being the ambassador of reggae music around the world, but the story of Reggaeton has its own twist.

The origin of reggaeton is always a matter of debate between people that believe it originated in Panama versus people that believe that it originated in Puerto Rico. Both places are valid candidates for being the birthplace of reggaeton. Puerto Rico is a logical birth place due to its  proximity to Jamaica and Panama could also be the spot due to its large West Indian population who went to Panama in the early 20th Century to work on the canal.  Many afro-Panamanians can trace their roots back to Jamaica and other islands in the Carribean. Often, they speak English as well as Spanish, some even speak old school Jamaican Slang!

So here is the thing, if you listen to the Panamanian Reggaeton from back in the day (like in the 1970s), it sounds like people rapping in Spanish or English over merengue and bachata. There are a few songs like El General’s Pu Tun Tun that are in Spanish with a traditional dancehall riddim, but for the most part the original reggaeton was really different from what we hear now. Early on, in Panama, artists would hear Jamaican reggae and dancehall tracks and translate them into Spanish. Some of the pioneers include El General, Nando Boom, Chico Man and several other Panamanian artists. Once the music started to become successful in Panama, it spread across the Caribbean and Spanish speaking world. Simultaneously, hip-hop and reggae were being introduced in Puerto Rico.

I remember a few years back I went to Puerto Rico and when we jumped into the cab, I thought I was going to hear Sean Paul over the bookshelf riddim, but no, it was some local artist “chatting” in Spanish over the bookshelf riddim. It was fyah! In the late 80s and 90s, Puerto Ricans were producing their own riddims with  influences from hip hop and other styles of music such as salsa, reggae, dancehall. These riddims became the foundation for the modern day reggaeton track. Unfortunately, the larger Puerto Rican society was not ready for reggaeton or Reggae Rap in Spanish. The police aka Babylon, often raided underground rap events, defaming artists on the radio and the distribution of reggaeton tapes.  By trying to hold back the underground reggae/rap movement in Puerto Rico, the police helped fuel the fire that would result in what we know today as reggaeton. It was in the underground music scene that famous artists like Daddy Yankee and Don Omar.

In recent years, reggaeton has become bigger than life. Reggaeton albums continue to outsell other genres of music at a time when album sales are down overall. The success of reggaeton can be directly linked the Spanish speaking immigrants and their children in the United States and the internet. Reggaeton artists tour all over the Americas, often selling out stadiums.

Although, reggaeton has influences from various styles of music, there are still some similarities to reggae and more specifically dancehall. Lyrically, most reggaeton songs are about slackness. The beats are different, but there is a certain rhythm to a reggaeton track just like in dancehall. Don’t expect to learn any jamaican patois when listening to most reggaeton, but please feel free to shake your bottom!

Here are some reggaeton tracks to help you get familiar:

El General - Te Quiero Mucho

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Tego Calderon - Cuando Baila Reggaeton

Daddy Yankee - Lo Que Paso, Paso