Reggae music is so vital in one’s journey to speak Jamaican Patois and Jamaican Slang that it might be the number one way to learn the language. Although, all forms of reggae present vital information about Jamaican Culture, Jamaican Slang is usually found in dancehall reggae, also known as ragga. Ragga is basically digitally produced reggae music. Ragga is the most commercially successful Jamaican music since Bob Marley and it also the most popular form of music among all Jamaicans. (By the way, I use dancehall and ragga interchangeably as well as rhythm and riddim interchangeably. Riddim is the patois version
The fact that most rhythms are digitally produced allows producers to create an unlimited amount of rhythms for very little cost has opened the doors to many Jamaican and International producers. Just to give you an idea, since the 1990s, at least 5,000 new rhythms have been produced…annually. Similar to hip-hop beats, ragga rhythms (dancehall riddims) can be created on the fly, but they can also be created using samples. For example, a few years ago there was a popular rhythm called the Mission Impossible Riddim and as the name implies, the rhythm took the sound sample from the theme song to the film, Mission Impossible. What is interesting about rhythms in danchall riddims is the number of artists that make songs over them. This would never be allowed in hip-hop in the same way, it would be deemed ‘bitting’. When 15 or more artists make songs over one riddim, its called a ‘One Rhythm’ album. This is something that is unusually found in dancehall, but places a key role in an industry that often relies more on singles sales as opposed to album sales. It is also on these rhythms where new artists get a chance to shine and talk about everything from politics, Jamaica, family and more often than not, sex!
I would say, that if you listen to some of the more popular riddims, you are very likely to learn a great deal of Jamaican slang. For example, here are the lyrics to Sean Paul’s “Punkie”, a song that was popular before it was released into the mainstream:
Hot sexy punkie, me punkie
Gal me see say that you want me, you want me
And it no matter wa you man a say, man a say
Cause you know say that we haffi link up one day
Hot sexy punkie, me lady
Gal me see say that you want me, me baby
And it no matter wa you man a say, man a say
Cause you know say that we haffi link up one day
Just checking out the lyrics in this verse of the song, you can learn several patois phrases, pronunciation and words. With ragga tracks being the most popular form of Jamaican music in recent times, artists from all socio-economic classes have made songs. Usually, people from the lower end of the socio-economic ladder speak more patois and slang than people from the upper end. Jamaican Slang and Patois are not seen as proper by some members of society, even though this is changing as Jamaicans learn to embrace patois for national identity. So, the deeper into the masses you look, the more authentic the slang becomes in dancehall. If you listen to a Vybz Kartel track, you are certain to hear many new Jamaican Slang words and Vybz is an artist that makes all of his songs over riddims. For example, check out the lyrics to Vybz’ ‘Tek Buddy’:
Tek buddy gal, yuh think me easy?
Who you ramp wid? Yuh wha live easy
Tek me things and yuh tek me money too
So tek buddy too, tek buddy too
Tek buddy gal, yuh think me easy?
Who you ramp wid? Yuh wha live easy
Yuh, tek me things and tek me money too
So tek buddy too, tek buddy too
I hope this helps explain a few things about dancehall and where you can learn Jamaican Slang…besides getting the definitive source on Jamaican Slang…the Rastaman Vibration at www.jamaican-slang.com
Here are two bonus songs to help you learn some Jamaican Slang! More Time!:
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Timberlee – Backdoor Delivery (Ole Geezer Riddim)
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