Tag Archives: Ragga

Understanding “Riddims” (Rhythms) to Master Jamaican Slang.

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surprise-riddim-cover

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

Vybz Kartel – Tek Buddy

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!:

Busy Signal – Nah Ansa

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Timberlee – Backdoor Delivery (Ole Geezer Riddim)

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What is This Reggae? Who Came Up with that Silly Word?

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Do you ever wonder where certain words come from? Well in Jamaican Slang and Jamaican Patois, I am always asking that question. I mean there are so many words that have a little or unknown origin. Some words of the words that come to mind are pickney or nyam. In fact, someone asked me the origin of the word “bumboclat“…yikes, you can send me an e-mail if you want to know what a bumboclat is as opposed to what it means.

 

I was always interested in knowing where the word reggae came from. After doing some research, I found a variety of answers on the origin of this word we live by and love. The article is more focused on history as opposed to Jamaican Slang, so check it out…yuh dun noh.

 

The origin of the word reggae was the 1968 Pyramid single by Toots and the Maytals “Do the Reggay” (sic). Other possibilities as to the origin of the word include Regga, the name of a Bantu speaking tribe on Lake Tanganyika and a corruption of “streggae,” which is Kingston street slang for prostitute. According to Bob Marley, the word is Spanish in origin, meaning “the king’s music” but according to veteran session musicians the word is a description of the beat itself. Hux Brown of the Skatalites and lead guitarist on Paul Simon’s 1972 hit “Mother and Child Reunion” says that it is “just a fun, joke kinda word that means ragged rhythm and the body feeling.”

 

There you have it, a wide view on the origin of reggae. This is good to know , but really all you need to do is keep listening to reggae. Irie.

Ragga (Dancehall Reggae) versus Roots

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I know that alot of people think that all reggae sounds the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, there are definitely some similarities among all of the types of reggae, but there are really two dominant forms of reggae that come out of Jamaica, Ragga aka Dancehall Reggae and Roots Reggae. So what are the differences?

To begin with, Ragga which I will refer to as Dancehall is largely played with digital instruments. Most of the beats which are called Riddims are made digitally. Dancehall has been the most commercially successful Jamaican music over the years. Many Dancehall artists have experienced cross over success with mainstream music. Artists like Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killa, Elephant Man and many more are all examples of dancehall artists with some experiencing worldwide success. In addition, to artists known strictly for dancehall, some Roots artists also record dancehall tracks. Sizzla, Buju Banton and Capelton are roots artists who also appear on dancehall tracks. Dancehall is unique in that it draws on all aspects of Jamaican culture and is often the sound where authentic Jamaican Patois can be heard (to hear some authentic Patois on Dancehall Tracks, check out the JA Mixes). The subject matter in the songs ranges from politics in Jamaica, sex, women, violence, Jamaica or a new dance. Dancehall gets its name from the event or place where people go to hear ragga tracks and as the word implies, people dance! Many of the most popular dancehall tracks have dedicated dances with choreography. Recently, one of the most popular was dances was Pon di River, also a song by Elephant Man. In addition, to Pon di River, there is also a dance for Signal de Plane (click here to see the steps for Signal de Plane!) Dancehall tracks come out at a frenzying pace and some are classics while others leave much to be desired.

Roots reggae is the largely rasta influenced form of reggae. Many roots tracks are recorded with live instruments, although many are also digital. As mentioned before, some of the most well known roots artists who venture into the dancehall world are Sizzla, Buju Banton and Capelton. Other popular artists who focus almost exclusively on roots include Morgan Heritage, Ritchie Spice, Jah Mason, Anthony B, Luciano and many more. One thing to know is that many of these artists are also rastas. Sizzla, Capelton and Anthony are all Bobo Ashanti, a very unique and obscure sect of the Rastafarian faith. Most roots songs address issues such as Rastafari, Ganja, Jah, H.I.M (His Imperial Majesty), Africa, Jamaica and other realities that face the Jamaican people. As far as learning to speak Jamaican, Roots is important for understanding the roots, reality and culture, but is much more likely to have English lyrics. From a cultural perspective, Roots songs often have Nayabinghi sounds and other instruments of the Rastafari faith.

So is one genre better than the other? Absolutely not. I go in and out of phases. Sometimes, I want to listen to roots to relax and other times I want to listen to dancehall to get energized like Elephant Man. Dancehall is great to learn to speak Jamaican and Roots really gives you insight into the culture of Jamaica and Rastafari!