For some time now there has been talks of the increase hip hop sound in modern dancehall riddims, an issue that seems to be reaching its tipping point now.
In a Star publication yesterday, the news paper reported that producer Mafia Mckoy aka Blaqk Sheep spoke about the increase complains he has been receiving from DJs across the Caribbean about the authenticity of the dancehall being exported from Jamaica, the home of reggae/dancehall.
Mckoy said: “Weh dem really a seh is that from 2001 to now the groove dem sound more like hip hop than dancehall. Every day music release inna Jamaica and hype here but dem nah play dem ova dey (other Caribbean countries). Dem seh the music better inna the 90s.”
McKoy said he has also received many emails from people in Europe and Canada asking what has caused the change in the sound of the rhythms.
“When everybody totally go hip hop, it change the genre. It really have a domino effect, one fool mek many. That is why ‘one day’ hit ’cause Seanizzle come with an authentic dancehall sound,” he disclosed.
Urban Islandz ask a fans on social media Facebook and Twitter, what they think of the current sound of dancehall? These were some of the reply.
“Di producer nowadays a release some techno hip hop riddim that dont even fit the songs that are recorded on them. Wi need fi hear some good dancehall riddim again trust mi.” (Facebook)
“The last time mi someone release a good dancehall riddim was probably 5 to 10 years ago, mi no know wha de happen too much computers and autotune.” (Facebook)
“Mi no have no problem apart from too much slackness inna dancehall, music a fi evolve.” (Twitter)
“Maybe in Jamaica dem like the new beat dem, but overseas a pure older dancehall play inna club and party. Mi hardly here new dancehall inna clubs a New York.” (Facebook)
Those are a few of the many responses we received.
Another dancehall producer, Seanizzle, also weighed in on the issue. Seanizzle believes people longed for a rhythm with a sound of that nature.
“I agree 100 per cent. When the music leaves the airport and go overseas the people have it as fake. It lose that flavour that people used to from long time. Mi nah seh you caan put a thing to the music but you caan go too far from what the people like.”
Your thoughts below.
