Dancehall is a type of reggae that was developed in the early 1980’s. It is a style that is characterized by a DJ singing and dancing to danceable reggae music also known as riddims. Dancehall has been accepted internationally due to its unique style and upbeat rhythms.
Dancehall music retains a role wherever Jamaicans have migrated overseas in large numbers including New York , Miami , Toronto , and London . It originally referred to any large room where people gathered to dance, then in the early eighties, it became the name of a reggae genre. Today, dancehall is one of the most popular styles of music in the industry.
Artists of Dancehall
Sean Paul is the first dancehall artist to top the charts and go platinum using singles from dancehall shows. There are many incredible dancehall artists that have represented this reggae style music to the world including Bob Marley, Beenie Man, Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man, and Shabba Ranks to name a few. They offer some of the best rhythms and rhymes in the music industry today.
The main purpose of dancehall reggae music is to dance. Energy is found within the music through the DJ’s ability to portray his talents to the audience. Dancing is made possible from the rhythmic vibrations that come from the music.
