Whats unique about dancehall reggae? specifically the beats

[GuyVelella]

most genres of music has something unique about its instrumentals. You know its ______ music by listening to the beat. With dancehall, the beats seem to have moved away from its reggae style beats. I cant really tell if a song Im listening to is dancehall until I hear jamaican giberish. Most of the dancehall beats being made now dont sound like reggae anymore. Its not like the late 80s/early 90s when all the riddims for dancehall all kept that reggae sound.

Do you find anything about the beats for todays dancehall that give it off? You can tell if a song its roots reggae by the beat. You could tell if a song is reggaeton by the beat. Same with rock, country, ex.... What does dancehall have about its beats thats unique? To where you listen to only the instrumentals of a dancehall song and you know its dancehall by the beat and not the rapping in Jamaican giberish. So its not confused with rap, pop, electro, or whatever music white people listen to.

[AnorakTrev]

" So it's not confused with rap , pop , electro or whatever white people listen to . "

Ouch !! That's a broad sweep ! I'm white , I listen to rap , pop electro .. and reggae !

[CourtneyBeat]

I think, as has always been the case, the "new" dancehall/ragga style is geared towards the club/dance, and therefore doesn't appeal to the masses.

And I don't know exactly what you mean by "giberish"....it's just the style of heavy heavy patois and esoteric slang used in the vocal style. I would still rather listen to new dancehall than anything on top 40 radio...any day of the week!

[jahsteppa]

Jamaican gibberish???!!!
Yes, true in many cases, but also maybe if you employ a translator you will find that many dancehall releases focus on serious issues affecting people in Jamaica, UK, US or worldwide....and day to day trivial issues I must add.

But to call it "gibberish" is a bit of a discriminatory overstatement in my opinion. I think to call it "labberish" u may be a bit closer to the mark!!!!

[SalmonRiverGanj]

damn the OP's take is very white and weak. Crossover dancehall reggae has been going on for years, beenie man one of the first.

I love the new sounds, keeps it fresh. how many recycled chunes do we need?

[CourtneyBeat]

I agree with ganj.

[Balughetto]

I think you guys made the mistakes of his post clear: gibberish aint really gibberishy (although, sometimes...), reggae is not a music only blacks listen to, black people also listen to pop or electro, etc.

yet no one has answered him i couldnt if i tried... but probably some of you can? I think it's an interesting question. I'll try to simply formulate:

- what are the main characteristics of a dancehall riddim?
- what makes it different from roots reggae?

[Vinnie]

"what are the main characteristics of a dancehall riddim?"

GuyVelella is asking about the 'new' dancehall, not the 80s or 90s

if someone can give an example of todays dancehall? that would be a good start

[CourtneyBeat]

well, to start, from a rhythmic standpoint, it's 3/4 instead of 4/4 time.

Kick, Kick, snare or Kick, Kick, Kick
as opposed to
Kick, Snare, Kick, Snare

[davek]

well, to start, from a rhythmic standpoint, it's 3/4 instead of 4/4 time.

???

Waltzes are in 3/4 time, reggae is not. What you may be referring to is a syncopated percussive line playing "threes or sixes" (sort of like "second line" New Orleans drumming, or "clave" in Spanish music), which keeps a persistent rhythmic motif throughout the song. But the time signatures are almost without fail 2/4 or 4/4.