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There are many people who get confused in what is a dubplate and a special.
So what do people think is a dubplate, and whats a special?

peace

To confuse it even more some call it dubplate specials.
I`m talking about before it gets on a format from the masters. What makes one decide it`s a dubplate, a dubplate special or a special.

peace

Its simple, a special is a tune voiced with a sounds name, as it would likely be exclusive and unreleased it would also be a dubplate, hence dubplate special.

To differentiate a dubplate from a special, a dubplate would consist of any unreleased mix of a song, whether vocal, instrumental or dub, played by a sound system.

The word "special" was adopted for the use as mentioned above, but remember specials were not a thing of sound system culture back in the 70s, as such some dubs might have been termed as "dubplate specials".

So when an artist chats lyrics biggin` up a particular sound it is called a special not a dubplate? Does it make a difference what riddim they use, either released or a riddim that has not been released?

peace

Also why would a soundsystem want another sounds specials?

peace

When an artists lyrics are bigging up a sound it is at the bequest of that sound, they acquire them and they pay them for that service, and its voiced as an exclusive special for them, it would not be for release, so its a dubplate.

It makes no difference what the riddim is, released or not, it would still be exclusive because of the addition of the voiced special.

There is no reason another sound would want a special of a next sound. But some people might want to collect another sounds specials, just as anyone collects any music that appeals to them, maybe just because they like it, they might follow said sound, or even just for historical reasons.

A dubplate is Acetate. But now a dubplate can be on CD, MP3s and the new vinyl thats the same as dubplates/Acetate but dont wear out after 100 plays.

There are many things called A Dubplate, from putting on a mix you done yourself from a released record with your own production, a dubplate of music that you have recorded yourself, a dubplate remixed from the masters of a released tune and stuff that aint been released.
All dubplate means is recorded on Acetate.
So if I played a Jah Shaka tune that was released and chatted up my sound on it, it would be a dubplate special, even though I did not make the riddim?
Rather than making the riddim myself and chatting up the sound that would also be called a dubplate special!!
Another sound would only want another sounds dubplates if they were dubplates and not specials biggin up the others sound.
Its funny cos we all knew what dubplates was in the 70`s but a lot of people have redifined what it means.
Say I get Jah Shaka to chat my sound up over a riddim thats been released, then you get Jah Shaka to chat up the sound on a riddim my sound made. So they are both called dubplate specials even though its a completly different process!!!
Also if the the tune aint got no vocals thats only an instrumental it cant be a dubplate special because it aint got no vocals, but you can get dubplate specials that are insrtumentals but you need access to the masters to remix it down on to a format of another master.
If the recording is only on masters and not Acetate how do you decide what it is.
So who owns the copyright the sound or the artist? Who owns the masters of the dubplate, the sound or the artist? and what if the sound want to release the dubplate/test pressing for general release?
There is nothing stopping people recording it ina dance and then releasing it. either on dubplate or 1,000 copies.

peace

Its everything as i described.

The idea of a "special" is to big up your sounds name, its the exclusivity of that special, and the artist you have chosen to voice it, that is supposed to draw a crowd to your sound. As such you wouldnt want to be giving it out to the general public, otherwise why would they need to come see your sound, they could listen to your tunes at home, but this is besides the point as specials are voiced on the understanding that they are not for release, normally they cost less than the sum you would pay for a release tune. And unless the rhythm they voiced on is the sounds own rhythm then no they would have no right to release the tune, they would have to seek the producers permission. How many "specials" do you see released or available ? That should answer your question !

*"There is nothing stopping people recording it ina dance and then releasing it. either on dubplate or 1,000 copies."*

You could say that about any tune ever played, how many times has that ever happened in the history of reggae music !

Thanks for your imput. Bless-ed.

peace