Dancehall

Dancehall on vinyl: riddims and sound systems

In short: Dancehall emerged in Jamaica from the late seventies, named after the dance halls where the sound systems played: singers and DJs over stripped-down, heavy rhythms, the “riddims”. From the mid-eighties electronic riddims increasingly shaped the sound. The Vinyl Room currently has 33 dancehall records.

What is dancehall?

One riddim, many voices: countless artists sing and toast their own tracks over the same rhythm. The sound travelled far – Italian-born Alborosie lives and works in Jamaica, The Bug from London mixes dancehall with electronics.

Denmark has a scene of its own: Bikstok Røgsystem with “Fabrik”, Shaka Loveless and BliGlad with “Kærlighed Til Folket”.

What to look for

Dancehall often came out on singles and 12-inches for the sound systems; label and country of release help you tell which edition you have – it’s noted with each copy.

From our stock

First pressings

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→ Roots reggae · Dub · VP Records · Reggae on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

What is dancehall? Jamaican music from the late seventies, with singers and DJs over stripped-down rhythms for the sound systems.

What is a riddim? A rhythm over which many artists sing or toast their own tracks.

What is the difference from roots reggae? Dancehall is geared more towards sound systems and the dance floor, and the lyrics often focus on other things than faith and politics – the boundaries are fluid.

Is there dancehall from Denmark? Yes – here, for example, Bikstok Røgsystem, Shaka Loveless and BliGlad.