Reggae-Rasta Song of the week: Wings Of The Morning
"CAPLETON & METHOD MAN (Dynamic Duo Mix)" 1995
| [Intro: Capleton] And so great is a man goin to be praised [Chorus:] Boy you better put on the wings of de morning and fly [Verse One:] A long time he a tell you bout the duttie square breed [Chorus]
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[Verse Two: Method Man] Here come that rudebwoy
shit, criminology lefit [Verse Three: Capleton] If you put-ta on de wings and tempt to exit [Chorus]
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So ahh, and one of these day [Verse Four: Method Man] Wu-Tang Clan's in the area, Capleton's in the area [Outro: Method Man] Now, owwww, everybody |
Dancehall Explosion
The Reggae-RaggaVibration
In Jamaica, sound systems have been the mode of broadcasting music for decades.
In the beginning, they were mobile units (usually packed in a van as pictured
below) that enabled people passing through town to be able to listen to music.
These first mobile units came out of economic necessity in the 1950’s.
In America, one could purchase a nice home stereo (record player and speakers)
for about five percent of his yearly income. At the same time in Jamaica, he
would have to spend his yearly income to afford such a luxury. Today in Jamaica’s
cities and towns, instead of mobile units, there are enormous speaker sets found
nearly on every busy street corner. What a unique, fun, and entertaining atmosphere
for passers by!
Jamaica is a culture that loves music—there is no doubt about that! The culture of Jamaica is, indisputably, a music culture. Jamaicans love music. The music culture is a sound-system culture. Music is played everywhere on the small island. Tourists walking along any Jamaican city street will be able to hear the deep and pounding bass coming from massive sound systems blaring the current and popular Jamaican music—dancehall reggae. Today, essentially, reggae music in Jamaica is known as dancehall. Dancehall music is present day Jamaican Reggae, which voices the current population's concerns, conflicts, fantasies, and frustrations. The music also offers an escape, a humor, and a new outlook towards the country’s harsh economic situation.
Dancehall reggae came from a vanishing Roots-Reggae era. With the success of
Bob Marley, whose music later became mainly lyrical and intellectual, Reggae
music established itself as music to enjoy while enveloped in a cloud of ganja
smoke. Bob Marley was the one who revolutionized reggae. The Bob Marley era
was the peak of Roots Reggae. Bob and his contemporaries were looking for an
international market. Unfortunately, with this shift, it seemed that the local
Jamaican people and artists were forgotten. With the international efforts of
reggae, it seemed that reggae had lost its original feel, which was in the rhythm.
Worst of all, many bandwagon artists lost touch with the everyday concerns of
the common Jamaican. To the native Jamaican, the constant songs about Rastafari,
which were previously popular, became boring, outdated, and lost its appeal.
In 1983, there was a show called “Dancehall ‘83,” which several
popular deejays performed including Yellowman and Charlie Chaplin. The event
was well marketed and a massive crowd of dancegoers packed the venue. Because
of the big success of this show, (due to the deejays) the name “Dancehall”
was used to promote later shows. It was at this time that songs of popular deejays
ruled virtually all the dancehalls. The new music that was being played became
known as “Dancehall” and the name has stuck ever since. However,
dancehall was no longer just a place where dances where held, but it became
the new form of reggae music—deejay music. In addition, once digital music
took off in Jamaica in 1985 and computers played a big part in mixing beats,
dancehall became the in vogue scene. This spawned the new music revolution of
Jamaica called Ragga.
Although the dancehall scene is a male dominated one, it is the female, like a queen, who reigns supreme. Her individualized, risqué fashions, adorned with excessive amounts of jewelry, pastel colored wigs, thigh high patent leather boots and enticing makeup expresses a bold and defiant sexuality; as the Reggae rhythms blare from the sound system speakers, she "Whines" her pelvis, rolls her waistline and gyrates her body in the latest dance moves, leaving her male subjects breathless!
Today’s most popular Ragga deejays are: Bounty Killer, Ninja Man, Spragga Benz, Sizzla, T.O.K., Lady Saw, Frisco Kid, Elephantman, Cobra, Mr. Vegas, Lexxus, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Capleton, Shabba Ranks, Sean Paul, Red Rat, Antony B, Luciano, and Shaggy. These deejays are the stars, symbols, and idols of Jamaican pop culture.
Stay tuned for more info and products.
Remember, the newest book, The Rastaman Vibration, contains a detailed section pertaining to Reggae and Ragga--including popular Artist Bio's and lyrics! This page is only a sample.