Toasting (Jamaican music)
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| - | The ''' music of [[Jamaica]]''' includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres, such as [[mento]], [[ska]], [[rocksteady]], [[reggae]], [[dub music]], [[dancehall]], [[rocksteady]], [[ska jazz]], [[reggae fusion]] and related styles. Jamaica's music culture is a fusion of elements from the United States ([[rhythm and blues]] and [[soul music|soul]]), Africa, and neighboring [[Caribbean]] islands such as [[Trinidad and Tobago]] ([[Calypso music|calypso]] and [[soca music|soca]]). Reggae is especially popular through the international fame of [[Bob Marley]]. Jamaican music's influence on music styles in other countries includes the practice of [[Deejay (Jamaican)|toasting]], which was brought to [[New York City]] and evolved into [[rapping]]. British genres as [[Lovers rock]] and [[Ragga jungle|jungle music]] are also influenced by Jamaican music. | + | {{Music of Jamaica}} |
| + | '''Deejay''' (alternatively spelled '''DJ''') is a term in [[Jamaican music]] for a [[reggae]] or [[dancehall]] musician who sings and "toasts" to an instrumental [[riddim]] (rhythm). | ||
| + | Deejays are not to be confused with [[disc jockey]]s from other music genres like [[hip-hop]], where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called [[selector (disc jockey)|selectors]]. Deejays who are more likely to sing are sometimes called [[singjay]]s. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The term deejay came about as a result of the act of some selectors (as they were called) of the 60s and 70s such as [[U-Roy]] or [[King Stitt]] toasting to the [[Dub music|version]] side of popular records of the time. The version came about when the record company produced the [[45 record]] with the song, the flip side of which had the instrumental version of the song. This gave the deejays the chance to make up on-the-fly lyrics to the instrumental music. This occurrence gave rise to deejay toasting and the term has been used in that context ever since. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Toasting== | ||
| + | '''Toasting''', '''chatting''', or '''deejaying''' is the act of [[Speech communication|talking]] or [[chanting]], usually in a monotone melody, over a [[rhythm]] or [[Beat (music)|beat]] by a deejay. Traditionally, the method of toasting originated in the [[Caribbean]] [[calypso music|calypso]] and [[mento]] tradition, by the [[calypsonian]]s, which had become popular in Jamaica. The lyrics can be either improvised or pre-written. Toasting has been used in various [[Africa]]n traditions, such as [[griot]]s chanting over a drum beat, as well as in [[Music of Jamaica|Jamaican music]] forms, such as [[Ska]], [[reggae]], [[dancehall]], and [[dub music|dub]]. Toasting's mix of talking and chanting may have influenced the development of [[rapping|MCing]] in US [[hip hop music]]. The combination of singing and toasting is known as [[singjay]]ing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the late 1950s deejay toasting was developed by [[Count Machuki]].<ref>[[Lloyd Bradley]]. {{Google books quote|id=NSnaAAAAMAAJ |pg=268|text=Joe Gibbs dabbled in prototype toasting with Count Machuki; as did Duke Reid, to much greater effect, with U-Roy.|This is reggae music: the story of Jamaica's music }}. ISBN 978-0802138286</ref> He conceived the idea from listening to disc jockeys on American radio stations. He would do American jive over the music while selecting and playing R&B music. Deejays like [[Count Machuki]] working for producers would play the latest hits on traveling [[public address system|sound systems]] at parties and add their toasts or vocals to the music. These toasts consisted of comedy, boastful commentaries, half-sung rhymes, rhythmic chants, squeals, screams, and rhymed storytelling.<ref name="rhapsody"> | ||
| + | {{cite web | ||
| + | | url = http://www.rhapsody.com/worldreggae/reggae/djtoasting | ||
| + | | title = Deejay Toasting | ||
| + | | accessdate = 2006-08-04 | ||
| + | | author = | ||
| + | | work = | ||
| + | | publisher = Rhapsody.com | ||
| + | | pages = | ||
| + | | archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20070929104725/http://www.rhapsody.com/worldreggae/reggae/djtoasting | ||
| + | | archivedate =2007-09-29 | ||
| + | }}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Osbourne Ruddock (aka [[King Tubby]]) was a Jamaican sound recording engineer who created vocal-less rhythm backing tracks that were used by DJs doing "toasting" by creating one-off vinyl discs (also known as [[dub plate]]s) of songs without the vocals and adding echo and sound effects.<ref>Charles R. Acland. {{Google books|id=_wLPo51YIWEC|page=104|title=Residual media }}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Late 1960s toasting deejays included [[U-Roy]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|title=DJ/Toasting |url=http://www.allmusic.com/explore/style/dj-toasting-d612 |accessdate=2012-06-09}}</ref> and [[Dennis Alcapone]], the latter known for mixing gangster talk with humor in his toasting. In the early 1970s, toasting deejays included [[I-Roy]] (his nickname is a homage to U-Roy) and [[Dillinger (musician)|Dillinger]], the latter known for his humorous toasting style. In the late 1970s, [[Trinity (musician)|Trinity]] became a popular toasting deejay. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The 1980s saw the first deejay Toasting duo, [[Michigan & Smiley]], and the development of toasting outside of Jamaica. In England, [[Pato Banton]] explored his Caribbean roots, humorous and political toasting<ref name="rhapsody" /> while [[Ranking Roger]] of the Second Wave or Two-Tone [[ska]] revival band [[The Beat (band)|the Beat]] from the 1980s did Jamaican toasting over music that blended ska, pop, and some [[Punk rock|punk]] influences. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The rhythmic rhyming of vocals in Jamaican deejay toasting influenced the development of rapping in African-American hip-hop,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/bluessoulreggae/guides/reggae/ |publisher=BBC |title=Essential Guide to Reggae |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070208012021/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/bluessoulreggae/guides/reggae/ |archivedate=2007-02-08}}</ref> and the development of the Dancehall style<ref name="rhapsody" /> (e.g. hip-hop pioneer and Jamaican expatriate [[DJ Kool Herc]] and [[Phife Dawg]] of [[A Tribe Called Quest]]). Jamaican deejay toasting also influenced various types of dance music, such as [[Oldschool jungle|jungle music]] and [[UK garage]]. Dancehall artists that have achieved pop hits with toasting-influenced vocals include [[Shabba Ranks]], [[Shaggy (artist)|Shaggy]], [[Lady Saw]], [[Sean Paul]] and [[Damian Marley]]. | ||
| + | It is widely accepted that [[John Lydon]] (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) derived his singing style from Toasting, particularly on songs like "[[Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols#Track listing|No Feelings]]".{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | {{wikiquote}} | ||
| + | {{div col|colwidth=30em}} | ||
| + | * [[A cappella]] | ||
| + | * [[Beatbox]] | ||
| + | * [[Dancehall]] | ||
| + | * [[Doo-wop]] | ||
| + | * [[DJ (disambiguation)]] | ||
| + | * [[Onomatopoeia]] | ||
| + | * [[Scat singing]] | ||
| + | * [[Singjay]] | ||
| + | * [[Rapping]] | ||
| + | * [[Vocalese]] | ||
| + | * [[Voice instrumental music]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 09:32, 22 February 2013
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Deejay (alternatively spelled DJ) is a term in Jamaican music for a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and "toasts" to an instrumental riddim (rhythm).
Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors. Deejays who are more likely to sing are sometimes called singjays.
The term deejay came about as a result of the act of some selectors (as they were called) of the 60s and 70s such as U-Roy or King Stitt toasting to the version side of popular records of the time. The version came about when the record company produced the 45 record with the song, the flip side of which had the instrumental version of the song. This gave the deejays the chance to make up on-the-fly lyrics to the instrumental music. This occurrence gave rise to deejay toasting and the term has been used in that context ever since.
Toasting
Toasting, chatting, or deejaying is the act of talking or chanting, usually in a monotone melody, over a rhythm or beat by a deejay. Traditionally, the method of toasting originated in the Caribbean calypso and mento tradition, by the calypsonians, which had become popular in Jamaica. The lyrics can be either improvised or pre-written. Toasting has been used in various African traditions, such as griots chanting over a drum beat, as well as in Jamaican music forms, such as Ska, reggae, dancehall, and dub. Toasting's mix of talking and chanting may have influenced the development of MCing in US hip hop music. The combination of singing and toasting is known as singjaying.
In the late 1950s deejay toasting was developed by Count Machuki.<ref>Lloyd Bradley. Template:Google books quote. ISBN 978-0802138286</ref> He conceived the idea from listening to disc jockeys on American radio stations. He would do American jive over the music while selecting and playing R&B music. Deejays like Count Machuki working for producers would play the latest hits on traveling sound systems at parties and add their toasts or vocals to the music. These toasts consisted of comedy, boastful commentaries, half-sung rhymes, rhythmic chants, squeals, screams, and rhymed storytelling.<ref name="rhapsody"> {{
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Osbourne Ruddock (aka King Tubby) was a Jamaican sound recording engineer who created vocal-less rhythm backing tracks that were used by DJs doing "toasting" by creating one-off vinyl discs (also known as dub plates) of songs without the vocals and adding echo and sound effects.<ref>Charles R. Acland. Template:Google books</ref>
Late 1960s toasting deejays included U-Roy<ref>{{
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The 1980s saw the first deejay Toasting duo, Michigan & Smiley, and the development of toasting outside of Jamaica. In England, Pato Banton explored his Caribbean roots, humorous and political toasting<ref name="rhapsody" /> while Ranking Roger of the Second Wave or Two-Tone ska revival band the Beat from the 1980s did Jamaican toasting over music that blended ska, pop, and some punk influences.
The rhythmic rhyming of vocals in Jamaican deejay toasting influenced the development of rapping in African-American hip-hop,<ref>{{
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See also
Template:Wikiquote Template:Div col
- A cappella
- Beatbox
- Dancehall
- Doo-wop
- DJ (disambiguation)
- Onomatopoeia
- Scat singing
- Singjay
- Rapping
- Vocalese
- Voice instrumental music
