Rodney Basil Price, known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all time.
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. Key elements of dancehall music include its extensive use of Jamaican Patois rather than Jamaican standard English and a focus on the track instrumentals.
Reggae Sumfest is the largest music festival in Jamaica and the Caribbean, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay. Sumfest started in 1993.
Reggae fusion is a fusion genre of reggae that mixes reggae and/or dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, hip-hop/rap, R&B, jazz, funk, soul, disco, electronic, and Latin music, amongst others.
David Constantine Brooks, better known by his stage name Mavado, is a Jamaican dancehall singer. Mavado is signed to We the Best Music Group and formerly to Cash Money Records.
Dwayne Chin-Quee, better known as Supa Dups, is a Jamaican record producer, a drummer, and selector based in Miami, Florida. He is a member of the Black Chiney sound system. His father is a second generation Chinese Jamaican, and his mother is of Hakka Chinese, German, and African descent.
Collin Demar Edwards, better known by his stage name Demarco, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae recording artist.
Adidja Azim Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Among his various nicknames, he is referred to as Worl' Boss or Teacha. As summarized by Rolling Stone, he "attained folk-hero status in Jamaica with provocative lyrics, and a mischievous public persona", and "few have captivated [the dancehall] audience – or offended the sensibilities of its detractors – as consistently and thoroughly as Kartel."
Leroy Russell Junior, better known by his stage names Tommy Lee and Tommy Lee Sparta, is a Jamaican dancehall artist from Flankers Montego Bay, Jamaica. Tommy Lee Sparta gained popularity as a member of Adidjahiem Records and the associated Portmore Empire crew under the leadership of Vybz Kartel. He has been a controversial figure in dancehall due to his self-described "Gothic Dancehall" style, which often features dark and Satanist-inspired subject matter.
Jamar Rolando McNaughton, popularly known as Chronixx, is a Jamaican reggae artist. His stage name replaced the name "Little Chronicle" which he was given because of his father, the singer "Chronicle". Chronixx and his music has been branded as a "Reggae Revival", alongside other reggae musicians including Alborosie, Dre Island, Jah Bouks, Jah9, Protoje, Kelissa, Jesse Royal, Keznamdi and Kabaka Pyramid. His lyrical content revolves around themes of anti-war, romantic declarations and resiliency.
21st Hapilos Digital Distribution is a dancehall and reggae online distribution company based in Manhattan, New York, with offices in Kingston, Jamaica. The company was founded in 2009 and has distributed music for Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Konshens, Sizzla, Beenie Man, Rvssian, Sean Paul, and Popcaan, among others. Every year the company hosts a Digital Awards that recognizes Top Video, Top Selling Single, Top Riddims, Top Reggae Singles, producers and more. The winners for the Digital Awards are selected from raw sales data. In 2017, 21st Hapilos Digital launched the 21st Hapilos Top 10 Digital Chart based on digital sales
Tarik Luke Johnston, commonly known as Rvssian, is a Jamaican record producer, singer, songwriter and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Head Concussion, a music production company situated in Kingston, Jamaica.
Mixpak Records is a Brooklyn-based independent record label, founded in 2009 by record producer Dre Skull. The label operates across a range of genres, from dancehall to underground club music, experimental electronic, rap and leftfield pop. Mixpak has released music by Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Palmistry, Murlo, and Jubilee, among others.
Where We Come From is the debut studio album by Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan, released on 10 June 2014 by Mixpak Records. A prolific dancehall artist from Jamaica, Popcaan collaborated with several producers on the album: Dre Skull, Dubbel Dutch, Anju Blaxx, Jaime YVP and Adde Instrumentals.
Grace Latoya Hamilton, known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer. Known as the Queen of Dancehall, Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world. She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
Earlan Bartley, better known as Alkaline, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae musician from Kingston, Jamaica.
Kirk Rhoden is a Jamaican musical recording artist better known by his stage name Jah Vinci. He has been active since 2005, but had his first breakthrough hit in 2008 with his then mentor Vybz Kartel. He was a part of Vybz group Portmore Empire until the group disbanded in 2012. He has released several of Jamaica's biggest hits starting with the Vybz collaboration "Weh Dem A Guh" on producer Stephen Mcgregor's record which became one of the most popular songs in the Dance Hall scene at that time.
Chinsea Linda Lee, known professionally as Shenseea, is a Jamaican recording artist. She is best known for her guest appearance alongside Roddy Ricch on Kanye West's 2021 song "Pure Souls," which entered the Billboard Hot 100. Through its parent album Donda, she received a Grammy Award nomination Album of the Year at the 64th Grammy Awards. She signed with Interscope Records to release her debut studio album Alpha (2022), which peaked at number two on the Top Reggae Albums chart and number three on the Heatseekers charts. Her other accolades include a NAACP Image Award and MOBO Award.
Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.
Emwah Warmington, known professionally as Skillibeng, is a Jamaican dancehall Deejay "DJ" and rapper from St. Thomas, noted for his works with Vybz Kartel, DJ Khaled, Sean Paul, Nicki Minaj, Wizkid, Rich the Kid, Kali Uchis, Popcaan, J.I the Prince of N.Y, and French Montana.
