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.
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.
Omar "Tarrus" Riley is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and member of the Rastafari movement.
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."
Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known professionally as Popcaan, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.
Garfield Delano Spence, also known as Konshens, is a Jamaican dancehall recording artist, deejay, singer and businessman.
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.
Di Genius, is a Grammy Award Winning record producer, singer and songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. Di Genius comes from a musical family—his father is legendary veteran reggae artist Freddie McGregor and his siblings, Daniel "Chino" McGregor and Yeshemabeth "Shema" McGregor, are also singers. While Di Genius was primarily known for producing riddims out of his "Big Ship" recording studio, he has gone on to produce and write songs for international artists such as Sean Paul, Drake, Nelly Furtado, Lianne La Havas, Shakira, John Legend among others. The New York Times named him a "Reggae Veteran At The Age of 18."
KickRaux is a Jamaican DJ, record producer, songwriter and music executive. He has collaborated with producers and vocalists such as Vybz Kartel, Major Lazer, Tyga, Wizkid, Machel Montano, Chronixx, Konshens, Busta Rhymes, Charly Black, Demarco and is known for his remixes of artists such as Migos, Jay Z, Mila J, Kranium & M.I.A. Major Lazer frontman Diplo referred to KickRaux as "one of (his) favorite new producers." In early 2014, KickRaux was credited with coining the term Future Dancehall, which refers to his style of music productions.
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
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.
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.
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.
Desmond Méndez, better known as Charly Black, alternatively known as Charly Blacks, and originally known as Tony Mentol, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer, selector and singjay. He is best known for his track "Gyal You a Party Animal", which became popular outside Jamaica in regions including Mexico, South America, and Spain. The song was a hit in these regions, as well as in some parts of the Caribbean and Central America. It is also one of the most watched dancehall videos on YouTube with over 238 million views as of February 2022. Other songs include "Whine & Kotch" Feat. J Capri, "Girlfriend", "Bike Back", and "Hoist & Wine". Mendez has also collaborated with other music artists, including his collaboration with American Latin pop star Jencarlos Canela in the single "Pa Que Me Invitan".
Jamaican dancehall recording artist Spice has released two studio albums, one extended play, one mixtape, ninety-seven singles and seventy-six music videos.
Chinsea Linda Lee, known professionally as Shenseea, is a Jamaican singer and songwriter. 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.
John Alexander Crawford, professionally known as JonFX, is a music producer from St. Andrews, Jamaica. He has worked with dancehall and reggae artists Shabba Ranks, I Wayne, Vybz Kartel, Gyptian and Akon, as well as late rapper XXXTentacion. In June 2018, he was appointed as a governor on the board of the Florida Grammy Chapter.
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.
"Nostálgico" (transl. "Nostalgic") is a song produced by Jamaican record producer Rvssian and recorded by Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro and American singer Chris Brown. It was written by Lionchild, Brown, Eric Bellinger, Ben Shapiro, Feli Ferraro, Richard McClashie, Teezio, Colla, Kenobi, Alejandro, and Rvssian, while the production was handled by Rvssian. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a single by Sony Music Latin and Head Concussion Records on September 8, 2021. A primarily Spanish language R&B-infused reggaeton and dancehall song, it reminisces on a past relationship that the singers want back. The track received widely positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its Caribbean beats and the singers' exchange of verses.
