riddim: (noun) The instrumental accompaniment or backing track of a song, typically in reggae or dancehall music. In 1990, Jamaican producer Bobby Digital utilized this style of backing track for Shabba Ranks' hit song.

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BETA

chino Decode the rhythms to uncover the Jamaican roots of riddim and global pop's DNA.

Jul 2

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chino Jamaican Riddim Roots

In Jamaica's dancehall, the rhythm first arose, Steely & Clevie's beat, where Dembow naturally grows.

Jul 2

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chino The anatomy of the kick and snare

Jul 2

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chino The instrumental version of "Dem Bow" was widely copied and shared, laying the foundation for Jamaican dancehall culture.

Jul 2

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chino Dembow's hypnotic power comes from a specific syncopated rhythm called the tresillo, which places three beats over two bars.

Jul 2

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Fun Fact

Jamaican drum machines: In 1989, Steely & Clevie used a digital Oberheim DX drum machine to program the original dembow beat.

Jul 2

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Glossary

riddim (noun)
The instrumental accompaniment or backing track of a song, typically in reggae or dancehall music. In 1990, Jamaican producer Bobby Digital utilized this style of backing track for Shabba Ranks' hit song.

Jul 2

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Gossip

Which beat makes you want to dance instantly?

Jul 2

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Quiz

In which Caribbean city was the original "Dem Bow" rhythm recorded in 1989?

Jul 2

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chino The message behind the original song

Jul 2

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Quiz

What physical medium helped spread the original "Dem Bow" riddim to global DJs in 1990?

Jul 2

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chino Sampling and the rise of dancehall

Jul 2

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Quiz

Who produced the original 1989 Jamaican song "Dem Bow" for Shabba Ranks?

Jul 2

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chino The birth of a legendary beat

Jul 2

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Quiz

What does the phrase "dem bow" translate to in Jamaican Patois?

Jul 2

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Quiz

Which digital drum machine was famously used to program the original 1989 dembow beat?

Jul 2

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Quiz

What traditional syncopated rhythm pattern underlies the classic dembow beat?

Jul 2

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Quiz

In Jamaican dancehall music culture, what is the term for a reusable instrumental track?

Jul 2

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Quiz

What was the primary political theme of Shabba Ranks' original 1989 song "Dem Bow"?

Jul 2

The story of dembow

The Jamaican roots of the riddim

The Panamanian and Puerto Rican evolution

The Dominican Republic explosion

The global pop takeover