Wednesday 11/11 – Jamaican Musical Culture
I found new information through internet research about Jamaica’s musical culture. One thing I found interesting was that toasting is what inspired rap battles and rapping music. Toasting is easy for people manipulate and make the music their own because they can put their own style and spin on toasting. Rapping is such a huge part of today’s music. People like the graphic nature which includes discussion of everything from politics, to economy, to comedy. Also, Dub music was a jumping off point for the inclusion of electronic instrumentation, computerized music, and a focus on remixing. King Tubby is a common theme when addressing the rise in Jamaican music because he was so influential in increasing the use of sound systems and audio equipment. Remixing brought in more money because the original song, writers, musicians, singers, etc. received compensation, and then when the song is remixed the new artists and musicians receive credit as well.
With the large variety of music from Jamaica (folk music, mento, sound systems, ska, DJ and toasting music, rocksteady music, reggae, dub, dancehall, and ragga, reggae fusion, Rastafarian music, and religious music), there is a wide variety of audiences, although often reggae and Bob Marley is the most prominently associated with Jamaican music. It is interesting that the small country of Jamaica has so strongly influenced American, UK and European music. Indirectly is has also influenced the Asian countries because they enjoy so much American music which has already been touched by Jamaica.
It seems that Jamaica is a country that rests on its roots in incorporating music into their daily lives, but also incorporating an ever-changing tend into how the music is shaped. For a small island, country the plethora of music producers and professions is surprising.
Some additional activities that have come to light with my research include break dancing, rapping socialization, rapping competition, all of which pulls in additional varieties of audiences. Remixing, computer instrumentation, as well as alternative items used to make the music have also progressed.
For example, the etiquette that goes along with Bob Marley songs are very similar to songs written and played by the band Sublime. There is a relaxing, dreamy factor about that music, and there is an understatement of marijuana use.
