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The sounds of the island — grouped by how they sound

931 playable recordings, interviews, documentaries and sound tapes from the archive, sorted into nine sonic groupings. Each grouping tells you what to listen for, so the difference between a ska chop and a one drop is something you can hear rather than something you have to take on trust.

SONIC GROUPINGS

Nine ways the island sounds.

Most groupings follow a period of sound — the tempo drop into rocksteady, the machine arriving in 1985. Clash and dubplate is the exception: it is a practice rather than a decade, so a record lands there for what it shows, not for when its artist worked. A recording can sit in more than one.

Deep background

Drum roots

Three Nyabinghi drums in conversation — the bass drum on the downbeat, the funde holding a steady heartbeat pulse, the repeater improvising across the top. Kumina and revival singing work the same way: a fixed pulse with a voice moving freely over it.

No live here

1940s–50s

Mento

An acoustic band with no drum kit: banjo, guitar, hand drum and a rhumba box — a big thumb piano the player sits on — plucking the bassline. The lilt leans on the last beat of the bar, which is why mento swings where calypso struts.

3 recordings

1950s–early 60s

Sound-system foundation

American R&B and shuffle boogie played through valve amplifiers and home-built bass bins. The thing to hear is not the song but the system: bass weight the record was never mastered for, and a selector talking over it.

1 recording

1962–66

Ska

The chop on the offbeat — guitar and piano stabbing the up-strokes between the drums — at a pace close to a run. Horns carry the melody, jazz-schooled and loud, and the bass walks rather than repeats.

1 recording

1966–79

Rocksteady, reggae and dub

The tempo drops and the bass steps forward as the lead instrument. Count to four: in a one drop there is nothing on beat one, and kick and snare land together on three. Then dub takes the same tape and removes most of it, leaving reverb where the singing was.

7 recordings

1979–90

Dancehall and the digital turn

One riddim under many different voices. After Sleng Teng in 1985 the backing is a machine rather than a band, so the timing is exact and the same instrumental can carry a love song, a boast and a warning in the same session.

17 recordings

1990s

Clash and dubplate

A familiar tune with the words changed — an artist singing a rival sound into the ground and calling your sound by name. These are specials, cut one at a time for one system, and the crowd noise is the scoring.

13 recordings

2000s

Street dance

Records built for a specific move, with the instruction in the lyric. The tempo and the gaps in the beat are shaped around what a body has to do on the floor.

12 recordings

2010s onward

Global and the living archive

Old riddims resurfacing — a Studio One bassline under a new voice, a revival singer reaching back past dancehall to roots. Listen for what is being quoted.

21 recordings

LISTENING — GLOBAL AND THE LIVING ARCHIVE

Global and the living archive

Old riddims resurfacing — a Studio One bassline under a new voice, a revival singer reaching back past dancehall to roots. Listen for what is being quoted.

21 recordings · live Clear filters

Vybz Kartel and Mavado — full set, A Taste of Reggae Sumfest, 18 July 2026

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

The full Kartel and Mavado set at Plantation Cove, filmed and published by The Fix, under the title "Vybz Kartel vs Mavado [FULL Sumfest 2026 Clash]". The clash billing is not the channel inventing a story — the event was promoted that way, on the Gaza/Gully framing, and the "versus" carried through into how the footage was published. What happened on the night was a combination: the two men trading hits on the same stage rather than cutting each other down. The gap between the billing and the outcome is the point of the record. The same channel also published the set as a ten-part series, of which parts 4, 6 and 7 were not surfaced when this record was made. Identified via web search; not verified from the seeding environment. Discovery-only external reference pending editorial rights review.

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Vybz Kartel and Mavado at Reggae Sumfest 2026 — the reunion

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Further footage of the Plantation Cove set, published under a "versus" title. The event was billed as a clash and delivered as a combination; see the note on the full set. Identified via web search; not verified from the seeding environment.

Source link ↗

Vybz Kartel and Mavado make history at Reggae Sumfest, 18 July 2026

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Coverage of the first time the two shared a stage since 2008. Identified via web search; not verified from the seeding environment.

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Chronixx - 'Likes' starring Ravers Clavers (Dance Video)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · releases

Artist-associated dance video for Chronixx's 'Likes'; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Dancehall tutorial: steps from Overload Skankaz and Xqlusiv Dancers

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community dance-tutorial video; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Mr. Vegas - Raging Bull (feat. Overmars)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Artist-associated music video; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Xqlusiv Dancers (Top Jamaican Dancehall Group)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-uploaded showcase video; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Sister Audrey With The Robotiks Mixed by Mad Professor @ Sunshine Reggae Festival 2018

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Festival performance footage upload; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Tessanne Chin - Bridge Over Troubled Water - The Voice 5 Top 5

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-archived upload of Tessanne Chin's NBC The Voice semi-final broadcast performance, December 2013; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Japanese Duo "Ackee & Saltfish" @ Rebel Salute 2014

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-uploaded festival performance footage; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Fire Links Sound & Bass Odyssey Sound In Belfield St. Mary Jamaica March 7, 2020

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-archived session footage; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Peter King - Fast Style Live & Direct at #YouTube

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-archived performance upload of Saxon originator Peter King; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

Source link ↗

Major Lazer - Pon De Floor (Official Video)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · releases

Major Lazer official video; the 2009 clip that carried Skerrit Bwoy and the dagger dance to a global audience; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Jay Douglas - 'Reggae Lane' (live performance)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-archived festival performance of the Reggae Lane song; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Channel One Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival 2010

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-archived Channel One Carnival footage; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Jah Shaka Sound System live at Dub Camp 2023 (Chalice)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Community-archived festival footage; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Skillibeng - Crocodile Teeth (Official Music Video)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · releases

Official music video (Johnny Wonder / EastSyde); discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Spice, Sean Paul, Shaggy - Go Down Deh (Official Music Video)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

VP Records / Dutty Rock Productions official upload; discovery-only embed.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Jah Shaka Sound System Dance Session Dubplates Video

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · releases

Youtube upload; embedded as a discovery-only reference pending editorial review.

Transcript pending ingestion.

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Official Notting Hill Carnival Aba Shanti-I Sound System Highlights Live 2023

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · releases

Public youtube upload (channel: Notting Hill Carnival); embedded as a discovery-only reference pending editorial review.

View transcript · 143 lines

Automatic captions — a machine draft pending editorial review.

  1. 0:00foreign
  2. 0:11[Music]
  3. 0:38foreign
  4. 0:46[Music]
  5. 1:14[Music] foreign
  6. 1:15foreign
  7. 1:15foreign [Music]
  8. 1:50[Music]
  9. 1:50[Music] I love you
  10. 1:53I love you
  11. 1:53I love you [Music]
  12. 2:05everybody
  13. 2:07everybody [Music]
  14. 2:41this time
  15. 2:47[Music]
  16. 3:19first
  17. 3:26time
  18. 3:32[Music]
  19. 3:45and then so far right eyes
  20. 3:52[Music]
  21. 4:18[Music] Hallelujah
  22. 4:20Hallelujah
  23. 4:20Hallelujah [Music]
  24. 4:32[Music]
  25. 4:32[Music] foreign
  26. 4:35foreign
  27. 4:35foreign [Music]
  28. 5:10foreign
  29. 5:12foreign [Music]
  30. 5:49foreign
  31. 5:51foreign [Music]
  32. 6:15myself
  33. 6:22foreign
  34. 6:24foreign [Music]
  35. 7:03control my life
  36. 7:07control my life [Music]
  37. 7:53something about me
  38. 8:06thank you
  39. 8:21[Music]
  40. 8:31[Applause] [Music]
  41. 8:51thank you
  42. 8:53thank you [Music]
  43. 8:55[Music]
  44. 8:55[Music] foreign
  45. 8:56foreign
  46. 8:56foreign [Music]
  47. 9:34[Music]
  48. 9:59[Music] Christmas
  49. 10:02songs
  50. 10:05songs [Music]
  51. 10:12[Music]
  52. 10:21foreign
  53. 10:28[Music]
  54. 11:32[Music] foreign
  55. 11:46[Music]
  56. 12:00[Music] [Applause]
  57. 12:03[Applause]
  58. 12:03[Applause] [Music]
  59. 12:40I do anything
  60. 12:42cigarettes
  61. 12:46yes
  62. 12:47yes [Music]
  63. 12:49[Music]
  64. 12:49[Music] yes
  65. 12:50yes
  66. 12:50yes [Music]
  67. 13:15together
  68. 13:23[Music]
  69. 13:39tyrants
  70. 13:41tyrants [Music]
  71. 13:52[Music]
  72. 13:52[Music] energy
  73. 13:56[Music]
  74. 13:59[Music] together
  75. 14:08[Music]
  76. 14:43[Music] I like it
  77. 14:45I like it
  78. 14:45I like it we'll keep ideas
  79. 14:51[Music]
  80. 15:12[Music] foreign
  81. 15:13foreign
  82. 15:13foreign [Music]
  83. 15:16[Music]
  84. 15:16[Music] [Applause]
  85. 15:17[Applause]
  86. 15:17[Applause] [Music]
  87. 15:21[Music]
  88. 15:21[Music] [Applause]
  89. 15:25[Applause]
  90. 15:25[Applause] [Music]
  91. 15:57uprising
  92. 15:58uprising [Music]
  93. 16:18[Music]
  94. 16:18[Music] ly listen
  95. 16:22[Music]
  96. 16:35[Music] foreign
  97. 16:36foreign
  98. 16:36foreign [Music]
  99. 17:11[Music]
  100. 17:11[Music] subsidiary of
  101. 17:14subsidiary of
  102. 17:14subsidiary of abashanteco De Mania understand brand
  103. 17:17abashanteco De Mania understand brand
  104. 17:18abashanteco De Mania understand brand new good for you
  105. 17:20new good for you
  106. 17:20new good for you [Music]
  107. 17:41[Music]
  108. 17:41[Music] foreign
  109. 17:48[Music]
  110. 18:30[Music] thank you
  111. 18:40[Music]
  112. 19:03thank you
  113. 19:04thank you [Music]
  114. 19:34foreign
  115. 19:38[Music]
  116. 20:09[Music] foreign
  117. 20:10foreign
  118. 20:10foreign [Music]
  119. 20:41foreign
  120. 20:48[Music]
  121. 21:08[Applause]
  122. 21:09[Applause] [Music]
  123. 21:13[Applause]
  124. 21:17[Applause] [Music]
  125. 21:19[Music]
  126. 21:19[Music] [Applause]
  127. 21:31foreign
  128. 22:02[Music]
  129. 22:31thank you
  130. 22:35[Music]
  131. 22:51[Music] thank you
  132. 22:52thank you
  133. 22:52thank you [Music]
  134. 23:01[Music]
  135. 23:25[Music] [Applause]
  136. 23:26[Applause]
  137. 23:26[Applause] [Music]
  138. 23:33[Music]
  139. 23:33[Music] [Applause]
  140. 23:35[Applause]
  141. 23:35[Applause] foreign
  142. 23:37foreign
  143. 23:37foreign [Applause]
Source link ↗

Protoje - Who Knows ft. Chronixx (Official Music Video)

YOUTUBE · rights discovery only · live

Official youtube upload (channel: Protoje); embedded as a discovery-only reference pending editorial review.

View transcript · 114 lines

Automatic captions — a machine draft pending editorial review.

  1. 0:01[Applause]
  2. 0:07Ando J
  3. 0:09Ando J yeah where you say he
  4. 0:12yeah where you say he
  5. 0:12yeah where you say he yeah
  6. 0:16okay who knows who knows who knows who
  7. 0:20okay who knows who knows who knows who knows I just go where the trade wi blows
  8. 0:24knows I just go where the trade wi blows
  9. 0:24knows I just go where the trade wi blows sending love to my friends and Fs and
  10. 0:27sending love to my friends and Fs and
  11. 0:27sending love to my friends and Fs and that's supp I'm pleas
  12. 0:30that's supp I'm pleas
  13. 0:30that's supp I'm pleas to be chilling in the
  14. 0:32to be chilling in the
  15. 0:32to be chilling in the west provide all my wants and needs I
  16. 0:36west provide all my wants and needs I
  17. 0:36west provide all my wants and needs I got the sunshine rivers and trees green
  18. 0:40got the sunshine rivers and trees green
  19. 0:40got the sunshine rivers and trees green [Music]
  20. 0:42[Music]
  21. 0:42[Music] leaves see way drastically straight from
  22. 0:45leaves see way drastically straight from
  23. 0:45leaves see way drastically straight from mey I say every month philosophy I live
  24. 0:50mey I say every month philosophy I live
  25. 0:50mey I say every month philosophy I live the proper way and then me read a
  26. 0:52the proper way and then me read a
  27. 0:52the proper way and then me read a chapter daily Monday in a city hungry
  28. 0:55chapter daily Monday in a city hungry
  29. 0:55chapter daily Monday in a city hungry and eat and food down country drop off
  30. 0:58and eat and food down country drop off
  31. 0:58and eat and food down country drop off the tree
  32. 1:00the tree
  33. 1:00the tree you see say poverty no real then is what
  34. 1:02you see say poverty no real then is what
  35. 1:02you see say poverty no real then is what the reasoning
  36. 1:15revealing who knows who knows who knows
  37. 1:19revealing who knows who knows who knows who knows I just go the tradeing blows
  38. 1:23who knows I just go the tradeing blows
  39. 1:23who knows I just go the tradeing blows sending love to my friends and F hell
  40. 1:26sending love to my friends and F hell
  41. 1:26sending love to my friends and F hell and that's a I'm pleased to be chilling
  42. 1:30and that's a I'm pleased to be chilling
  43. 1:30and that's a I'm pleased to be chilling in the West Indies you I provide all my
  44. 1:34in the West Indies you I provide all my
  45. 1:34in the West Indies you I provide all my wants and needs I got the sunshine
  46. 1:36wants and needs I got the sunshine
  47. 1:37wants and needs I got the sunshine rivers and trees
  48. 1:40rivers and trees
  49. 1:40rivers and trees rele when the rain P up P the roof herb
  50. 1:43rele when the rain P up P the roof herb
  51. 1:44rele when the rain P up P the roof herb just a steam Pepper Pot P life is a
  52. 1:47just a steam Pepper Pot P life is a
  53. 1:47just a steam Pepper Pot P life is a dream if you got gratitude so go tell
  54. 1:49dream if you got gratitude so go tell
  55. 1:49dream if you got gratitude so go tell the regime can't stop where we do now
  56. 1:52the regime can't stop where we do now
  57. 1:53the regime can't stop where we do now information you think on your own or
  58. 1:55information you think on your own or
  59. 1:55information you think on your own or else you're a slave to the things that
  60. 1:57else you're a slave to the things that
  61. 1:57else you're a slave to the things that you know what do you know if you learn
  62. 2:00you know what do you know if you learn
  63. 2:00you know what do you know if you learn every day so be careful of things where
  64. 2:02every day so be careful of things where
  65. 2:02every day so be careful of things where you say who knows who knows who knows
  66. 2:07you say who knows who knows who knows
  67. 2:07you say who knows who knows who knows who knows I just go where the Shing
  68. 2:10who knows I just go where the Shing
  69. 2:10who knows I just go where the Shing blows sending love to my friends and F
  70. 2:13blows sending love to my friends and F
  71. 2:13blows sending love to my friends and F hell and that's supp I'm pleased to be
  72. 2:17hell and that's supp I'm pleased to be
  73. 2:17hell and that's supp I'm pleased to be chilling in the
  74. 2:19chilling in the
  75. 2:19chilling in the westes I provide all my wants and needs
  76. 2:23westes I provide all my wants and needs
  77. 2:23westes I provide all my wants and needs I got the sun shine rivers and
  78. 2:25I got the sun shine rivers and
  79. 2:25I got the sun shine rivers and trees leaves Africa but now We heart it
  80. 2:31trees leaves Africa but now We heart it
  81. 2:31trees leaves Africa but now We heart it is of importance I and I if we cannot
  82. 2:34is of importance I and I if we cannot
  83. 2:34is of importance I and I if we cannot show now what balance that we are how do
  84. 2:37show now what balance that we are how do
  85. 2:37show now what balance that we are how do we propos to carry it abro then I go to
  86. 2:40we propos to carry it abro then I go to
  87. 2:40we propos to carry it abro then I go to Ethiopia and you know plan the building
  88. 2:43Ethiopia and you know plan the building
  89. 2:43Ethiopia and you know plan the building of a nation and help every one a love
  90. 2:46of a nation and help every one a love
  91. 2:46of a nation and help every one a love one a man is just a man it shall be a
  92. 2:49one a man is just a man it shall be a
  93. 2:49one a man is just a man it shall be a coronation when we who knows who knows
  94. 2:53coronation when we who knows who knows
  95. 2:53coronation when we who knows who knows who knows who knows I just go as a
  96. 2:57who knows who knows I just go as a
  97. 2:57who knows who knows I just go as a traing blows sending love to my friends
  98. 3:00traing blows sending love to my friends
  99. 3:00traing blows sending love to my friends and F and that's a I'm pleased to be
  100. 3:05and F and that's a I'm pleased to be
  101. 3:05and F and that's a I'm pleased to be chilling in the
  102. 3:06chilling in the
  103. 3:06chilling in the w i provide all my wants and needs I got
  104. 3:10w i provide all my wants and needs I got
  105. 3:10w i provide all my wants and needs I got the sunshine rivers and trees green
  106. 3:15the sunshine rivers and trees green
  107. 3:15the sunshine rivers and trees green leaves and I say we just
  108. 3:20[Music]
  109. 3:22[Music] m we just move withy every
  110. 3:28time in the
  111. 3:31you see that
  112. 3:32you see that smile my my
  113. 3:36smile my my
  114. 3:36smile my my [Music]
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