Sharon "Treasure" Aaron
Afrobeat's growth and its impact on the Dancehall presence can be defined best in the increase of album sales and online streaming statistics and the increase of collaborative efforts into pop music.
Ayo J, Kranium, Yemi Alade at the Grammy Museum discussing the impact of AfroBeat and Dancehall (photo credit by Sharon Aaron)
Major modern Afrobeat artists such as Burna Boy, Wiz Kid, Davido, Tems, Ayra Star, Rema, and Tyla have made strides in 2024 and in the very recent previous years. Their presence in the music industry has changed the dynamics of the flavorful sound that was once often attributed to the dancehall genre. The drums and bass of are distinctive in Afrobeat as they have a similar arrangement of dancehall. Dancehall being a product of reggae music from Jamaica and Afrobeat being a product of West African Yoruba and Igbo music, with a hint of jazz, have both heavily influenced each other. Producers and artists looking for “that sound” now have options for what insertion they will use to influence new creative songs.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s Nigerian-born musician Fela Kuti along with his drummer Tony Allen drew sounds from James Brown and blended traditional Yoruba music of Nigeria with Funk and Jazz music and forged a new sound later to be known as Afrobeat. Meanwhile, reggae music was thriving in Jamaica and being shared internationally by megastars such as Bob Marley. Reggae later on with the influence of rappers in the United States birthed the genre dancehall in the late 1970s According to Masterclass.com reggae evolved into this new sound with digitally composed tracks built on pure, driving grooves. It was later on in the 1980’s when artists like Yellowman and the late Ewart “Uroy” Beckford recorded hits that increased the popularity of the sound with lyrics that were more spirited for the party scene and nightlife versus the more spiritually and romantically influenced reggae music of the past.
The two share evolution throughout the years. One major difference that allowed the Jamaican sound to be more influential in the international music industry was the impact of Jamaica’s tourism in the 1980s. Jamaica experienced an increase in its tourism and hospitality sector of up to 53% between 1981 to 1985 according to statistics from Photius.com. This growth one could say directly impacted the spread of dancehall as tourists would be graced with the sounds of the native reggae and dancehall music during their vacationing. An additional factor in the spread of dancehall directly into the US during the 1980s was the migration of over 208,000 Jamaicans relocating into the US and 252,000 to the UK bringing the sounds and culture of their homeland. The Caribbean migration has been studied and detailed on the changing of the diaspora in the US and the UK.
Shabba Ranks wins Best Reggae Album at the Grammys in 1991 & 1992
Fast forward to the 90’s artists like Shabba Ranks and Super Cat began to make noise on the international music scene with songs like “Trailer Load of Girls” (1991) and “House Call” (1991) and his follow up hit “Tina a Ling” (1992) that propelled him to international stardom. American producers began to seek after this new sound with collaborations leading to Shabba Ranks being awarded in both 1991 and 1992 for the Grammy Best Reggae Albums. Although Fela Kuti was an international star in his own right the Afrobeat sound was not heavily travelled as the migration of Nigerians into the US during the 1980’s was 25,000. While Jamaicans opened dancehalls in the US and thrived in the US Nigerian migrants faced a different experience fleeing from hardships and political persecution. Jamaica was experiencing a similar eruption but the migrants in the US often revisited their homeland continuously bringing the most current influence of reggae and dancehall music to the US and UK.
Sandra B. the partner of a New York City dancehall club owner recalls the nights spent dancing into the morning hours in Brooklyn as she once did in Jamaica. “It was like the old times, we did it here like we did it back home. We had better fashion up here though , cuz in Jamaica the clothes was never so nice like what we wore back home. I noticed the Yankee girls started to follow our fashion and our style after a while but change it up a little because when we bash we bash.”
Americans began to take notice of this flamboyant culture noticing the linen custom-made suits worn by Shabba Ranks and the fully tailored made 3-piece suits worn by Super Cat another heavily influential dancehall artist of the 80’s. In 1992 Super Cat was asked to be a feature artist on then Rap superstar dup Kriss Kross who was then signed to major label Columbia Records. Meanwhile, Shabba Ranks was recruited in his own right to Epic Records. The forging of the new sound of dancehall into the urban and pop market was a wave that uninterrupted until most recently with the development of technology and the new digital era of music.
Afrobeat and Dancehall goes Digital
According to an article on Udiscovermusic.com, the game-changing event that allowed music to be shared internationally via the new MP3 format was the birth of Apple’s itunes at the start of the new millennium. Downloading shareable apps became popular as did Afrobeat and other international genres that were once siloed to their home countries of origin.
During the years of 2010 to the current day when American producers once leaned on dancehall for the heavy rhythmic tropical sounds they were now presented with new options for influence. Producers were now connecting with artists in Nigeria and Ghana whose music was not as accessible in previous years. Producers like Kanye West and Hip Hop artists like Drake, and French Montana experimented with incorporating Afrobeat into their production. But where did that leave the more previously coveted dancehall music?
Dancehall has since in more recent years become more competitive with its sibling in music Afrobeat. The outcome has been more prosperous for Afrobeat when it has come to international recognition and charting. In 2023 Billboard launched their first US chart for Afrobeat Singles this was surprising as Billboard recently discontinued its US Reggae Digital Song Sales chart that was accountable for the recording the number downloaded reggae and dancehall singles. Ghanian-born manager and Producer Peewee Bonsou, reflects on the evolution of the music of his homeland as he currently may be conflicted as a manager of US, UK and Canadian RIAA award-winning dancehall artist Kranium. Pee Wee doesn’t see the two genres as competitors but more as fusion that has enhanced music across the world.
Artist and Producer Chad Simpson affectionately known as Mr. G or Goofy continues the sentiment of Peewee with his thoughts on the development of dancehall and the partnership of afrobeat music.
Violet Lawrence the booking agent responsible for 25 years of dancehall artists' bookings in the US and Caribbean who is currently also booking Afrobeat artists like Rebecca, Libianca and AyoJay shared her reflection on how Afrobeats has impacted the live performance arena.
In 2023, Afrobeat artists like Burna Boy and Wiz Kid began selling out US stadiums and major venues. Places like Madison Square Garden in New York City of 19,500 people like Madison Square Garden in New York City according to Variety Magazine.
According to restofworld.org. Spotify recorded a growth of over 500% in Afrobeat streams. Afrobeat grew from 2 billion streams in 2017 to 14 billion streams in 2023.
Thornton, A. J. (2024). Tyla, winner of the “Best New Artist” award poses in the press room during the 2024 BET Awards. Getty Images. photograph, Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, CA; Aaron J Thorton. Retrieved August 27, 2024, from https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/tyla-winner-of-the-best-new-artist-award-poses-in-the-press-news-photo/2160019822?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=iptcurl.
While dancehall artists are selling out venues like Coney Island Amphitheater with a capacity of 5,000 persons and Madison Square Garden’s theater of 5,600 persons. Afrobeat artists like Tyla are winning BET awards for Best New Artist in 2024 which dancehall artists have never coveted. With the vast difference in streaming downloads and album sales, it is safe to say that the growth of Afrobeat has directly influenced the appeal of dancehall in the US market.
Do you think Dancehall has benefitted from the rise of Afrobeat? Is the Afrobeat insurgence a trend? Join us for more discussion on ourFacebook page DJ Treasure Live
コメント