How Dancehall Took Over the World and Crowned a New King
What Is Dancehall? Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that emerged in the late 1970s. It evolved from Reggae, but unlike its predecessor’s slower, more spiritual vibe, Dancehall was raw, energetic, and grounded in real-life experiences from Jamaica’s inner cities. Named after the dance halls where people gathered to hear local sound systems, it quickly became a cultural expression of the streets — unapologetic, rhythmic, and rebellious. A Brief History of Dancehall Dancehall was born during a time of political unrest and economic hardship in Jamaica. As reggae grew more commercial and internationally focused, Dancehall remained grounded in…