dancehall
what it is
Dancehall is a type of Jamaican popular music which developed in the late 1970s, initially as a more sparse and less political and religious variant of reggae than the roots style that had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall (or "ragga") becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms with little connection to earlier reggae rhythms. Modern dancehall is also known as bashment.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 2 · the door
big names with a sharper edge
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make dancehall a playlist
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questions
What is dancehall?
Dancehall is a type of Jamaican popular music which developed in the late 1970s, initially as a more sparse and less political and religious variant of reggae than the roots style that had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall (or "ragga") becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms with little connection to earlier reggae rhythms. Modern dancehall is also known as bashment.
What are good dancehall albums to start with?
Try Dutty Rock by Sean Paul, Stadtaffe by Peter Fox, Back to Basics by Beenie Man, and Gangsta For Life: The Symphony Of David Brooks by Mavado.
Who are some women making dancehall?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/dancehall/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making dancehall, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20