Major Lazer and the Rise of Dancehall

Continuing with music for the spring/summer theme, I'd like to talk about Jamaican dancehall music, one of the best up-and-coming genres that's sure to always put you in a great mood. For those of you who don't know, dancehall is a sub-genre of reggae that's commonly played around 100-105 beats per minute (however, it's developed a much wider range or playing speeds as time has progressed). Its origins can be traced back to the 1970's when it began as a sped-up, more danceable form of reggae. Since then, dancehall has taken off and spread to many of the Caribbean Islands where it has become a prominent form of culture and expression.

Here's an example of how a typical dancehall track sounds from Jamaica-born UK artist, Stylo G:



However, while it has become popular in the Caribbean and various other countries across the world, dancehall hasn't had a lot of recognition yet in the American mainstream other than a few hits here and there from artists like Sean Paul and Elephant Man. However, Major Lazer (specifically Diplo) has been working hard to enstill a global musical revolution by incorporating dancehall elements into their increasingly popular brand of EDM. As a result, the genre is finally seeing more popularity and recognition here in the US.

Here's one of the more notable dancehall-influenced tracks that Major Lazer has worked on, their moombahton remix of "Party Shot" by up-and-coming artist Popcaan:
 


And here's the original, non-remixed version for comparison's sake.

"Party Shot" is just one of many examples of Major Lazer's stylized tweaking of the dancehall vibe. Most recently, they have released a new track, "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)," which will be featured on their upcoming album, Free The Universe. Due to the hype surrounding the album's release (it's release has been delayed on four separate occasions) this song is getting a lot of attention. Check it out for yourself:



If you're interested in more Major Lazer, read up on Free The Universe before it drops on April 15 (it will feature collaborations from the likes of Shaggy, Tyga, Bruno Mars and Santigold). You can also explore their Soundcloud page for more original mixes and remixes. I'll leave you to listen to their Carnival 2012 mix, featuring an energized medley of dancehall tracks.



And remember...

LAZERS NEVER DIE