Sound Clash

Megawattage sound systems have blasted the electronically-enhanced riddims and tongue-twisting lyrics of Jamaica's dancehall DJs across the globe. This high-energy raggamuffin music is often dismissed by old-school roots reggae fans as a raucous degeneration of classic Jamaican popular music. In this provocative study of dancehall culture, Cooper offers a sympathetic account of the philosophy of a wide range of dancehall DJs: Shabba Ranks, Lady Saw, Ninjaman, Capleton, Buju Banton, Anthony B and Apache Indian. Cooper also demonstrates the ways in which the language of dancehall culture, often devalued as mere 'noise,' articulates a complex understanding of the border clashes which characterize Jamaican society, and analyzes the sound clashes that erupt in the movement of Jamaican dancehall culture across national borders.

'Cooper makes compelling - and as usual - controversial arguments about the fundamental relevance of dancehall music to the critical understanding of Jamaican culture to claat.' - Colin Channer, author of Satisfy my Soul and Waiting in Vain

Autorentext
CAROLYN COOPER is a Professor at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. She is the author of Noises in the Blood.

Zusammenfassung
Cooper also demonstrates the ways in which the language of dancehall culture, often devalued as mere 'noise,' articulates a complex understanding of the border clashes which characterize Jamaican society, and analyzes the sound clashes that erupt in the movement of Jamaican dancehall culture across national borders.

Inhalt
Introduction: Word, Sound & Power Border Clash: Sites of Contestation Slackness Personified: Representations of Female Sexuality in the Lyrics of Bob Marley and Shabba Ranks Lady Saw Cuts Loose: Female Fertility Rituals in the Dancehall 'Mama, is That You?': Erotic Disguise in the Films Dancehall Queen and Babymother 'Lyrical Gun': Metaphor and Role-Play in Dancehall Culture 'More Fire': Chanting Down Babylon from Bob Marley to Capleton 'Vile Vocals': Exporting Jamaican Dancehall Lyrics to Barbados Hip-Hopping Across Cultures: Reggae to Rap and Back Mix up the Indian with all the Patwa: Rajamuffin Sounds in Cool Britannia The Dancehall Transnation: Language, Literature and Global Jamaica