Dancehall pop
Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s.[1] Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production.[2] Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest,[3] now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.[4]
In the early 2000s, dancehall pop had its entrance into the global mainstream music industry charts. By the 2010s dancehall pop became a popular genre used by multiple western music artists and producers, with numerous chart topping songs affirming its mass-audience success.
Criticism[edit]
Whitewashing and cultural appropriation[edit]
Non-Caribbean artists involved in the dancehall pop-tropical house genre has been criticised for whitewashing and cultural appropriation. Canadian rapper Drake has been targeted as a "culture vulture", for appropriating the slang, rhythms, and artists of dancehall––as well as the UK Grime scene––without proper accreditation to its upcoming artists and cultural history. Drake has been criticised numerous times for his casual imitation of a Jamaican accent in his music,[57] as well as his "profiting" of popular cultures during their times of mainstream recognition.[62] However, Drake's usage of Jamaican slang has been attributed to his Toronto roots, where a large diaspora of Jamaicans exist and influence urban culture.[57] The rapper has also given credit to Vybz Kartel as a musical influence of his.[63] Tropical house artists such as Kygo, Thomas Jack, Duke Dumont have also been critiqued for their classification of their music production into tropical and deep house genres, with critics claiming their sounds have been derived from dancehall and reggae roots.[10] Pop culture magazine tabloids such as Rolling Stone have also faced criticism for classifying dancehall pop songs "Work" (2016) and "One Dance" (2016) as "tropical house-flavoured".[10] FUSE author Bianca Gracie claims that this genre title of "tropical house" suggests the rhythms and musical style originated in Europe, and disconnects the cultural connection to Jamaica.[64] Bianca Garcie also stated that the critiques of Rihanna's Bajan lyrics to "Work" (2016) were wrongly turned into online memes.[64]