ENTITY · GENRE
Trap-dancehall
Well supported
A 2010s-2020s strand of dancehall built on trap drum programming, 808 bass and melodic, often auto-tuned delivery, associated with Vybz Kartel's later output and a younger generation of producers and deejays. Debated as either dancehall's natural evolution or a dilution of its riddim-and-selector core.
At a glance
- Type
- genre
- Confidence
- Well supported
- Era
- Open era →
Connections
Watch & listen
Debate & reception
How people argued about the music — praise, criticism and public debate. See all debate & reception →
debate
Trap-dancehall: evolution of the sound or dilution of the riddim?
Two documented positions: some hear trap-inflected dancehall - 808s, trap drums, melodic auto-tuned delivery, associated with Vybz Kartel's later work and a younger generation of producers and deejays - as the genre's natural next step and a global bridge; traditionalists argue hip-hop cadences and trap beats dilute dancehall's riddim-and-selector core. Sources: DancehallMag; Boomshots; The Face.
Stance: natural evolution & global bridge vs dilution of the riddim core
commentary
Autotune and the 'melody era': range or loss of the deejay's craft?
A neutral note on a stylistic debate: melodic, auto-tuned modern dancehall is credited by some with widening the music's emotional range and global appeal; others miss the raw, riddim-riding deejay craft that defined earlier dancehall. Sources: DancehallMag; Boomshots.
Stance: wider emotional range & appeal vs loss of raw deejay craft