A sub-genre of reggae; an alternative term for much of the dancehall music emanating from Jamaica and Britain since the mid-1980s, in much the same way that ‘blue beat’ has become the accepted UK term for ska. Most trace its beginning to Wayne Smith's influential Jamaican single, Under Me Sleng Teng (1985), which used a rhythm from a Casio electronic keyboard of the time, so ushering in the era of digitized rhythms that have subsequently almost taken over the sound of reggae. Performing in a pumped-up DJ style, with elements of hip hop combined with aggressive and sometimes witty vocal stylings, raggamuffin artists include the DJs Shabba Ranks, Capelton, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Admiral Bailey, Cutty Ranks, Gen. Levi, Red Rat, Tiger, Goofy, Elephant Man, Spragga Benz, Mr Vegas and Ward 21, often singing in combination with one another. Among the main producers are Bobby Digital, Donovan Germaine, Gussie Clarke, Steely and Cleevie, Mafia and Fluxy, Jr. Kelly and King Jammy. A more recent development of the sub-genre, called opera house, taps the operatic talents of multi-talented Pavarotti-inspired artists such as Lukie D, singing in a satirically bombastic style.
ROGER STEFFENS