Rude boy

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This article is about a Jamaican subculture. For other uses, see Rude boy (disambiguation).

Rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy is a subculture that developed in the early 1960s in Jamaica.

The term rude boy came from Jamaican slang for cool or hip, and rude boys dressed in the latest fashions at dancehalls and on the streets. The term rude boy may have been associated with an extremely potent rum-based drink called Rude to Your Parents, which was served at sound system parties.^{[citation needed]} It may also be related to the term rudeness, which was used in Jamaica in the 1950s and 1960s in reference to sexual intercourse.^{[citation needed]}

1 History of the subculture
- 1.1 Later uses of the term
2 References in popular culture
3 See also
4 Footnotes
5 External links

[edit] History of the subculture

The rudeboy culture originated in the ghettos of Kingston, coinciding with the popular rise of rocksteady music, dancehall celebrations and sound system dances. Disaffected unemployed urban youths sometimes found temporary employment from sound system operators to disrupt competitors' dances (leading to the term dancehall crasher). This — and other street violence — became an integral part of rudeboy lifestyle, and often gave rise to gangs.

Many of these rudies started wearing sharp suits, thin ties, and pork-pie or Trilby hats, inspired by United States gangster movies and soul music groups. With growing emigration in the late 1960s, the rude boy culture and its music, ska and rocksteady, spread to the United Kingdom where it became a strong influence on the Skinhead subculture.^[1]^[2]

[edit] Later uses of the term

During the first ska revival ("second wave"), which occurred in England during the late 70s and early 80s, the term was used often to describe the new subculture that surrounded the 2-Tone ska scene. The label 2 Tone Records even used the iconograph of a rude boy on their record labels. The terms rude boy and rude girl then referred to anyone associated with the ska subculture.

During the "third wave" ska explosion in the United States, the term was also used. Long separated from the term's tough, gangster past, however, many U.S. third-wave rude boys were often more interested in pulling pranks, skanking, and promoting anti-racism on and off the dance floor.

In the UK, the terms rude boy and rude girl have come to refer mainly to Afro-Caribbean youths who follow the latest trends and fashions in African-American or Afro-Caribbean culture, such as hip hop. The terms are often used in a derogatory sense to describe youths from poorer backgrounds who attempt to emulate such fashions. It could be argued that the UK has developed a distinctive rude boy culture, fronted by UK hip hop and grime artists such as Roots Manuva and Dizzee Rascal.

The leader of the "Rude Boys" in the ska explosion is referred to as "Marky".

[edit] References in popular culture

The words Rude Boy or Rudy often appear in the lyrics of ska, rocksteady, 2 Tone and ska punk lyrics. Many of Desmond Dekker's most popular songs were about rude boys, such as "007 (Shanty Town)," "RudeBoy Train" and "Warlock."

Other famous rude boy-themed songs include: "Judge Dread" by Prince Buster; "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash; "A Message To You Rudy" by The Specials (originally performed as "Rudi, A Message To You" by Dandy Livingstone); "Staring at the Rude Boys" by The Ruts; "Gay Rude Boys Unite" by Leftöver Crack; "Rude Boy Don't Cry" and "Rude Boy Abroad" by Bedouin Soundclash; "Rude Boy Pledge" by Cham and "Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?" by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.

Three third wave ska bands with Rudy references in their names are General Rudie from Canada, Ruder Than You from Philadelphia (named after lyrics in the Prince Buster song "Too Hot") and The Rudies from Auckland, New Zealand. Urban Dance Squad singer Patrick Tillon uses the stage name Rudeboy.

The 1980 film Rude Boy featured members of The Clash.

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

^ Old Skool Jim. Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set liner notes. London: Trojan Records. TJETD169.
^ Marshall, George (1991). Spirit of '69 - A Skinhead Bible. Dunoon, Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 1-898927-10-3).