Riddim

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A riddim is an instrumental version of a song, which applies to Jamaican music (mostly dancehall and reggae) or other forms of Caribbean music. Riddims usually consist of a drum pattern and a prominent bassline. The Jamaican Patois term riddim is from the English word "rhythm".

Riddims are the instrumental backgrounds of reggae, lovers rock, dub, ragga, dancehall, and sometimes ragga-soca compositions. Also, rare cases in reggaeton, which itself is largely based on the Dem Bow riddim from the early 1990s, feature a riddim, such as Ivy Queen and Sasha's "Dat Sexy Body", which uses the Bookshelf riddim produced by Tony Kelly of the K-LICIOUS reggae label. In other musical contexts, a riddim would be called a groove or beat. In most cases the term "riddim" is used in reference to the entire background track or rhythm section, but in older roots riddims, "riddim" is used to reference a certain bassline and drum pattern. Often a melody is associated with the riddim, and occasionally an artist will produce two different songs with the same riddim (e.g. Elephant Man's "Ele Melody" and "Father Elephant" were both produced using the Kopa, produced by Supa Dups).

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[edit] Types of Riddims

Riddims can generally be categorized into three types. The oldest type of riddim is the classical riddim providing roots reggae, dub and lovers rock with instrumentals, e.g., Bam Bam produced by Sly & Robbie. The second type is the ragga riddim backing raggamuffin and dancehall tunes, e.g., Juice produced by Richard "Shams" Browne. The third type is the digital riddim, e.g., Sleng Teng produced by King Jammy.

So-called digital riddims refer to riddims created around the time that Jamaican producers incorporated drum machines and synthesizers into reggae-music production. Nowadays, however, most dancehall and Soca riddims are created by electronic instruments, so, in essence, most are digital.

[edit] The Producers

Different producers often develop their own versions of the same riddim, and different artists often perform on top of the same riddims with different lyrics and different vocal styles, ranging from singing to toasting. As an example, Beenie Man's song "My Wish", Mr. Vegas' song "Go Up", and T.O.K.'s "Man A Bad Man" are all based on the Juice riddim. Many riddims are named after the song that was recorded on that instrumental track for the first time (or, in some cases, the song that becomes the most popular on a given riddim). For example, the "Satta-A-Masagana" riddim is named after The Abyssinians' original song "Satta-A-Masagana." Steely & Clevie are regarded as the most gifted dancehall-reggae producers of all time.

Several notable producers include:

  • Dj Soxx
  • Christopher Birch
  • Stephen McGregor
  • Black Chiney
  • Don Corleone
  • Fire Links
  • Bobby Digital
  • King Jammy
  • Henry "Junjo" Lawes
  • Joe Gibbs
  • Donovan Germain
  • Dave Kelly
  • Tony Kelly
  • Daseca
  • Arif Cooper
  • Rohan "Jah Snowcone" Fuller
  • Ward 21
  • Daddy Jones
  • Boyie Aka MoBuddz
  • Mohan Dindial
  • Daddy Ez
  • Rondell Ruiz
  • Renaissance
  • Andre Dixon

[edit] Contemporary list of riddims

To this day, most dancehall reggae is released on 7" 45-RPM single, despite the popularity of CDs. In recent years, riddims have also been released on full-length albums (double 12" LP or CD) featuring various artists. The majority of these riddim albums are distributed by VP Records as Riddim Driven, and by Greensleeves Records as Greensleeves Rhythm Album.

[edit] 2008

Adam and Eve Riddim,Ak 47 Riddim,Asian Blaster Riddim,Autopsy Riddim,Banjo Riddim,Black Supreme One Riddim,Black Velvet Riddim,Bread Back Riddim,Calabria Riddim,Carrot Oil Riddim, Category5 Riddim,Chono Riddim,Close Casket Riddim,Creepa Riddim,Cycodelik Riddim,Danger Riddim,Daybreak Riddim,Dem A Run Away Riddim,Double Joint Riddim,Drum Lane Riddim,Earthquake Riddim,Earth Shaker Riddim,Emotions Riddim,Evil Deeds Riddim, Execution Riddim,Farin Riddim,Fire Wire Riddim,Frustration Riddim,"Gear Box Riddim",Heart Strings Riddim, Hey Baby Riddim,Hey Nicky Riddim, Hot Winter Riddim,Hungry Town Riddim,I-Nine Riddim,"Go Go Riddim",Jermaine Riddim,Keep It Gangster Riddim, Lokal Stage Riddim,Look Gal Riddim,"The Mission Riddim", Mizerable Riddim,Mossiah Riddim,Night Creecha Riddim,Noba Riddim,No Combo Riddim,Oscillator Riddim,Orange Hill Riddim,The Paranormal Riddim,Red Line Riddim,Robot Riddim,Rude Boy Riddim,Russian Riddim,Scandal Bag Riddim,Shark Teeth Riddim,So So Riddim,Spin Barrell Riddim,Step Off Riddim,Stinkin Riddim,Street Dance Riddim,Silent River Riddim,Show Love Riddim,The Cricka Riddim,Top Corner Riddim,Trouble Mekka Riddim,Touch This Riddim,Wha Do Dem Guy Deh Riddim,Youths & Youths Riddim,Zee Drop Riddim "83 riddim",Final Warning Riddim.Happy Time Riddim,Hot Steppa Riddim,Club Banger Riddim,Final warning riddim, Look Gal Riddim,Tropical Paradise Riddim,Bad Breed Riddim,Wonderful Riddim,Ballerz Riddim, Cranberry Riddim,Steel pan riddim,Resident Evil Riddim,Pon Di Block Riddim, Black Blood Riddim, Trouble Mekka Riddim, Revolution Riddim, Airplay Riddim, Night Mission Riddim, Yellow Moon Ridim, Goonish riddim, unfinished business riddim,the shit riddim,workout riddim,silent river riddim,robot riddim,river bed riddim, lolipop riddim, The Paranormal Riddim, Morning Showers Riddim, 8806 Riddim, Nuh Lingering Riddim, Sand Fly Riddim, Asteroid Riddim, Shake Town Riddim, Video Light 2k8 Riddim, Troop Riddim, Sexy Eye Riddim, Tour Bus Riddim, Times Square Riddim, After Slock Riddim,shaayevans Riddim

[edit] 2007

"3 Star ", "12Gauge", "18 Geez", "90 Percent", "100 Watt", "2070's", "Air Waves", "Atmosphere", "Atomic Bomb", "Auto Tune", "Back Ache", "Bad Dog", "Badman", "barbershop", "Battlefield (Scatta Version)", "Battlefield", "Bellevue", "Bee Hive", "Big Bump", "Big Up", "Big Sick", "Black Rain Riddim", "Blood Spill", "Blue Pill", "Bluetooth", "Brazilian Wax", "Bright Beam", "Bullet", "Canary Diamonds", "Caribbean" , "Chiney K", "Cherry Tree", "Chromium", "Cloud Nine", "Come Around", "Confessions", "Cruising Altitude", "Cunty Riddim", "Day Break", "Dark Again", "Dark Angles Riddim, "Darker Shadow", "Dilly Dolly", "Down In Jamaica Riddim", "Dreams Riddim", "Dreaming", "Drop Draws", "Drumline", "Drumlane", "Dutty Water", "Eclipse", "Elevator", "Gang War", "Gangsta Sittn", "Gardener", "Gear Box", "General Key", "Ghost Rider", "Golden touch", "Grab Up Riddim", "Gramma Zone", "Guardian Angel", "Gully Creature", "Heathen", "Haunted House", "Heavenly", "IQ Riddim", "Juno", "Leggo me", "lehgo me", "love potion", "Mad Thing", "Malfunction", "Mouth", "Mr. perfect", "New Daseca", "One Drop", "Pepper Spray", "Party Time", "Pimp Juice", "Pon di edge", "propa ugu", "Raging Bull", "Rastar", "Reh", "Revenge, "Sand Fly", "Scandal Bag", "Serengeti", "Shadow", "Shinning Riddim", "Shooter", "Shoot Out", "So-So"' "Spanish Town", "Splash Out", "Stinkin Water", "STOP THE FIGHTING" "Stock Track" "Supa Charge", "Swazi", "Takeover", "taxi plus", "Tear Drops", "The Party", "The Set Up", "To Di World", "Torpedo", "Tremor", "Untouchable", "Up & Live", "Work Out", "Young Gal", "Z-March",

[edit] 2006

"After Dark", "Baddis Ting", "Bill Back", "Breaking News", "Bullet Proof Vest", "Cashley", "Cross Breed", "Dem time Deh", "Eighty Five", "Full Draw", "Galore", "Gangsta Rock", "Ghetto Whiskey", "Gully Slime", "Hard Slam", "High Altitude", "Higher Octane", "Higher Meditation" "Hot Wuk", "Inspector", "Loud Disturbance", "Limbo", "Mad Indian", "Poison Gas", "Power Cut". "Quick Draw", "Ready & Willing", "Redbull & Guinness", "Ridin' Dirty", "Sidewalk University", "Show Off", "Smash", "Solution", "Stage Show", "Stick It Up", "Supernatural", "Sweat", "tinggy ting & ting", "Top Class Bullet", "Tropical Storm", "Tyrant", "War Time", "Warzone", "Wildfire", "Wipe Out", "Womba", "World Cup", "XXL", "Yardstep",

[edit] 2005

"12 Gauge", "Seasons", "Junkanoo", "Sweet Sop", "Applause", "Cry Baby", "Bubble Up", "State Of Emergency", "Global", "Strivers", "Bionic Ras", "Lion Paw", 'Move", "Istanbul", "Ganja Farmer", "Rose Apple", "Bounce", "Ice Breaka", "Yellow Tape", "World Jam", "Throwback Giggy", "Jump Off", "Siren", "X-Factor", "Sleepy Dog", "Tsunami", "Military Riddim"

[edit] 2004

"16 Shooter", "Anger Management", "Aollo Aollo", "Applause", "Dancehall Rock", "Mad Instruments", "Hot Gyal", "Hard Times", "Rah Rah", "Clear", "Chakka Chakka", "Kopa", "Father Jungle Rock", "Phantom", "Stepz", "Scoobay", "Check It Back", "Tunda Clap", "Red Alert", "Strip Tease", "Drop Leaf", "Seasons", "Bad Gal", "Gallop", "Double Barrel", "French Vanilla", "Middle East", "Summer Bounce", "Sunshine", "Tighty Tighty", "Tijuana" "Alleluia" "Military Riddim "

[edit] 2003

"20 Cent", "44-Flat", "All Out", "Bad Company", "Buyout", "C-4", "Career", "Ching Chong", "Chrome", "Coolie Dance", "Blindfold", "Adrenaline", "Egyptian", "Fiesta 2k3", "Forensic", "Good To Go", "Lime Key", "Hindu Storm", "Panty Raid", "Dreamweaver", "Masterpiece", "Clappas", "Krazy", "Salsa", "Celebration", "Scream", "Sexy Lady Explosion", "Sign", "Time Travel", "Trifecta", "Tunda Klap", "Bushy bushy", "Americk", "Surprise"

[edit] 2002

"Diwali", "Mad Ants", "Bad Kalic", "Mexican", "Bollywood", "Engine", "Hard Drive", "Rematch", "Tabla", "Thai Chi", "The Violin", "Time Bomb", "Wash Out", "White Liva", "Zero Tolerance", "Famine", "Battery", "Liquid", "Savage"(French, by Laskez), "Horseride"(French, by Laskez), "Mento", "Living Colors", "Dotcor's Darling"

[edit] 2001

"Bad Kalic", "Boomblast", "Buy Out", "Buzz", "Candle Wax", "Di Nipples", "Drop Top", "Fiesta", "Fire Glare", "Juice", "Liquid", "Nine Night", "Renegade", "Return", "The Rock", "Mento", "Martial Arts", "Itch", "Hennessey", "Heavyweight", "Glue", "Energy", "Dun Dem", "Rice And Peas", "Run", "Superstar", "Unstoppable",

[edit] 2000

"Blaze", "Lightning", "Yard Bounce", "Virus", "Quban", "Blazing", "Advice", "F-150", "Heat Wave", "G-Spot", "Joker", "Volume", "Orgasm", "Scarface", "Chiney Gal", "Full Moon", "Hurricane", "You Should Have Known", "Tixx", "Bad Weather", "Filthy"

[edit] 1999

"All Purpose", "Bada Bada", "Babatunde", "Bellyas", "Crash", "Street Sweeper", "Get Mad Now", "Grass Cyaat", "Headache", "Problem", "Sail Away", "Unda Wata", "Bug/Clone", "Bitter Blood", "Haunted", "Virus"

[edit] 1998

"Baddis", "Black Widow", "Bookshelf", "Bruk Out", "Siren", "Sweet River Rock", "Taranchyla", "Up Close", "Faith", "Medina",

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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