Timeline of Reggae Fusion
In the late 1990s, in the UK, Jungle was a very popular at the time. Garage was played in a second room at jingle events. Some DJs even started to up the tempo of garage tracks to make it sound like jungle. The media then labeled this as “speed garage” “4x4” and “2-steps predecessor”. MCs then begun to rhyme to the records and MCs then became a vital aspect of UK garage parties and records. Speed garage tracks were designed by a house style beat with bassline that was popular with the drum and bass producers at that time.
Today’s UK garages have elements of ragga vocals, spin backs and reversed drums. Over the time, 2-step sound began to emerge and it had more suffled beats and different drum pattern. Elements of Funky House and R&B vocals were used onto beats. Famous tunes like ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’ by Shanks & Bigfoot and ‘Re- Rewind’ by The Artful Dodger became an anthem for the 2-step scene which successfully landed then on the BBC Top Of The Pops with platinum records.
In the early 2000s 2-step faded away and grime became popular on the scene. Grime had a bad publicity since it carried out violence especially with some of the members from a well known grime group So Solid Crew. Artists such as So Solid Crew, More Fire Crew, Dizzee Rascal albums were never released commercially.
In 2007, UK garage was also known as “New skool” on the garage scene. “New Skool” became famous for some off its tracks such as ‘ Heartbroken’ by T2, “My Destiny” by Delinqents. In 2009, we see a new style of ‘New skool’ were it has featured a sub genre of UK Funky house which was a combination of UK Garage, Grime, Bassline and Dubstep.
Hip Hop music was developed from the hip hop culture. It is known for its four key stylistic elements (Rapping, Djing/scratching, sampling and beatboxing). Hip Hop started of in the South Bronx of New York City in the 1970s. The stem of hip hop was found in the African –American music and usually African Music. West Africa are a group of singers and poet who are part of an oral tradition hundred years ago.
Hip hop became popular during the 1970s when block parties became known in the New York City especially in the Bronx where African American and Puerto Rican music was combined. DJs played funk and soul music at block parties. DJ Kool Herc was a jamaican born and was emigrated to the United States in 1967. Dub music became popular in Jamaica. Large sound systems were set up by the poor Jamaicans who were unfortunate enough to buy records. Some of the New York audience did not like dub or reggae so DJs then began to use an audio mixer and mix two records.
The 1980s was known for the hip hop becoming developed and having more complex styles. Electro music was fused with elements of the hip hop movement in the early 1980s. Kurtis Blow made an appearance on the Sprite commercial and he was known for the first hip hop musician to represent a major product. Hip Hop then started to go international.
In the 1990s, MC Hammer became a successful rapper with his multi platinum album ‘Please Hammer Don’t Hurth ‘Em’. He became one of the first household names in the genre. Hammer had the first hip hop album wining the sales of over ten million. Following on, in 1992, Dr Dre released ‘The Chronic’. This established the West Coast gangster rap. This style was furtherer developed and became more popular by Snoop Dogg’s album ‘Doggystyle’.
In the 2000s, Hip Hop influences found their way increasingly into mainstream pop. At that time the East Coast popular acts such as 50 Cent (album Get Rich or Die Tryin’) debuted at number one on the US charts. In 2005, Hip Hop was becocming unpopular and Billboard Magazine quoted Hip Hop to be ‘dying’ because the rap sales dropped 44%. However in today’s society
