Words by Eddie STATS Houghton
As Jamaican artists combine their auto-tune production values and post-BET influences into a sound that is increasingly JA rap or Island Pop, it seems like the rest of the world is rediscovering good, old-fashioned reggae. The mainstream has always taken inspiration from Jamaica in periodic bursts, whether represented in the 80s by the Police, UB40 and Culture Club or in the 90s by No Doubt or Snow. But the current burst seems doubly ironic considering that both reggae beats and soundsystem culture seem to be on the wane in their home territory–just as they’re catching on again abroad.
