Jamaica will forever be intertwined with Hip-Hop culture. The genre came to life at a block party in Brooklyn run by none other than Jamaican DJ Kool Herc who introduced Jamaican ‘selector’ techniques and ‘toasting’ to American funk and R&B, creating the all-killer, no-filler inimitable genre. It’s common for rappers and Hip-Hop artists to pay tribute to the influential Caribbean island. It’s no coincidence that one Hip-Hop legend Jay-Z recorded his award-winning album 4:44 entirely in Jamaica, making liberal use of Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley Tuff Gong studios.
For Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, we’re highlighting the times Hip-Hop artists referred or alluded to Jamaica.
Artists For The Culture
- Rihanna (featuring Drake): “Work”
- Nicki Minaj (with Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z): “Monster”
- Wyclef Jean: “I Pray”
- Kodak Black: “Z Look Jamaica”
- Drake (featuring Rick Ross): “Lord Knows “
- A$AP Ferg: “Shabba”
- Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg): “Remedy”
- Kanye West (featuring Rick Ross): “Devil in a New Dress “
Rihanna (featuring Drake): “Work”
The Bajan superstar pays tribute to Jamaica in one of the singles off her eighth studio album Anti. She casually flexes her Jamaican patois throughout the song with Drake doing the same on his guest verse. While the music video was filmed in Toronto, it featured prominent Jamaican restaurant “The Real Jerk.” The video was made to look like a Jamaican dancehall complete with Red Stripe bottles and Rihanna styled in a black, green, gold, and red mesh top.
The song was produced by PARTYNEXTDOOR, Boi-1da, and Sevyn Thomas — all Jamaican-Canadians.
Nicki Minaj (with Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z): “Monster”
Nicki Minaj is one of the biggest rappers in history. Arguably, her breakout moment was the song-snatching verse on Kanye West’s “Monster.” Closing out the song she drops this bar amongst other classic lines — Tony Matterhorn, dutty whine it, whine it — in reference to dancehall artist’s Tony Matterhorn’s hit song “Dutty Whine” which dominated the airways in the early 2000s. The controversial dance “Dutty Wine” featured rapid head movements in a circular motion that could allegedly cause neck damage.
Wyclef Jean: “I Pray”
The Haitian-American rapper’s sentimental track focused almost entirely on Jamaica. The song opens with a mournful Jean praying for Jamaican artists Ninja Man, and the imprisoned dancehall artist Vybz Kartel. The entire music video takes place in a rural Jamaican community where Jean is interacting with everyday Jamaicans.
Kodak Black: “Z Look Jamaica”
Controversial rapper Kodak Black’s “Z look Jamaican” is a commentary on the rapper constantly presumed by the media and fans as being a Jamaican artist despite being brazen about his Haitian roots. “Z” is short for “Zo” which is self-styled slang for Haitian Americans.
Drake (featuring Rick Ross): “Lord Knows“
“Destined for greatness, but got a place in Jamaica. Villa on the water with the wonderful views”
In Ross’ feature he plays on how he’s “destined” for greatness, but already owns a home in Jamaica; as well as the idea that is his actual physical destination. Ross’ intention with the line appears to say that even though he’s rich, he still owns a house in a country with a significant population of people in poverty (Jamaica).
A$AP Ferg: “Shabba”
“Shab-Shabba Ranks, Shab-Shab-Shabba Ranks, eight gold rings like I’m Shab-Shabba Ranks, four gold chains like I’m Shab-Shabba Ranks, one gold tooth like I’m Shab-Shabba Ranks”
The title speaks for itself, as the song makes quite a number of references to dancehall music pioneer Shabba Ranks. Characterised by his unique style of dress, the legend had often adorned himself with several gold rings, accessories and, of course, his signature gold tooth. He climbed the ranks, both locally and internationally and, with his unique style of ‘toasting’ over reggae rhythms, paved the way for genres like dancehall and rap.
Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg): “Remedy”
“See we gifted when together. Snoop Lion Reincarnated, so Selassie I forever”
Snoop Dogg converted to Snoop Lion in 2012. Part of a soul-seeking trip to Jamaica, which inspired the album Reincarnation, saw him identifying with the Rastafari movement. This line lauds Emperor Haile Selassie I, the messiah of Rastafarians, who will deliver Africa and her diaspora into freedom and repatriation to Ethiopia. The album evokes a unique phase in his life during which he felt he was the reincarnation of Bob Marley.
Kanye West (featuring Rick Ross): “Devil in a New Dress“
“I hit the Jamaican spot, at a bar, take a seat. I ordered the jerk, she said you are what you eat.”
Off his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album released in 2010, Mr. West makes reference to Jamaica by playing on the word “jerk”, a Jamaican style of cooking. West also made reference to Jamaica in his 2013 single Bound 2, with the lyrics: “Dutty whining ‘round all these Jamaicans,” which the rapper says in a patois accent. The dutty wine is a Jamaican dance.
