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Digital Dancehall 1985: The Revolution Begins
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Digital Dancehall 1985: The Revolution Begins

The Birth of the Future Sound
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In 1985, reggae music underwent a seismic shift. It was the year of a musical revolution—the birth of digital dancehall—and at the center of this transformation was one track: "Under Mi Sleng Teng" by Wayne Smith.


The Song That Changed Everything

"Under Mi Sleng Teng" is widely recognized as the track that launched the digital era of reggae. Released in 1985 on Jammy's Records, this song didn’t just top charts—it changed the fabric of reggae music. The "Sleng Teng" riddim sparked nearly 500 versions.

The key to its revolutionary sound? A preset pattern on a cheap electronic keyboard.


(Photo by Beth Lesser)

How It Happened

Wayne Smith, a young singer from Waterhouse, Kingston, teamed up with friend Noel Davey, who had recently acquired a Casio MT-40 keyboard. While exploring its presets, they stumbled upon a hypnotic and fresh bassline. This preset—originally programmed by Hiroko Okuda, a Japanese engineer at Casio—became the foundation of the Sleng Teng riddim.

Smith and Davey brought the idea to King Jammy (Lloyd James), a pioneering producer known for his sharp ear and technical skill. Jammy slowed down the rhythm, matched it to Smith’s vocal key, and added minimal touches—some piano, some claps—to enhance the groove.

The result was unlike anything Jamaica had heard before.


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Equipment Used

  • Casio MT-40 Keyboard – The backbone of the riddim
    Basic studio setup at King Jammy’s house in Waterhouse
    Analog tape and mixing gear to finalize the record


Playlist: The Birth of Digital Dancehall

  1. Wayne Smith – Under Mi Sleng Teng

  2. Admiral Bailey – Politician

  3. Johnny Osbourne – Buddy Bye

  4. Conroy Smith - Dangerous

  5. King Kong – Trouble Again

  6. Super Cat – Boops

  7. Eccleton Jarrett - Turn On The Heat

  8. Little John – Clarks Booty

  9. Half Pint - Greetings

  10. Nitty Gritty – Sweet Reggae Music

  11. Gregory Isaacs – Rumours

  12. Tenor Saw – Pumpkin Belly

  13. Pad Anthony – Shake Them Down

  14. Anthony Red Rose – Tempo

  15. Frankie Paul – Sara

  16. Echo Minott – Original Fat Thing

  17. Tonto Irie - Life Story

The 7-Inch Vinyl Release

The song was released as a 7" vinyl single on Jammy’s Records, sporting the classic label design of the era—clean, minimal, and to the point. The record flew off shelves and spread like wildfire through sound systems across Kingston and eventually around the world.

Bass Culture: Music, Production & Stories from Dubmatix is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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