The Often Unsung Role of Jamaican Music in Shaping the Hip-Hop Scene
I am constantly amazed by the talent of hip-hop artists, who are wizards of the spoken word. Their ability to remember so many verses and deliver them consistently with such gusto, all while keeping pace with the rhythm of a song, is truly extraordinary. Even more impressively, these artists potently utilize their voices to speak out against systemic issues that still permeate society today.
Unsurprisingly, a genre with such a wide-reaching impact has an equally rich and varied history. Did you know that hip-hop has strong roots in Jamaican music, one of the most diverse musical genres to ever exist? The role of Jamaican music in shaping hip-hop often goes unsung; it is high time more people knew about it.

DJ Kool Herc – The Source
Musical Techniques That Have Stood the Test of Time
DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant in America, played an instrumental role in shaping the hip-hop scene by popularizing the sound system, which comprised a turntable, amplifier, speakers, and a power source. These were first introduced in Jamaica in the early 1950s and brought immense joy to communities of people who did not have easy access to music.
Herc would host block parties (gatherings for people in the community to fraternize and listen to music) in the West Bronx, New York, where he would try out different musical techniques. Notably, Herc helped assimilate reggae, a popular Jamaican music genre, into hip-hop. Reggae beautifully pools elements from other popular genres such as rhythm and blues, African folk music, and jazz to create deep songs with bass-heavy beats. Notably, Herc developed the break-beat technique (“The Merry-Go-Round”), which involved looping specific “break” sections in a song to create continuous beats. Even the most reluctant dancers would find themselves shaking a leg to the seductive sonic beats produced by this technique!
Then, Herc incorporated toasting into his performances, which was a surefire way to keep the crowd engaged. Have you ever been in a nightclub and heard a DJ start chanting over the beat of a song and been completely enamored by their flow? That is the power of toasting! DJ Kool Herc’s contributions to the hip-hop scene are clearly indisputable; it is no wonder he is fondly called the Founding Father of Hip-Hop.

Michiee Mee – Courtesy of Tyco Elder
Another artist who has played a pivotal role in introducing toasting into the mainstream musical scene is Canadian hip-hop legend, Michie Mee. When asked about the importance of toasting and its role in defining someone’s culture, Michie Mee said, “I love when an artist can toast well over a hip-hop beat. It shows diversity but it’s not necessary to toast to express your West Indian or Jamaican musical influences or heritage; these will come out as long as you are being authentic.”
The Special Language of Jamaican and Hip-Hop Music
Hip-hop artists distinguish themselves from other artists with their unique slang and vocabulary. Words like “bling,” “flex,” and “ratchet” are now common parts of people’s daily conversations. Jamaican musicians have been the torchbearers in empowering hip-hop artists to confidently use their own distinct voices and words in their music. These artists widely use Jamaican patois in their performances to highlight their culture. This language contains a blend of unique words and phrases that are not found in English, allowing them to express their emotions and thoughts in fresh ways.

Busta Rhymens – Courtesy of Mark Terrill
Patois has found its way into popular rap music, with artists like Busta Rhymes and Drake using it in songs like “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check!” and “Hotline Bling,” respectively. Patois is not just a language but a tool of expression that lets artists unabashedly tap into the heart of their culture.
Michie Mee, who used patois in hits such as “Jamaican Funk” and “Bahdgyal Bubble,” fondly expressed how she did not include it to create any specific impact. Rather, this language was and is a natural extension of her artistic self. She believed that even if many artists include patois in their work, only those who clearly understand its native sounds and use it authentically can create a truly meaningful impact using it.

Randy’s Record Mart – VP Records
The Giant of Independent Hip-Hop Record Labels
Without the support of a record label, most music, irrespective of its quality, struggles to reach mainstream audiences. Hip-hop would not be where it is today without the contributions of Vincent “Randy” Chin and Patricia Chin, who pioneered the popularization of the genre in New York. When living in Kingston, Jamaica, the couple established Randy’s Records in 1958, which quickly became widely recognized across Jamaica. They followed this by opening Studio 17 right above their record store, hosting recording sessions for legends such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Owing to political unrest in Jamaica, the couple immigrated to America in 1977 and opened up VP Records in 1979.
The historic VP Records is the largest independent distributor of reggae and dancehall in the world! The label has played a key role in introducing these genres into the hip-hop scene in the US. Furthermore, it has supported artists such as Sean Paul and Elephant Man, who are trailblazers in bringing Jamaican music to the forefront of the global music scene. Their collaborations with hip-hop artists such as Pitbull and Wyclef Jean showed how hip-hop and Jamaican music could marry together to form a cohesive and singular sound.

Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty Images
The Toronto and North American Hip-Hop Connection
The hip-hop scene in Toronto is bustling with plenty of talented artists, the most well-known being Drake. He has received widespread attention for incorporating Jamaican patois and Caribbean-style accents into his rapping and infusing his songs with afrobeats and dancehall influences. Some have called him out for appropriating Jamaican culture and raised concerns of him being a “culture vulture”.
Drake has responded to these allegations stating that he is simply trying to spotlight the work of lesser-known artists and does not intend to strip them of their cultural identity. Irrespective of Drake’s intentions, his work has not only helped popularize Jamaican music but also increased the global profile of Toronto’s hip-hop scene.
Notably, Canadian hip-hop icons like Maestro Fresh Wes, Shad, and Michie Mee have proudly repped their Canadian identity and spoken out on pressing social issues through their music, inspiring other artists to do the same. The hip-hop scene in North America would not be as revolutionary as it is without its Jamaican-heavy Torontonian influences. Jamaica has given a priceless gift to the world in the form of its striking music scene.
Regarding the hip-hop scene in Toronto, Michie Mee said, “Toronto had strong roots in the reggae scene and the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival had a big influence on culture in Toronto. As hip-hop music became popular, it was added to parts of the parade to enliven the celebrations or excite audiences.”
Concerning the connection between hip-hop in Toronto and North America, she stated,” Hip-hop has traveled across many routes to become a full blown genre to be reckoned with. Toronto was the main place for new and upcoming artists from out of New York City or the West Coast to pass through to showcase their new records and talent. Even when artists came to Toronto, they would prop up the Jamaican community and even spoke with accents while emulating things artists from Toronto did when they left there.”
Laying the Groundwork for Music that Inspires Social Change
Hip-hop’s connection with affecting social change also has a deep-rooted connection with Jamaican music; the techniques popularised by DJ Kool Herc informed not only the sound but the heart of hip-hop as well. The piercing lyrics in Jamaican songs like “War” by artists Bob Marley and “Equal Rights” by Peter Tosh echo the sentiments of millions who have felt trapped and isolated by the social systems surrounding them. The messages of such songs are still heard today in hip-hop classics such as “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar and “This is America” by Childish Gambino, showing that the roots of Jamaican music are still standing strong.
A Toast to Jamaican Music
Next time you listen to a hip-hop song that truly moves you, remember its rich origins. From sounds and beats to lyrics and themes, so much of hip-hop has been heavily influenced by Jamaican music; it would be remiss to ignore this exquisite connection. Every piece of art we engage with has a story, just like the one behind the origin of hip-hop. Here is a toast to Jamaican music and all the incredible artists who helped sow its seeds and extend its branches all over the world!
If you are interested in learning more about some truly iconic hip-hop legends, please check out our Top 10 Hip-Hop DJs of All-Time article.