Preprinted from RICE RADIO FOLIO


reggae glossary


babylon :   the corrupt establishment;  the "system"

dancehall :   a contemporary reggae style usually accompanied by deejay rap

deejay :   rapper

dreadlocks :   hair that is neither combed nor cut;  a person with dreadlocks

dub :   an instrumental, electronic music created by skillful, artistic re-engineering of recorded tracks

I and I :   you and me.   Rasta speech eliminates words like 'you', 'me', 'we', and 'they', as divisive
                and replaces them with the more communal 'I and I'.   'I and I' is believed to embrace all
                people in unity with the Most I (high) and in an endless circle of inity (unity).

Irie :   excellent, cool, highest;  state of feeling great

Jah :   God, shortened from Jehovah

jamdown :   Jamaica

natty :   dreadlocks

Rasta :   a follower of Marcus Garvey who worships the Almighty in the person of Haile Selassie

roots :   conscious, Rasta reggae;  a fellow Rasta

sing-jay :   a deejay that utilizes melody

yard :   home;  Jamaica



[ thanks to mike pawka ]


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