Seanizzle Says Jamaican Trap In Retrograde, Dancehall On Its Way Back

According to Rum and Red Bull producer Seanizzle, Dancehall is emerging out of the commercial slump that gave rise to the local dominance of Jamaican Trap, which, after close to a decade, appears to now be in retrograde.

“It’s a new era; Trap came and did its thing.  But the spiritual thing where music is concerned, after 10 years or after seven years doing something and we don’t see nuttn major happening; we hit the ceiling and reset,” Seanizzle told veteran entertainment journalist Anthony Miller, in an interview on The Entertainment Report.

The One Day producer was commenting on the importance of seasoned music producers, due to their “ear for music” when he made the point.

“The last time I reset Dancehall was 2010 with Rum and Red Bull on the One Day riddim and all those songs. Suh it come to a stage now, suh much years a pass an wi nuh hear Dancehall pan dah platform deh,” he said.

“Yuh trying something and seh ‘this is the new sound’ and it naw connect, a just time fi something different again.  Instead of a gap, wi bridge di gap and merge ideas.  We need young people wid the new ideas and wi need the people who was there before wi, wid di experience.  Suh dem combine,” he added.

The name Trap Dancehall was not coined until around 2017 when Montego Bay artist Rygin King, also referred to as Trap Lord, released his hit single Tuff. 

However, as far back as 2011 Dancehall star Aidonia, who has laid claim to being the originator of Jamaican Trap, could be seen in music videos spitting lyrics with similar beats and flows similar to what is now regarded as Jamaican Trap.

Nevertheless, although the origin of the sub-genre is obscure, Rygin King is widely regarded as the man responsible for popularizing Trap in Jamaica, courtesy of the catchy and danceable Tuff, which was produced by Dane Ray.

In a 2019 interview, King had described Jamaican Trap as a fusion of his favorite genres, Rap, Hip hop and Dancehall which gives a unique melody due to “longer beats and a hook”.

Additionally, Dane Ray had stated in an interview that he had developed Trap Dancehall from an “energy” and his determination not to bring sadness into his music, but instead those that exude confidence.

Seanizzle, whose given name is Sean Reid, is most known for his One Day and Gully Creeper riddims, on his Seanizzle Records label, which yielded several cross-over hits and cemented his national status as a formidable producer in Dancehall.

All tracks on his One Day riddim were hits locally, including Nah Sell Out by Khago, I’m OK by Beenie Man, the Rum and Red Bull collab featuring Beenie Man and Future Fambo; Don’t Tell Nuhbody by Twins of Twins, Wifey Walk Out by Liquid, and Seanizzle’ own motivational One Day track.  

Additionally, Swaggariffic, a track by Seanizzle’s mentor Mr. G was even adapted by South American telecommunications giant, America Movil (Claro) as a jingle for its Jamaican market, providing even more radio airtime for the bouncy and memorable riddim.

Seanizzle made his official foray into Dancehall in 2005 with the Reverse riddim which featured Beenie Man’s Reverse The Ting, Busy Signal’s Black and White Affair, and Tony Matterhorn’s Sidung Pon It, as well as Ragga Ragga by Ninjaman and Devonte.   

A year later he established his own label, Seanizzle Records, where he produced other riddims such as Outada, Split Personality, 47th Floor, and 90’s Don Dadda.

He has also recorded copious amounts of music for Dancehall singjay I-Octane, producing songs for the Clarendon native such as Gal A Gimmi Bun, Hustlers Anthem, and Suh Good.