American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah sampled a Tenor Saw dubplate and enlisted No Games artist Serani for two songs on his new album, Set The Tone, released on May 10 via Mass Appeal Records.
The year 2023 was a variegated scrapbook of beautiful, bittersweet and bad news emanating from Jamaica’s music culture, and DancehallMag captured it all.
The late Dancehall legend Tenor Saw had revealed the secret behind his mature-sounding voice, which many often mistook for that of an older man but which influenced the sounds of many artists, including Lady Saw.
In 1988, at only 21 years old, Dancehall icon Tenor Saw was the victim of a hit-and-run driver in Houston, Texas, contrary to widespread reports and speculation in Jamaica that his death was the result of gun violence or exposure after an altercation.
Dancehall artist Tenor Saw had once explained how he hastily crafted his iconic 1985 clash song Ring The Alarm during a soundclash between Youth Promotion, to which he was aligned, and three other sound systems.
Jamaican superstar Chronixx says Dancehall is all about finding the next “baddest” thing, even if that means moving on from what may have worked before.
For a vibrant display of the Jamaican trifecta — cunning, creativity, competitiveness — look no further than the island’s rich sound system heritage.
In a dynamic collage of potent harmonies and rhythms from the Golden Era of Dancehall and Reggae, VP Records has created a playlist to take us back in time while stirring fresh new feels.
VP Records has released the third single for their upcoming Dancehall Anthems Project. The latest is a tribute to the late Tenor Saw with his 1985 single Lots Of Signs performed by Dancehall vocalist Wayne Marshall.