A brief history of the Dembow loop

Much like the two packs in the Splice Originals reggaeton series, the Dembow loop was a result of a cross-cultural collaboration among Latin producers. The set of sounds most often identified as the Dembow was a version of Shabba Ranks’s problematic song “Dem Bow” cooked up by the Jamaican and Panamanian studio team, Steely & Clevie in the early ’90s at Philip Smart’s HC&F studio in Long Island—the premier spot for producing dancehall hits at the time.

The sound of Dembow moved next to Latin America thanks to the Panamanian artist Nando Boom who released a Spanish version of Shabba Rank’s “Dem Bow”, eventually reaching the Dominican Republic. The drums of Nando Boom’s track were laid down by Dennis “The Menace” Thompson who captured the rhythmic essence of Steely & Clevie’s post-Poco riddim while adding some digital timbales and other touches for extra flavor.

Nada’s wildly successful experiment introduced the Dembow to new listeners across the networked world, especially after producers like Rotterdam’s Munchi heard ways to move beyond screwed house remixes and connect the burgeoning genre to its Puerto Rican cousins. The Dembow loop continued to travel across countries and continents as it morphed and evolved, eventually making it into contemporary chart-topping reggaeton pop songs.