The evolution of dancehall vocals with Patexx

One of dancehall’s distinctions from reggae as a genre and subculture was how DJs became prominent singers, adopting call-and-response hooks and improvised couplets, birthing a new hybrid singing style called “sing-jay.” Those vocals became a defining feature of dancehall, along with harder, sparer rhythm sections and an emphasis on decadence.

In partnership with Patexx, we wanted to create a pack that paid homage to the early development of dancehall music while also recognizing the genre’s evolution and modernization with increasingly melodic singing styles and poppier hooks. Having won his first Grammy Award for his writing contributions on Sting and Shaggy's “44/876,” which won Best Reggae Album of the Year in 2019, Patexx was the perfect vocalist to collaborate with.

Born Rohan Rankine in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Patexx music was always a part of his upbringing, whether singing or DJing. In school, the artist could be heard singing over beats made by his friends drumming on the desks in their classrooms. His musical influences, even at a young age included Bounty Killer, Sizzla, and Spragga Benz.

As a talented singer and songwriter, Patexx is behind some of the most played party anthems including “Summertime” produced by Riddim Syndicate and featuring vocals of Bounty Killer. He also wrote “Party Everyday” featuring Zip FM’s ZJ Liquid.

The session was conducted at Splice studio with a Neumann u87 through a neve 1073 preamp.