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This article is from the Reggae FAQ, by Mike Pawka eznoh@niceup.com with numerous contributions by others.

14]. What's all this about Sound Systems, Clashes and Dubplates?

>Dumb question...but here goes,
>What is a sound system?
>Hope this does not destroy my credability has a true reggae
>music lover :-)

A sound system, well consider it to be a glorified stereo system. Basically
it is usually lots of base boxes lots of mid-range boxes and lots of high end
boxes ( what I mean by boxes is large speaker cabinets). All this is driven
by lots of amps to make it so loud that the base makes the hair on your neck
move to the beat. You really haven't experienced true dancehall until you've
been to a true yard dance like Stone Love at House of Leo (Kingston JA)

In article <2qp6iv$s1k@bruce.uncg.edu> pennyr@hamlet.uncg.edu (Reginald Penny)
writes:
>Subject: sound systems
>From: pennyr@hamlet.uncg.edu (Reginald Penny)
>Date: 10 May 1994 23:49:51 GMT

>Does anyone have a list (brief or massive) of what people are in what
>sound system? Also what are the top 5 largest sound sytems in the world
>or JA?

>BTW - what exactly is meant by a clash? Is it when more than one SS battle?

>R-

Wow thats a tough question as to the top five. It would fall under personal
pref. " Stone Love" is one of the best; the selectors are Rorey , Weepow and
Cancer. "Bodygaurd" is another top sound, their main selector is Johnny and
they are bringing in a few more. " Metromedia" is a more classic sound,
selector is Skyjuice who is a performer in his own right -- you really haven't
seen metro until you've seen Skyjuice take his shirt off. "Jamrock" is
another big sound, I don't remember who the seletor is. There is straight
outta NYC "Addis" with selector Baby Face; they were up in the top at the
world cup. Innercity, with selectors Mark, Danny and Wally -- they rank
right up there. There are tons of sound systems and I could go on for ever
listing them.
As far as a "clash" there can be at least two sounds clashing. It is best
with two, a clash is like a strategic chess game. When sounds clash they try
to out do each other, who can play the best "Garnett Silk" dubplate and who
can get the crowd to respond more. You try to play what the people want to
hear and the trick is to do it better than who you are clashing. Maybe I
should explain what a dub plate is. A dub plate, aka "a special", is created
when you take a tune and ask the artist to customize it for you, such as
getting Buju Banton to do a version of Boom Bye Bye, but, change the lyrics to
Boom Bye Bye in a sound boy's head. In other words they customize the lyrics
of there songs to put either the sound systems name in it or the sound system
that the are clashing's name in it. None of this is free -- it costs dollars
unless you have connections but it still costs dollars.
I hope this all makes some sense and that I havn't totally confused you if you
have any quetions post them and I will try ro answer them.

From: djspleece@aol.com (DJ Spleece)

In a Message Dated: Thu, 03 June 1999 08:11 AM EDT, paddy_maher@my-deja.com
Wrote:

>I know the basic idea but can someone give me a
>detailed explanation of how a soundclash works ie

A soundclash is when two or more DJ's/ Sound Systems come together and "battle"
over who has the best/ most current/ rarest records.

>who decides which side plays when and for how long?

The way we normally do this is to split time evenly at first and flip a coin,
but the one spinning the hottest stuff (audience reaction) is usually who is
going to spin the most/ longest in the end. The winner of the clash is usually
judged on the best records, the way they are mixed/ played (in my neck of the
woods we like to be creative), and who has the best "specials" or Dub plates.

>etc??

Sounds Clashes are always done in fun. Often, it will appear as though the
DJ's are "insulting" one another, but this is all just part of the show. Some
DJ's will even record there insults and cut them onto a Dub plate to work them
into the musical mix. Peace!

*********************************
DJ Spleece (RAW #911)

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