Taxi riddim
The taxi riddim is one of the most well-known dancehall - and Reggae - riddims there is. A total of 221 official songs were sung or toasted on this riddim . There are also various remixes and unofficial versions. Many famous artists have released one or even several songs with it. a. Yellowman , Buju Banton , Wayne Wonder and Bounty Killer .
history
There are many different versions of this riddim. The original is from Havana and is a song from 1931 by Don Azpiazu and the Havana Casino Orchestra . The piece is called El Mansiero.
The first track to be considered riddim is the riddim to the song "Prophecy" from 1975 by the Jamaican reggae musician Little Roy . The riddim was composed by the Jamaican B. Collins and released on the Clinch Records label. Based on the same riddim, the song "Prophecy Rock" by Jamaican Winston Scotland was released on another label that same year . The riddim was played by the trio Linval 'Prince Jazzbo' Carter & C Jackson. Until then, the riddim received no further attention. The next song came out two years later, in 1977. Gregory Isaacs released his song "Congratulation" on the Morwell Esq label. After two more songs by different artists were published in 1980, another song by Gregory Isaacs with a self-composed version of the riddim appeared in 1981 with Top Ten . Along with this, songs by eight other musicians appeared. Three of these tracks were released on the Black Solidarity label, the rest of the songs on various other small labels.
From then on, the riddim became a very popular instrumental and several songs were released on it every year until 1990. Up to this point there were 106 songs and compositions from many different producers without the original. The most recorded versions come from Wycliffe 'Steely' Johnson and Cleveland 'Clevie' Browne with fourteen songs from 1989, the composition by Kenneth Hoo Kim from 1989 and the version by Hyman Wright, who composed a version in 1982, after which three songs were released and in 1990 produced a remix with Percy Chin , whereupon twelve other versions were released.
After that, the popularity of the riddim declined and only eight songs were released with it by 1996. Three of them in 1992, three in 1995 and two in 1996. After the last releases (including by Bounty Killer ), there weren't a single release of songs on this riddim for five years, and in 2001 there were only two releases that weren't worth mentioning. There was no release for another three years .
In 2004 a new riddim album was released with nine songs on the taxi version by Lloyd & Michelle Campbell from 1996. From then on, the riddim became more popular again. Two songs were released the following year and then again five songs in 2006, this time on a version by Lowell Charles Fillmore 'Sly' Dunbar & Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare . The following year, the most recent releases in a year with twenty-two songs appeared. Including the first song from Germany, by the Leipzig dancehall and reggae singers Ronny Trettmann and Ill Inspekta with the name "Loyality (Our Driver)" . Well-known artists from Jamaica such as Tony Rebel , Mr. Vegas and Buju Banton published songs. The latter had a worldwide hit with the song "Driver A" . In 2008 the last two songs appeared on the riddim (among others by Luciano ).
The year of release of many songs is not known, as these songs are only preserved on compilations .
description
The original is a slow lounge piece with minimal jazz interludes . The original speed is 120 bpm .
In most versions, the riddim begins with a gentle male voice that first whistles and then calls out "Hey Taxi". Then a melody reminiscent of lounge music sets in , which hardly changes and does not stop during the entire piece. This is played by a double bass . The melody is accompanied by a minimally changing saxophone melody . The whole thing is accompanied by a minimal rhythm of a drum kit . The saxophone stops and starts again. In the beatless passages, a muffled and out of tune bell rings the beat again. In newer versions, electronic effects and additional, also electronic melodies are used.
The first pieces with the riddim were recorded with a band, later the riddim was produced electronically. At live concerts, bands usually play the riddims.
Well-known artists (selection)
| Interpreter | title | Label | year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Azpiazu & Havana Casino Orchestra | El Mansiero (Original Song) | 1936 | |
| Bobby Konders | Taxi Riddim Instrumental (Original Riddim) | Massive B | 1975 |
| Little Roy | Prophecy (first riddim song) | clinch | 1975 |
| Billy Boyo | I like your something | Silver Camel | 1983 |
| Bounty killer | The Lord Is My Light And Salvation | Jammys | 1996 |
| Buju Banton | Driver A | Gargamel | 2007 |
| Bunny Wailer | Sound clash | 1984 | |
| Cocoa Tea | Flurty Flurty | 1989 | |
| Collie Buddz | Come around | Powerlink | 2007 |
| Dean Fraser | Sax and Shoes | 1989 | |
| Elephant Man | Bring it | 40/40 | 2006 |
| Foxy Brown | Baby Can I Hold You Tonight (Sorry 2) | 1989 | |
| General Degree | Nuh Fraid A Dem | 40/40 | 2006 |
| Gregory Isaacs | Congratulations | Morwell Esq | 1977 |
| Gregory Isaacs | Top Ten (Original) | African Museum | 1981 |
| Horace Andy | Sweet loving | taxi | 1984 |
| Jigsy King + Hopeton James | Mood To Kill A Sound | Roof International | |
| Josey Wales | Bam Bam | 1989 | |
| Junior Reid | Bubblers | Massive B | 1995 |
| Ken Boothe | Full control | Bun Gem | 1978 |
| Lone Ranger | Trod Along | Black Solidarity | 1981 |
| Luciano | Pack Up Drumpan | Wings International | 2008 |
| Marcia Griffiths | Back In The Days | Joe Frasier | 2004 |
| Mr. Vegas | Gangsta Law | taxi | 2007 |
| Papa San | Taxi man | Dennis Star | 1986 |
| Pliers | I want to be your man | Dennis Star | 1990 |
| Ranking Joe | No informer | Hi Power Music | 2007 |
| Ronny Trettmann & Ill Inspecta | Loyalty (our driver) | Germaican Records | 2007 |
| Roots Radics & Scientist | Neutron Bomb | Black Solidarity | 1981 |
| Sugar Minott | limousine | 1989 | |
| Wayne Wonder | Anything For You | penthouse | |
| Yellowman | He's Got The Whole World In His Hands | Volcano | 1984 |
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Chronological listing
- ↑ Brief presentation of the taxi riddim with a mention of the original song “El Mansiero” on www.jamrid.com ( Memento of the original from June 7, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ "El Mansiero" in the riddim database at www.jamrid.com ( memento of the original from February 27, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Original song with year of publication on www.Riddim.nl ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Original LP "Prophecy" by Little Roy with year of publication on www.reggaerecord.com
- ^ "Prophecy Rock" in the riddim database at http://riddims.frenkieh.com
