Dancehall Electronic

History

The path starts with digital dancehall after "Sleng Teng," then moves through bashment club edits, UK funky and grime crossovers, Diplo and Switch's first Major Lazer period, Mixpak, Equiknoxx, Dre Skull, and global dancehall-pop. Major Lazer made the sound visible to EDM and pop audiences, while Equiknoxx, Gavsborg, Time Cow, and Dre Skull kept a more Jamaican, riddim-led experimental edge. The style now overlaps with Afrobeats, reggaeton, moombahton, trap, and tropical bass.

Defining artists

• Major LazerSpotifyYouTube
• M.I.A.SpotifyYouTube
• EquiknoxxSpotifyYouTube
• GavsborgSpotifyYouTube
• Time CowSpotifyYouTube
• Dre SkullSpotifyYouTube

Essential listening

• Pon de Floor(2009) — Major LazerSpotifyYouTube
• Hold the Line(2009) — Major LazerSpotifyYouTube
• Get Free(2012) — Major LazerSpotifyYouTube
• Watch Out for This (Bumaye)(2013) — Major LazerSpotifyYouTube
• Lean On(2015) — Major LazerSpotifyYouTube
• Galang(2003) — M.I.A.SpotifyYouTube

Sources

• Pitchfork Major Lazer reviews and Diplo interview
• Bandcamp Daily Equiknoxx guide
• Guardian dancehall influence feature
• Mixpak and VP Records digital dancehall references