Meaning
The fast, deejay-led genre of Jamaican music that grew out of reggae in the late 1970s and 80s, built on hard digital riddims with an artist toasting or 'chatting' over the beat. The word also names the events and the whole street culture around the music.
Examples
-
Dancehall tek ova di airwaves inna di 80s.
Dancehall took over the airwaves in the 1980s.
-
Wi a go a di dancehall tonight.
We're going to the dancehall tonight.
-
Him a one a di biggest name inna dancehall.
He's one of the biggest names in dancehall.
Origin
From the 'dance hall' where sound systems played; the name came to mark the sparser, deejay-driven style that succeeded roots reggae.
How it’s used
Refers to the genre, an event, and the culture (fashion, dance, language). Distinct from roots reggae, though the two share deep roots.