Meaning
The top boss of bosses — the most powerful, respected, and revered 'don'. Combining 'don' (a community strongman or leader) with 'dada' (father, chief), it names the ultimate authority, the greatest in a field, or the undisputed number-one figure. To be the don-dada is to sit above all the other dons, the supreme boss whose word is final, and the title, drawn from the world of garrison power and taken up in dancehall boasting, marks the very pinnacle of standing and command, the biggest of the big men.
Examples
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Dem hail him as di don dada a di whole area.
They hail him as the supreme boss of the whole area.
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Pon di mic him a di don dada, nobody cyaa test.
On the mic he's the top boss, nobody can challenge him.
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She a di don dada a di kitchen.
She's the undisputed queen of the kitchen.
Origin
'Don' (from the Spanish/Italian title, adopted for a local strongman) intensified by 'dada' (father, chief) — the father of dons, i.e. the supreme boss. Popularised in dancehall.
How it’s used
A title of ultimate status, admiring and often used in dancehall boasting.