Meaning
A 'rude boy' — the rebellious, sharply-dressed street youth of 1960s Kingston, associated with ska and rocksteady, gang toughness, and a cool, defiant style. 'Rudie' (as in 'rudie cyaan fail') is the classic ska-era term that later fed into 'rude bwoy' and the whole lineage of the streetwise dancehall badman. A foundational figure in Jamaican music and youth culture.
Examples
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Di rudie dem rule di dancehall inna di sixties.
The rude boys ruled the dancehall in the sixties.
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'Rudie cyaan fail' was di anthem.
'Rude boy can't fail' was the anthem.
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Him style sharp like a old-time rudie.
His style is sharp like an old-time rude boy.
Origin
From 'rude' (defiant); the ska-era 'rude boy'. Forerunner of 'rude bwoy' and the dancehall badman. See [[rude-bwoy]], [[ragga-muffin]].
How it’s used
The 1960s ska-era 'rude boy'; forerunner of the modern rude bwoy. See [[rude-bwoy]], [[ragga-muffin]].