Meaning
An early sound-system deejay who 'toasts' — chants, rhymes, and talks rhythmically over an instrumental riddim to hype the crowd. Toasting on the mic in the 1960s and 70s was the direct ancestor of the modern deejay and, through it, of rap. The great toasters turned the sound-system dance into performance, riding the version with catchphrases, boasts, and running commentary, and the style shaped the whole course of Jamaican music.
Examples
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Di toaster chat pon di riddim all night.
The toaster chanted over the riddim all night.
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U-Roy was a legend pon di mic as a toaster.
U-Roy was a legend on the mic as a toaster.
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Toasting turn inna di deejay style.
Toasting turned into the deejay style.
Origin
From 'toast' (to chant/boast over a rhythm); the early sound-system deejay. See [[selector]], [[deejay]].
How it’s used
An early deejay who chants over a riddim; ancestor of the deejay and rap. See [[selector]], [[dubplate]].