TWENTY tracks, 10 tracks, one track rhythms. That is the story of the Jamaican dancehall scene. However, producers say they would like to do more one-track rhythms, but say the current culture of the industry forces them to produce rhythms with multiple tracks.
Producers such as Richie Stephens, Jeremy Harding, Snow Cone and Ralston Barrett have indicated that they would like to do more rhythms with a single track. Richie Stevens points out that since lately he has been doing one track rhythms.
However, there are other producers who say that the mass production of single-track rhythms is not feasible, at least, not now. "It can be done but it won't be overnight," explains Jeremy Harding, producer of the Liquid rhythm.
Currently, most rhythms have at least 10 songs on them. Some rhythms have as many as twenty tracks. The 20 tracks on the rhythm are usually done by well known and upcoming artistes.
Rohan 'Snow Cone' Fuller, producer of the Rice and Peas rhythm that features songs such as Bounty Killer's Mystery, said that while he would like more rhythms to have only a single track, under the present conditions several upcoming artistes would not get the exposure needed.
He said that in the U.S., hip-hop artistes get album deals. Hence, an upcoming hip-hop act will produce a single where he will be the only person on that rhythm. However, he points out, that is not the case in Jamaica since there is no financial backing for an upcoming artiste and this is the producers' way of helping a young act.
"If we had the (financial) backing to market the songs then we could have more rhythms with only one song. But we don't, so a part of the reason why we put a lot of songs on a rhythm is because we want to buss de youths," he said.
The producers put forward another reason for producing multiple tracks on a rhythm. "To stay economically viable as a producer, you have to do multiple tracks on a rhythm. The artistes also come to you because they want to be on the rhythm. It's their way of keeping current," explains Ralston Barrett, producer of the Top-A-Top Rhythm.
Jeremy Harding agrees. However, he puts a different spin on things. "Many of us (producers) want to do the one song, one rhythm but the artistes, selectors and radio disc jocks prefer the multiple songs on a rhythm. The distributors also want to market the music as such. Sometimes you say 10 songs, but the distributors say 20 songs because they want an album," he said.
In all of this, one factor that has governed the practice of multiple songs on rhythm has been juggling. The producers all agree that it is one of the reasons for rhythms with multiple songs. However, as Richie Stephens points out, a balance is needed.
"The multiple tracks on a rhythm has its place. It has its vibe in the clubs and when at a party, but some people end up putting too many songs on the rhythm and you need to have a balance," he said.
