Blurb:

We have already discussed how the advent of DJ reggae would pave the way for






yet another new style. Dub poetry, a more serious offshoot of DJ, would begin to






be recorded at the end of the 1970s. Its rhythmic chant-speak delivery owes much






to that of the DJ. But the dub poets’ songs are more formally composed and more






serious in tone. The DJ’s improvisations, topic jumping, catchphrases and sound






effects have no place in the work of a dub poet. Riddims were newly created for






the dub poetry, unlike the DJ’s heavy use of versions. That is, when musical backing






was employed. Dub poetry was sometimes performed solo, with no backing






at all, something unique in reggae. As we will see, dub poetry has another distinction.






It’s the first style of reggae that was born outside of Jamaica.