Artist

Steely & Clevie

1985-present·Kingston

Wycliffe Johnson and Cleveland Browne, the Jamaican production team known as Steely & Clevie, built the Poco Man Jam riddim in Kingston that became the rhythmic ancestor of the dembow pattern. Working through the late 1980s and early '90s, they pushed dancehall into digital production, and their bounce underpinned Shabba Ranks' 1991 track "Dem Bow" — the record that would eventually lend reggaeton's defining beat its name, even if not its actual sample.

The full story is in Reggaeton.

At a glance

Active
1985–present
From
Kingston, Jamaica

Listen

Spotify

In the issues

  • Reggaeton
    Supporting cast · 1985-2017 · Members

    Reggaeton is a genre from Panama City, Panama & San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1985–2017. Its principal artists include Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, DJ Playero and Ivy Queen. This issue covers 10 essential albums and 12 dated events.

Terms

Dembow
A syncopated drum pattern taken from Jamaican dancehall and named after Shabba Ranks' 1990 song 'Dem Bow', which used Steely & Clevie's 'Fish Market' riddim.
Riddim
A Jamaican term for an instrumental backing track, especially one reused by multiple singers or deejays to create different vocal versions over the same rhythm.