Rude boy

Rude boy, rudie, rudi or rudy is a subculture that developed in the early 1960s in Jamaica and has close ties to skinhead culture. The term rude boy is thought to originate from an extremely potent rum-based drink called "Rude to your parents", which was served at sound system parties. It may also be related to "rudeness" a term used in 1950s and 1960s Jamaica to refer to sexual intercourse.

Related Topics:
Subculture - 1960s - Jamaica - Skinhead - Sound system - 1950s

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The rude boy culture originated in the ghettos of Kingston coinciding with the popular rise of dance hall celebrations and sound system dances. Disaffected, unemployed urban youth often found temporary employment under sound system operators to crash competitor's dances. This violence became an integral part of rude boy lifestyle, and often gave rise to gangs. Many of thes rudies started wearing sharp suits, thin ties, and pork-pie hats in an imitation of the styles in popular american gangster movies; a style which is still pervasive in today's ska culture. With growing emigration in the late 1960s, the rude boy culture and its music, ska/rocksteady, spread to England and from there to most other western countries. It has had considerable influence on early skinhead culture.

Related Topics:
Ghetto - Kingston - Gang - Pork-pie hats - Ska - Rocksteady - England

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The name Rudy often appears in ska/rocksteady and punk lyrics as an allusion to the rude boy subculture. Much of Desmond Dekker's most popular songs were about Rude boys; 007 (Shanty Town), Rude Boy Train, Warlock, and others all revolved around this subculture. Other famous Rude boy-related songs were "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash and "A Message To You Rudy" by The Specials (originally by Dandy Livingstone).

Related Topics:
Ska - Rocksteady - Punk - Desmond Dekker - The Clash - The Specials - Dandy Livingstone

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In more contemporary ska culture, the terms "Rude boy" and "Rude girl" are used more generally to refer to anyone involved with ska, though Rudy generally retains the cautionary connotation described above.

Related Topics:
Ska

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In some parts of the United Kingdom the phrase rude boy is used to describe Chavs.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Chav

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The singer of the Urban Dance Squad, Patrick Tillon, uses the stage-name Rude boy.

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