Sleng Teng

Sleng Teng is the name given to the first fully computerised riddim in Jamaican music. As is normal in Jamaican music, the riddim was named after the first vocal track released using it, namely Wayne Smith's "Under Mi Sleng Teng".

Related Topics:
Riddim - Jamaican music - Wayne Smith

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The riddim itself is allegedly an attempt to recreate Eddie Cochran's "Something Else" on a Casio music box.

Related Topics:
Eddie Cochran - Something Else - Casio

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The riddim was built at King Jammy's studio. Jammy recorded a number of other artists on the original backing track including Tenor Saw (with "Pumpkin Belly"), and Johnny Osborne (with "Buddy Bye Bye"). The tunes were first unleashed at a now legendary soundclash between Jammy's own sound system and Black Scorpio at Waltham Park Road on February 23, 1985.

Related Topics:
King Jammy - Sound system - February 23 - 1985

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King Tubby who had originally taught Jammy how to produce music was inspired by the track to create his own "Tempo" riddim.

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Sleng Teng is among the most versioned of Jamaican riddims, with Reggae-Riddims listing over 180 versions.

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The riddim was updated by Jammy in 2005 (slightly speeded up, with added horn riff) and this variation is known as "Sleng Teng Resurrection". Several new cuts on the original Sleng Teng were also released by Jammys in 2005 in celebration of the riddim's 20th anniversary.

Related Topics:
Riff - 2005

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