Everything about Sleng Teng totally explained
Sleng Teng is the name given to the first fully computerised
riddim in
Jamaican music. The riddim created by the collaboration between
King Jammy and
Wayne Smith's was entitled "Under Me Sleng Teng". However, in this case Wayne Smith was the one who had found the computerized sound in Noel Davey's keyboard. Together they were the ones who arranged the riddim, slowed it down, matched it to his key, and rehearsed on it before taking it to Jammys studio. The riddim itself is allegedly an attempt to recreate
Eddie Cochran's "
Somethin' Else". It is a pattern allegedly found in the
Casio MT-40 home keyboard.
After the riddim was brought to the studio and Jammy heard it, he then placed a clap on it. Jammy recorded a number of other artists on the original backing track including
Tenor Saw (with "Pumpkin Belly"), and
Johnny Osbourne (with "Buddy 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.
King Tubby, who had originally taught Jammy how to produce music, was inspired by the track to create his own "Tempo" riddim.
Sleng Teng is among the most versioned of Jamaican riddims, with listing over 180 versions. 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.
British musician
M.I.A. references Sleng Teng in the track "Pull Up the People" on her album
Arular.
Sleng Teng Mixes
The
Sleng Teng Riddim was recently remixed by British Reggae artist
YT in a song entitled
England Story: Sleng Teng Remix in 2006 under the label
Sativa Records. In March of 2008, the mp3 mix by YT was officially released in a compilation version by
Soul Jazz Records. The compilation,
An England Story (Mix), was compiled and produced by
The Heatwave, a group of British DJ's, MC's and producers, namely Gabriel, Master G., Henry, and Rubi Dan. Wishing to narrate their personal history of of MCing and dancehall in England,
The Heatwave embarked on creating this compilation which features artists such as
Top Cat,
Papa Levi,
Lady Sovereign, and more.
Sources
Further Information
Get more info on 'Sleng Teng'.
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