Dancehall Reggae Memories (Part II- From The United States And From Canada)

DJ Puffy, April 12, 2021

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: May 16, 2022

This is Part II of a five part pancocojams series on Jamaica's Dancehall Reggae music.

This post presents comments from various YouTube discussion threads about memories of Dancehall Reggae that were shared by people in United States or in Canada. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/dancehall-reggae-memories-part-i.html  for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents comments from various YouTube discussion threads about memories of Dancehall Reggae that were shared by people from the Caribbean.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/dancehall-reggae-memories-part-iii-from.html for Part III this pancocojams series. That post presents comments from various YouTube discussion threads about memories of Dancehall Reggae that were shared by people in South America or in Central America.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/dancehall-reggae-memories-part-iv-from.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post presents comments from various YouTube discussion threads about memories of Dancehall Reggae that were shared by people from various African nations.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/dancehall-reggae-memories-part-v-from.html for Part V of this pancocojams series. That post presents comments from various YouTube discussion threads about memories of Dancehall Reggae that were shared by people in the United Kingdom or shared by people in various other nations around the world.

All of these comments include geographic information (nation, city, state, and/or region that the commenter comes from). Each of these posts features a sound file of a Dancehall mix and links to the YouTube sound files that the comments came from.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all past and present Dancehall artists. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to DJ Puffy for his Dancehall mix that is embedded in this post. Thanks also to all of the DJs whose mixes are featured as hyperlinks in this post.
-snip-
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/excerpts-about-history-of-jamaicas.html for a closely related pancocojams post that presents some information about the history of Dancehall music.

DISCLAIMER:
Since people visit different countries and/or emigrate to other countries, some of these comments may be from people who were not born in the nation that is mentioned in the comment. 

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SELECTED COMMENTS: DANCEHALL REGGAE MEMORIES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA   

This compilation includes most of the YouTube discussion thread comments that I've found that  include geographic references to the United States of Canada as well as memories of Dancehall Reggae

These YouTube discussion threads excerpts are given in no particular order. 

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

Brief explanatory notes are included after some of these comments.

Excerpt #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvQsXWgIAxE  90s & 2000s DANCEHALL PARTY MIX ~ MIXED BY DJ XCLUSIVE G2B ~ Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Buju & More, published by Xclusive Music, Sept. 5, 2019

1. QueenCoco Brown, 2017
"This takes me back to Brooklyn basement parties and backyard jams....Flatbush was blasting this mix or others like it all day and night. Best days of my life"

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2. wakia clyburn, 2018
"Love the whole mix.....All my favorites. The most lit ERA 🙌🏾 LIGHTERS UP🔥 basement parties... BigUp Brooklyn 💪🏾💪🏾"

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3. NYLA SPEAKS, 2018
"Q club (Queens) Pulse (Manhattan) Callaloo (Brooklyn) Act 3 (Bronx) Nagasaki (Long Island)"
-snip-
These are some of the names for New York City nightclubs that played Dancehall music.

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4. Gary .S, 2019
"Coming out the train station on Utica and Eastern Parkway back in the day....pure bashment waiting for the 46   bus!!!!!!!"
-snip-
definition of bashment from https://jamaicanpatwah.com/term/Bashment/910#.Yn7CmejMK1s 
Bashment= "A great event or party; e.g. dancehall; party, club etc"..

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chyna mock, 2018
"90s Brooklyn days!!! Flatbush 90s!!bashment partys!& St. Annes limehall!!! Madddddddd tunes! Big up ur Self!!"

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definition of bashment from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bashment
"bashment

A west indian party where reggae mucic is played excessivly. Rap music is also thrown in the DJ's mix, but once agian the music is heavily dominated by reggae. A party where your most likely to see the latest dances, and see some of the SEXIEST west indian women wearing almost nothing. Flatbush, Brooklyn is known to throw some of the craziest bashments in NYC.

Yo, theres a bashment in Flatbust tonight son..."

 "Word? Aight, im gonna be there..."

by Tim Shady May 15, 2005"
-snip-
in that sentence, "Yo" means "Hey".

In the above sentence, "son" is a colloquial referent that is the equivalent of "man", "buddy".  
"Word" = Is that right?; "Is that what you're saying?"

"Flashbust" is a typo for "Flashbush". Flashbush is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn

Here's a brief statement about New York City's boroughs:
From  https://www.nycgo.com/neighborhoods-boroughs/about-nyc-five-boroughs#:~:text=NYC%20has%20five%20of%20them,decide%20where%20to%20head%20next.

"So what’s a “borough” anyway? It’s like a smaller city within our massive metropolis. NYC has five of them—the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island—each with dozens of neighborhoods lending their own local flavor."...

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Symbiosis, 2021
"90's Dancehall/Bashment is the best ever <3  I'd love to see Beenie Man and Buju Banton live!! First time I ever heard this was back in the day ( mid 90's) on an old FL radio station called "102 Jamz"  best station ever, now it's some new age pop teeny bopper station :/ but thank the stars for Rickey Smiley and Star 94.5 lol  ....... <3 - Lisa"
-snip-
"FL" = Florida

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Ek7U8j5Jg DANCEHALL LEGENDS MIX PT 1 - Super Cat, Shabba Ranks, Chaka Demus, Cutty Ranks, published by Road Ready Mix, Marc h22, 2015

1. C N, 2016

"I picked this up at a Bronx street fair in Sep. of 2000.  I remember because it was exactly a year before 9/11.  The guy that sold it to me was blazing Wait Deh Man over and over on some big speakers.  Lost it years ago and now have re-discovered.   Best mix ever.  Shabba!"
-snip-
The Bronx is a borough of New York City

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2. avainrex55, 2019
"🔥🔥🔥Fire Fire! My younger adulthood in FULL effect from my DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) days. This is the Essence of GREAT dancehall music."

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3. Rakeane Collins, 2019
"Maaan!I used to go to this Raggae club in Detroit called Archers in the 90's and this the stuff they used to play!I was dancing with girls all night almost every time!Way more than the other stuff that was so called jumping in the city!No girl there turned me down to dance!They used to play most of this music on here!"

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4. Balderrama Chilling on Y.T. 📀, 2020
"I’m Hispanic/Latino from the U.S. and this Music is the best to listen during the Pandemic and also greetings fellow Jamaicans and Caribbeans from NYC!   🔥🇲🇽🇺🇸🇬🇾🇯🇲🇹🇹🔥"

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5. Charzetta Lee, 2020
"Big up selects wow dem bow all the songs and artists are bangers,just wow hit after hit Jamaican posse im a yard gal for real,life is what u make it man,Thank u DJ NAZTY NIGE, Keep up the good work.. I'm sitting in my car I need this CD in my life ASAP WOW the instruments I'm sucking my teeth and raising my lighter I'm from L.A. who use to go to the club on Western and 105st in L.A. I was too young but still use to get in man.And I'm turning my lips,mouth up right now lol can't get enough pum pum shorts,cut up Levi shorts,dookie braids,bangles, Nike's,no socks for real ok I'm done for now thx again DJ real Reggae."

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6. LordPowerful7, 2020
"This is a 🔥🔥🔥 MIX...! This combination took me back to the 80's and 90's in East Flatbush / Crown Heights section of Brooklyn NYC."

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7. Scott Mungin, 2021
"this  music has been a life saver for me  being from NYC and now  living in Macon ga they don't listen to sounds like this respect to DJ DJ NAZTY NIGE"

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8. delphia green, 2021
"I was a little girl in NYC running to every block party dancing to all these songs and blasting my walkman in my ears lol"

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Excerpt #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTlXJdJzoCc 80's 90's OLD SCHOOL DANCEHALL | BEST OF 80's 90's DANCEHALL GYAL TUNE | NONSTOP DANCEHALL 80's 90's, published by DjBRAMMO PROSPECT INTERNATIONAL. Jul 23, 2020

1. offthecouchproductions, 2020
"I took for granted growing up in Burlington Vt which had such an amazing Dancehall scene in the 80s and 90s. THIS MUSIC MUSIC FILLS MY HEART WITH THE ONE LOVE!  thanks for da Rdims DJ!!!"

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Excerpt #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJdxv_L-iCc Dancehall old school back to the 90s mix by djeasy Mixmaster, Sept 16. 2015

1. Trippy Figueroa, 2021
"Come down selecta ☝️💯, memories NYC brooklyn,90s hitting up da clubs and block party's,🥃 cheers ☝️💯, memories something nobody can't take away from us 💯."

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Excerpt #5
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuLVSwsi2ok Old School Dancehall Mix | The Best of Old School Dancehall, published by OSOCITYNATION,Jul 20, 2021 

1. Sam O, 2021
"Yesssssss 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 this video brings so much  memories back... House party's in the Jamaican clubs uptown in the Bronx 🙌🤤🥰😍... Yes so very great times"

Excerpt #6
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcUqEgPlvcc Dancehall Golden Era (90s) MegaHits Ft Buju Banton,Beenie Man,Bounty Killer,Terror Fabulous & More, published by DJeasy Mixmaster, August 21, 2019

1. Siriya Isidore, 2021
"Those Brooklyn days Labor Day  week the Caribbean Parade!!! Flags from all over old and young people having fun!!!

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Excerpt #7
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkwHH8INaQ4 90's Old School Dancehall Mix-Buju Banton,Spragga Benz,Beenie Man, Lady Saw,Baby Sham, Wayne Wonder, published by DJ Dalvy876, May 15, 2020

1. binC loC, 2021
"Alot of people got killed in South Central L.A reggae club in the 90's. There were good times too. Party untill the early morning to this music."
-snip-
"L.A." = Los Angeles, California

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2. Kevin Hunter, 2022
"It's nothing like going to Jamaican clubs back in the the 80s and 90s in south Florida"

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3. Kevin Samaroo, 2022
"Been looking for this mix with the explosions for YEARS!!!! Newyork used to have the best mix’s !!!"

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Excerpt #8
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09r8zEt5aes PepperSeed Riddim 1994 (Madhouse Music) Mix By Djeasy. Djeasy Mixmaster,  Jul 9, 2014 

1. cool kids minecraft gammer, 2015
"memory lane just arrived from Nigeria to new York 18yrs old 1994  this riddim was everywhere

every weekend was at the Q club in Jamaica queens new York watching the Caribbean girls do the pepper seed

miss dem days wow"
-snip-
Here's some information about Jamaica, Queens from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica,_Queens
"Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens….Jamaica, originally a designation for an area greater than the current neighborhood, was settled under Dutch rule in 1656. It was originally called Rustdorp before it took its current name. Subsequently, under English rule Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica". It was the first county seat of Queens County, holding that title from 1683 to 1788, and was also the first incorporated village on Long Island. When Queens was incorporated into the City of Greater New York in 1898, both the Town of Jamaica and the Village of Jamaica were dissolved, but the neighborhood of Jamaica regained its role as county seat...

Etymology

The neighborhood was named Yameco, a corruption of the word yamecah, meaning "beaver", in the language spoken by the Lenape, the Native Americans who lived in the area at the time of first European contact.[10][11] The liquid "y" sound of English is spelled with a "j" in Dutch, the language of the first people to write about the area; the English retained this Dutch spelling, but, after repeated reading and speaking of "Jamaica", slowly replaced the liquid sound with the hard "j" of the English pronunciation of the name today.[12] (In the Caribbean, the aboriginal Arawaks named their island Xaymaca, "land of wood and water", and the "x" spelling in Spanish was in time transformed to the hard "j" of the modern English name, "Jamaica".)[13]
-snip-
"The pepperseed" is a Dancehall dance whose name comes from the very popular Dancehall "pepperseed" riddim (rhythm).

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2. lady B, 2019
"That Sounds abt right ⭐I was 18 livingt. In Philly the African Safari Club  58th and Baltimore  the Caribbean fest in Penn's Landing definitely the good old days ⭐"

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Excerpt #9
From  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynwyXmaeK5c 90s Dancehall Mix ,Beenie Man, Shabba, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Sean Paul, Mr Vegas,Lady Saw, published by Dj Viibesz, Jan 5, 2019

1. Pierre Desrosiers, 2019
"Thank you so much this Dancehall 90 brings me a lot memories , from Chicago"

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2. Lisa Adrienne, 2020
"LOL! Remembering my high school days in RexdaleOntario.. shout out to any WestHumber people!🥰Sweet memories of school dance,basement house parties..☺️sweet times back in the day 💕💃🏽"
-snip-
Ontario is a province in Canada.

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3. NEW YORK, 2021
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 this sounds like a Jamaica south side Queens backyard party"

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4. Scott Bream, 2021
"This takes me back to my younger years going to  the dance hall parties  by CHINA MAN in Harrisburg, PA ,USA"

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Excerpt #10
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iqy9q98WN8 Old School Dancehall Mixtape, D J Nail, Dec. 15, 2020

1. Anthony, 2022
"84 to ‘87 BK TECH H.S

‘87 to ‘94 HUNTER COLLEGE

Was when I fell in 😻 love with Dancehall!"
-snip-
"BK" = Brooklyn

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2. Kingdot David, 2022
"Just sit back remembering house parties in brooklyn and bro’s can hit a backyard bashment and we let off our machines for a good song and no drama . Smh good days"

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Excerpt #11
From  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iqy9q98WN8 Old School Dancehall Mixtape, published by DJ Naii,  Dec 15, 2020  

1. Nelly MARLENE Stergiou, 2021
"💥Fantastic old school hits …dancing down memory lane 😀 2021 in Toronto during a thunderstorm 
-snip-
Toronto is a city in Canada. 

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Excerpt #12
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90839V1sJsk  Crazy Dancehall Party Mix (Vybz Kartel, Dexta Daps, Shenseea), DJ Puffy,  Apr 12, 2021

Garfield, 2021
"This brings me back to the mid80s total niceness Cassa Montego wayside paterson New Jersey"

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Excerpt #13
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWcEvD6jqJI 90s Dancehall Mix 🔥 Shabba Ranks, Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Chaka Demus, Pliers, Sean Paul, published by U Got Mix, June 15, 2021 

1. Janice L, 2021
"Mi sey... A dem time party  nice n ppl dance n fuljoy themselves... In NY back then it was Q-club, Starlite,Love Ppl, Underground, Biltmore Village Hut (just to name a few) ...nice"

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2. Sheryl Sutherland, 2021
"Flatbush in the '80s and '90s love growing up in Brooklyn with all my West Indians half Trini in the house 🇹🇹🇻🇪🇺🇸"
-snip-
"Trini" is a nickname for people from Trinidad/Tobago. 

"in the house" (or "in the building") is an African American Vernacular English" phrase that means "are here"/"are present"  

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Excerpt #14
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRFhYi94zHk  90s Dancehall Throwback ▶▶●Sean Paul,Buju,Vegas,Red Rat,Beenie,Bounty,Cham,Degree,Spragga, published by DjEasy PromoTV,  June 17. 2016

1. Sherry Edwards, 2016
"keep up the good work this mix took me back to the club Act 3 in the Bronx love it"

 Life in Brooklyn when these tune was hot  club calaloo eastern parkway and Nostrand party till daylight"
-snip-
Eastern parkway and Nostrand" were (are?) the streets where Club Calaloo" was (is?) located.

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Reply
2. Rowan ownia, 2021

"Real talk...

And act1 act2 and act3 a Bronx. Mad"

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Reply
3. ladyenglish36, 2021
"Q club in queen. 💥💥💥"

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Reply
4. Chanelle Chase, 2021
"You ain't lying. Africa House, Biltmore, Trinity Hall, could go on. Flatbush parties use to kill these!!!!"
-snip-
Here's a comment about the New York nightclubs that played Jamaican music:
From https://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/2044675-brooklyn-reggae-sound-system-culture-80s.html

Dennis Brown, (location: Queens, New York), 9/22/2014
"back in the days of Biltmore Ballroom, Club Legends, Club Callaloo, Caribbean City, Q Club, Act III, Amazura and on and on with the some of the same spots changing names over the years. Great times but also dangerous times as it was common for the bullets to fly both inside the dance and especially outside after the club let out..."

-snip-
Here's a comment from about Dancehall sound systems in New York City from that same discussion thread https://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/2044675-brooklyn-reggae-sound-system-culture-80s.html

kapikap, 12-16-2016
"Man too much history, with lots of documentation. youtube could be your friend. there were too many soundsystems to mention, but some crews basically ran the cubs they played at. Nut who had the biggest SoundSystem? you will have to locate those neighborhoods full of Jamaicans. Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and I am not talking the projects. These were middle class folks with private homes, Taking it to their neighborhood park or schoolyard. Cops were not bothering anyone, as it was good clean fun. The OP should consider the late 70's instead. for those that don't know, Carribean soundsystems existed since the late 60's all over the 5 boro's. Hip Hop followed their lead in almost every ways. Reggaeton is based on one dub plate, all songs have the same beat pattern. Another off spring of that Dancehall sound! Criminal Minded album,by the BDP crew, KRS one was completely based after the same principle and music. Even the car culture,trunk full of sub woofers , craving that wall of sound. I was a fan, from the early 80's, telephone love with shabba ranks and shirley thunders Kuff , made me an instant fan. VP records , Jamaica queens. Darvin levy, rockers tv, bobby kondors with Massicve Sound . Give credit to DJ Red Alert for making the DanceHall Sound mainstream in NY! the un matched sound of 8 to 12 bass bottoms thumping my chest in is most memorable. You can hear the music a mile away!"

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Excerpt #15
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARgz7fu0PBw 90'S OLD SCHOOL DANCEHALL MIX INSIDE QUARANTINE LOCKDOWN JUGGLING (THIRD PHASE). published by DjEasy Mixmaster, April 19, 2020

1. David Brown, 2021
"Grew up in the PJs in Toronto jamming to Dance hall the late 80s into the 90s best times of dance BOOM" -snip- "PJs" here may have the same meaning as "the projects" in African American Vernacular English= government subsidized low income housing developments. ** 2. Carrie, 2021
"Grew up in the 90s in Queens, NYC. This white girl sure did love these songs!!! Now I’m almost 40 and bumping this while folding my kids clothes 🤣🔥🔥🔥"

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3. Kevin Love, 2022
"This music late 80s and 90s is the best dancehall music by far. We use to jam and play sets and dub plates on the corner of Brooklyn NY and have clash with different sounds all over NY it was the best time"

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Excerpt #16
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvQsXWgIAxE 90s & 2000s DANCEHALL PARTY MIX ~ MIXED BY DJ XCLUSIVE G2B ~ Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Buju & More, published by Xclusive Music, Sept. 5, 2019

1. Peter Petras, 2020
"Coming from school this is all you heard all up and down flatbush nostran utica ralph ave classic and still the best music ever"

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Reply
2. Barbara Hannah, 2020
"Jersey City basement party on Garfield Avenue 1997 yesssssssssss took me straight there ...."

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Reply
3. Jessica Downey, 2021
"Block parties in Queens in the early nineties on summer nights- whats good- holler at me NY!! 🤪🤗☺😇😛😍😁😎🥳🥳🤯🤯"

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Excerpt #17
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QeCVsbNgk8 90s Dancehall Best of Madhouse Crew Ft Terror,Spragga,Daddy Screw,Wayne Wonder,Babycham,Buju Banton, DJeasy Mixmaster, May 16, 2019

1. Leandra Phill, 2021
"Real music! This list reminds me of block party on every block in bklyn big earrings it was like gold was going out of style. Travel fox 👟 👞 was in style, linen suit. 😂 battyrider"

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Excerpt #18
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuLVSwsi2ok Old School Dancehall Mix | The Best of Old School Dancehall, published by OSOCITYNATION, Jul 20, 2021 

1. As Toronto, 2022
"Aww! Reminds of the house parties in Scarborough (Toronto, Canada) that I would attend in high school in the 90s!!! YESS!!!! Air horn"

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Excerpt #18
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjw7m-BKmQ8 Wayne Smith - Under Me Sleng Teng, Norm Jordan. Mar 28, 2009

1. DAVID NILES, 2012
"I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A TEEN IN THE 80S AND HEARING THIS SONG AT EVERY PARTY IN BROOKLYN...AND GET A DANCE WITH ANY GIRL WHEN THIS WAS PLAYED !"

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2. dipsetphatty, 2013
"When this song came out in Brooklyn in 1984, it was the official rub a dub song..  Basement bashment when dance was nice.  LOVE PEOPLE, VILLAGE HUT, ILLUSIONS, Q CLUB, ENCORE, TRINITY HALL, BILTMORE BALLROOM, STARLITE BALLROOM,  Good ol days...  lol"

**
3. Boxing With Shawn, 2022
"I remember going to a special record store in Toronto in high school to buy the 12

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

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