toasting

Toasting (rap in other parts of the Anglo Caribbean) or deejaying is the act of talking, usually in a monotone melody, over a rhythm or beat by a deejay. It can either be improvised or pre-written. Toasting developed in Jamaica as part of the country's sound system culture before becoming widely known by that name. A similar sound is found in mento and now can be heard over musical styles including ska, reggae, dancehall, dub, grime, hip-hop, soca and bouyon music. The combination of singing and toasting is known as singjaying. In the late 1950s, Count Matchuki, one of Jamaica's first selectors, used a microphone to entertain audiences while playing records. He drew inspiration from commercial advertisements and disc jockeys on American radio stations, incorporating comedy into his perform...