Top 25 most used riddims of the 1980s

The Sleng Teng Riddim was the riddim that revolutionised digital reggae music back in 1985. Lee "Scratch" Perry started experimenting with digital riddims in the early 1970s, but the groundbreaking Sleng Teng Riddim would be the riddim that changed reggae music overnight. In late 1984, Wayne Smith crossed paths with Noel Davey, who owned a Casio MT40 keyboard. Messing around with it, they created a rudimentary riddim based on the rock and roll preset. Wayne Smith had already written some lyrics inspired by Barrington Levy’s 1985 hit "Under Mi Sensi". Wayne Smith and Noel Davey brought the riddim and the lyrics to King Jammy, who used them to create the Sleng Teng Riddim and the first tune recorded over it; Wayne Smith’s 1985 hit "Under Mi Sleng Teng".

The Sleng Teng Riddim is currently the most used riddim ever. Numerous versions of the riddim were made, for example the 1985 version by Harry J called the Computer Rule Riddim. "Ninja Mi Ninja" by King Kong used this version. Another example is King Jammy's own 2005 relick of the riddim, called the Sleng Teng Resurrection Riddim. This version can be heard on "Dancehall Style" by Luciano.

The Punanny Riddim is another well used digital riddim, created in 1986 by King Jammy, Steely and Clevie. It was first used for Admiral Bailey's hit "Punanny". The song caused controversy because of its lyrics and was therefore banned from the radio. Admiral Bailey recorded a radio friendly version of the song called "Healthy Body", in which he simply substituted all the types of "punanny" he loved for all the types of fruits and vegetables he loved.

Other examples of the riddim are "Needle Eye Pum-Pum" by Shabba Ranks, and "It's All About Cash" by Lady Saw, over a relicked 2000 version of the riddim by King Jammy and Ward 21.

The Kuff Riddim was created in 1987 by King Jammy, Steely & Clevie. The first song to be released on the riddim was "Cassanova" by Frankie Paul. Other examples of songs on the riddim are "Bam Bam" by Tiger, released in 1988, and "Sound Fi Get Kuff" by Shelly Thunder, released in 2013.

The Mud Up Riddim was first used in 1987 for "Mud Up" by Super Cat. It was created by Kenneth Black.

Another big hit on the riddim was "Jump Up" by Chaka Demus in 1991, also known as "Workie Workie" because the usage of those words in the song. The version of the riddim it used, created by Donovan Germain and Dave Kelly, is also known as the Workie Workie riddim because of this. A more recent example of the riddim is "She She" by Ce'Cile.

The Duck Dance Riddim, also known as the Duck Riddim, was created in 1985 by King Jammy, Steely and Clevie. Its first tune was "Dance Medley" by Little John.

Two years later, the massive hit "Duck Dance" by Red Dragon was released. This would give the riddim its current name. Another example is Mr. G's "Guilty Mouth", over a Penthouse version of the riddim.

Dennis Star released an album called "Dennis Star Presents Labrish Vol. 4 - Soap" in 1989. The album contained tunes on the Soap Riddim, which was created by Mafia & Fluxy. Beenie Man's "Tata Fool" is one of the more well known tracks on the album.

In 1991, Bobby Digital created his own version of the riddim called the Detergent Riddim. "Winery" by Johnny P is an example of that version. Another example is "Police In A Pocket" using a 1994 version of the riddim, called the Scotland Yardie Riddim, created by King Jammy.

The Tempo Riddim was King Tubby's response to the popular Sleng Teng Riddim. It was created in 1985 and its first tune was "Tempo" by Anthony Red Rose.

Other examples are "Bubbling Sweet Tonight" by Dennis Brown and "Complaint" by Garnet Silk, using a version of the riddim by Donovan Germain.

The Revolution Riddim was created by Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare for the 1983 hit "Revolution" by Dennis Brown. The riddim was used a lot over the years. For example by Carlton Livingston for "If This Girl Was Mine" in 1984 and by Jah Mason for "Without Jah" in 2005.

The Poco Man Jam Riddim was created in 1989 by Steely & Clevie. The first and biggest hit on the original riddim was "Poco Man Jam" by Gregory Peck. The riddim had some slight reworks in the next couple of years. 1991 for example saw the release of "Nuff Man A Dead" by Super Cat.

Another version of the riddim would come to be known as the Dem Bow Riddim, most well-known for Shabba Ranks' 1990 hit "Dem Bow". The origins of the Reggaeton music genre can be traced back to the Dem Bow Riddim. In 1990 and 1991 a lot of Spanish covers of Shabba Ranks' Dem Bow were made. It is estimated that more than 80% of all Reggaeton music contains elements of the Dem Bow Riddim.

The Boxing Riddim is a 1981 Joe Gibbs riddim. It was first used for Cornell Campbell's "Boxing Around".

Another popular song on this riddim is "Yo Yo" by Johnny Osbourne, recorded in 1982 over a version of the riddim by Henry "Junjo" Lawes. This version is known as the Yo Yo Riddim. In 2005, Joe Gibbs' son Rocky Gibbs made a more modern version of the riddim. An example of this version is "I Don't Feel Like Talking" by Johnny Clarke.

The Gunman Riddim was produced in 1980 by Henry "Junjo" Lawes. Its first tune was the hit "Gunman" by Michael Prophet.

Other great examples of the riddim are Beres Hammond's "Sunshine And Rain" and Everton Blender's "Sensi".

The original tune on the Promised Land Riddim was the hit "Love Fire" by Aswad, released in 1981. 2 years later an even bigger hit called "Promised Land" was released by Dennis Brown & Aswad.

Mykal Rose's "Freedom Train" is an example of a 2001 version of the Promised Land Riddim.

The Head To Toe Riddim is yet another digital riddim by King Jammy, Steely and Clevie, created in 1987. Its first tune was "Head To Toe" by Frankie Paul.

Another popular song on this riddim is "Ganja Spliff" by Admiral Bailey. A more modern example is "Love You" by Turbulence.

The Peanie Peanie Riddim was created in 1987 by Bobby Digital. The first tune to be released was "Peanie Peanie" by Shabba Ranks

Also in 1987, "We Run Things" by Nitty Gritty was released of a Witty Henry version of the riddim. King Tubby created a version in 1988, for "Fade Away" by Little John.

Like many of the riddims on this list, the Agony Riddim was produced by King Jammy, Steely and Clevie. It resembles the Sleng Teng Riddim. The Agony Riddim was first used in 1987 for "Agony" by Pinchers.

In the same year, King Tubby made a version of the riddim. Don Angelo's "Computer Seh So" is a nice example of this version. A more modern version of the riddim was used for "Agony" by Dolamite, released in 2006.

Little Lenny was only 17 years old in 1989 when he scored a mega hit with "Gun In A Baggy" over the riddim with the Gun In A Baggy Riddim, created by Tony Kelly. The song was controversial though. Because of its suggestive lyrics, Little Lenny was expelled from Kingston College and radio stations wouldn't play his song. Like how Admiral Bailey did in 1986 for his song "Punanny", Little Lenny quickly recorded a radio friendly version of the song, also called "Healthy Body".

Other Examples are "Gun Inna Brief" by Lady Mackeral and "Skull Ina Belly" by Commander Shad.

The Rumours Riddim was created in 1988 by Augustus Clarke. Two massive hits were released on the riddim that same year; "Rumours" by Gregory Isaacs and "Telephone Love" by J. C. Lodge.

Bunny "Striker" Lee created his own version of the riddim, also in 1988, called the More Ideas Riddim. Delroy Wilson's "Ease Up" is a great example of this version.

The Chase Vampire Riddim was created by King Jammy in 1986 and first used for Wayne Smith's "Walk Like Granny".

In 1987 "Chase Vampire" by Sancho was released over a Mafia & Fluxy version of the riddim. This version would give the riddim its current name. Another example of the riddim is the 1991 song "Up in Smoke" by Jack Radics, over a Donovan Germain version.

The World A Music Riddim was created in 1983 by Sly & Robbie. Its first song was "World A Music" by Ini Kamoze.

In 2004 Damian Marley released his massive hit "Welcome To Jamrock", the success of that song made the riddim popular known as the Jamrock Riddim. A year later the Greensleeves Rhythm Album #73: World Jam was released, with a reworked version of the riddim.

Sly & Robbie produced the Baltimore Riddim in 1980, for "Baltimore" by The Tamlins. A remix of the song featuring Alborosie was released in 2007.

Another example of the riddim is "Straight Up With You" by General Degree.

The Sara Riddim is a 1987 King Jammy riddim, first used for Frankie Paul's "Sara". Another song from the same year is "Frankie" by Jennifer Lara.

King Jammy retouched the riddim in 2003, an example of this version is "Love Is The Way" by Sizzla.

The Rope In Riddim was created in 1980 by Joe Gibbs. Its first tune was "Rope In" by Cornell Campbell.

A fair amount of other versions of the riddim were released over the years. For example "Fattie Boom Boom" by Ranking Dread, a 1981 song over a Sly & Robbie version. Another example is "You Are The Reason" by Wayne Wonder, released in 1994 over a Penthouse version.

The Old Broom Riddim was created by Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare in 1980. It was only used by them for the tune "Old Broom" by The Wailing Souls.

In 2004 a more modern version of the riddim called the New Broom Riddim was released. Peter Hunnigale used this one for "Keep Moving". Bitty McLean's "One Of A Kind" uses an even more modern version.

The Hard Drugs Riddim was created in 1988 by Sly & Robbie for the Tappa Zukie produced tune "Hard Drugs" by Gregory Isaacs.

A new version of the riddim was released in 2005, and Gregory Isaacs used this to re-record "Hard Drugs" but also release a new tune called "Crack Head". An example of another version of the riddim, also from 2005, is "Authentic Love" by Fantan Mojah & Singing Flasher.

The Night Nurse Riddim is the 1982 riddim used for one of Gregory Isaacs' biggest hits; "Night Nurse".

Anthony B had a song called "Waan Back" in 2000 over a more modern version of the riddim. 2004 saw the release of another mega hit called "It's A Pity" by Tanya Stephens. This song was recorded over a version of the riddim called the Doctor's Darling Riddim, part of the Riddim Driven series.