no long stories

Run The Riddim 2K: The Rise or Demise of Reggae and Dancehall in the 2000s

The sequel to the critically-acclaimed Run the Riddim: The Untold Story of 90s Dancehall to the World lands on your bookshelf from the 20 August 2024 (20.08-2024). Pre-Order now. Email: info@nolongstories.com for any media or order enquiries

Following in its predecessor’s footsteps, Run The Riddim 2K: The Rise or Demise of Reggae and Dancehall in the 2000s shares an untold story through the New Millennium’s pivotal riddims. Not only will readers go on a deep dive into the biggest songs and riddim origins, author Marvin Sparks goes beyond the music’s surface to explore the personal stories and evolving culture’s highs and lows that helped shape the genres. 

While Jamaica’s unfiltered musical output reached previously unimaginable commercial heights and influence across the world, unforeseen challenges arose with saving its identity. In contrast to the universally cherished golden ’90s era, culture and generation wars raged as sound experimentation and lyrical content caused this to be considered the most divisive era in the island’s rich musical history. This is the most comprehensive explanation of how we arrived here.

In what is the conclusion of writing between 2008 to 2024, the book charts the pop victories, reports on the wars, mourns the fallen soldiers, debates the controversies and navigates the foreign influence in the digital age to document the native culture and footprint it has left on the world. Featuring accounts from over 40 of the culture’s most important voices, including over 10 Best Reggae at the Grammy Awards nominees/winners, they set the record straight in their own words. And perhaps most importantly, what is reggae, what is dancehall and what happened to the riddim? More than just a book about reggae and dancehall, this illustrates why they are strong pillars the music industry relies on but rarely gives back to.

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