Dancehall the Documentary, Riddim Me Dis

As drum machines and computers began to generally displace bands in the 80s, the toaster, or DJ in local parlance became increasingly front and centre and, a consequence, the development of backing tracks, or riddims, over which he could spit rhymes unimpeded, became the toaster paramount expression.

This riddim craze was dominate the genre for at least 20 years, and yielded some of the very best known tracks, the majority still guaranteed party movers to this day. The following list represents a minuscule portion of what's out there.

Sleng Teng
The "granddaddy of the computerized riddims, and the name of the monster hit ("Unda mI Sleng Teng") by Wayne Smith that popularized it. Smith found the computerized sound in Noel Davey's keyboard, and together he and Davey arranged the riddim, slowed it down, matched it to Smith's key, and rehearsed on it with lyrics inspired by Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" and Yellowman's "Under me fat ting", before taking it to Jammy's studio in late 1984. The riddim itself is apparently an attempt to recreate Eddie Cochran's 1959 rockabilly song "Somethin' Else." It is a pattern found in the Casio MT-40 home keyboard.

After the riddim was brought to the studio and Jammy heard it, he then slowed it further and placed piano and 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.
Some of Jammy's productions based on the rhythm were released on the albums Sleng Teng Extravaganza and Sleng Teng Extravaganza 95.

Playground

With its menacing keyboard intro launching immediately into hip-shaking drum patterns, the Jeremy Harding creation was exactly what the "Doctor" ordered, the 'Doctor" in this case being Beenie Man, whose career-defining global hit "Who Am I" surfed this premium riddim track to unchallenged success, the beat having already served Sean Paul ("Infiltrate"). It also served to introduce Mr Vegas - via "Hands In the Air (Nike Air)" who would later go on to collaborate with Sean Paul ("Hot Gyal Today") and establish himself as a hitmaker in his own right, even to this day.

Diwali

Keyboardist and producer Steven "Lenky" Marsden provided the soundtrack to many of the international dancehall hits of the early 2000s through this  Indian dance-music influenced track, which featured on hits by Sean Paul, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Lumidee, Brick & Lace (although the latter's record, "Love is Wicked" was actually a 2007 release), It is recognized as arguably the most prominent and popular riddim of 2002 based on the number of top-ten hit songs that charted in Jamaica or internationally that used the instrumental, such as "Get Busy," "No Letting Go," "Pon de Replay," "Never Leave You," "Overcome," "Elephant Message," "Sufferer," "Party Time," in addition to the aforementioned. To this day, the riddim and the songs sampling it are still guaranteed party movers. 

The beat is characterized by syncopated clapping, and it was given the name Diwali for its. The riddim has been featured in American television commercials via Sean Paul's song "Get Busy

Joyride

Buju Banton, Frisco Kid and Lady Saw ("Sycamore Tree") were but a few of the acts who rode this propulsive riddim from the reclusive "mad scientist" of dancehall, Dave Kelly, to local and regional chart joy. Having transitioned from sound engineer to producer at the famous Penthouse Studios, Kelly departed and formed his now famous "Madhouse" imprint with perhaps his most famous collaborator being Cham (aka Baby Cham) for whom he produced the worldwide smash "Ghetto Story" and Terror Fabulous, who voiced another worldwide topper, "Action" with Nadine Sutherland.

Pepperseed

Again from the fertile, well-guarded mind of Kelly, comes this somewhat underappreciated gem of a riddim. It may not have resonated on international pop charts the way that Diwali and Playground did, but it powers some much-loved, authentic dancehall hits such as Frisco Kid's "Big Speech" and Daddy Screw's "Big Tings A Gwaan"

Military

Shane Brown, son of legendary Treasure Isle engineer Errol Brown, conceptualized this hardcore staple, which backs Sizzla's 'I'm With The Girls" Elephant Man's "Badmind Anthem" and "Step Pon Dem" by Assassin/Agent Sasco among others. Its marching syncopation, drum rolls and military-style keyboard lines made it an instant hit that will still get "forwards" at sessions and parties.

Drop Leaf

Not a strict dncehall riddim in its initial conception, this simple yet haunting guitar riff was nonetheless quickly adopted by the likes of TOK ("Footprints") Tanya Stephens ("After You") and Bermudian star Collie buddz ("Young Girl") after providing the 'breakout' (pardon the pun) hit for the then incarcerated crooner Jah Cure - the lyrically prescient "Longing For". Drop Leaf was the creation of Donovan "Corleon" Bennett who, along with his cousin Oje - latterly known to the music world as Protoje - came up through the sound system route (the Vendetta sound in their native Manchester