Name: Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture
Brand: Beth Lesser, Stuart Baker

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

9781916359833

Colour

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format Books GB

Hardback

Format detail

Limited edition

Release date

2023-10-09

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Hachette

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

Artist

Beth Lesser

Stuart Baker

Genre GB

Music

Label GB

Thames and Hudson

Thames & Hudson is an international publisher of beautifully illustrated books. With a passion for visual culture, their titles cover a wide range of subjects including art, architecture, design, fashion, popular culture, photography, history, lifestyle, children’s and gift.

Founded in 1949 by Walter and Eva Neurath, Thames & Hudson remains an independent family-owned company. Today they are one of the world’s leading publishers of illustrated books with over 2,000 titles in print.

Headquartered in London with a sister company in New York and subsidiaries in Melbourne, Singapore and Hong Kong. In Paris, their subsidiary company Interart distributes English-language books throughout France.

Stuart Baker is the owner of British label Soul Jazz Records. With a passion for music and an extensive knowledge of various genres, Stuart has curated a diverse catalog of releases that span across reggae, jazz, soul, funk, and more. As the driving force behind Soul Jazz Records, he has been instrumental in bringing lesser-known artists to the forefront and introducing their unique sounds to a wider audience.

Through his label, Stuart has championed groundbreaking artists from around the world and showcased their talents through carefully curated compilations and reissues. His dedication to preserving musical history while also pushing boundaries with new releases has earned him a reputation as an authoritative figure in the industry.

With an unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity, Stuart continues to curate exciting projects that celebrate both established legends and emerging talent. Whether you're a seasoned music enthusiast or just starting your journey into discovering new sounds, exploring the rich catalogue of Soul Jazz Records is sure to be a rewarding experience guided by Stuart's discerning taste.

New printing with new introduction of this definitive study and essential guide to Jamaican Dancehall in the 1980s featuring hundreds of exclusive photographs with accompanying text, interviews and biographies.

This book captures a previously unseen era of musical culture fashion and lifestyle. With unprecedented access to the incredibly vibrant music scene during this period, Beth Lesser’s photographs are a unique way into a previously hidden part of Jamaican culture. Dancehall is at the centre of Jamaican musical and cultural life. From its roots in Kingston in the 1950s to its heyday in the 1980s, Dancehall has conquered the globe also spreading to the USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Europe and beyond.

Dancehall is a culture that encompasses music, fashion, drugs, guns, art, community, technology, and more. Many of today’s music and fashion styles can be traced back to Dancehall culture and continue to be influenced by it today.Born in the 1950s out of the neighbourhood soundsystems of Kingston, Dancehall grew to its height in the 1980s before a massive influx of drugs and guns made the scene too dangerous for many.Dancehall is an essential reference book for anyone interested in Reggae, as well as a unique photographic and textual source book of the musical, cultural and political life of Jamaica.

In the early 1980s as Jamaica was in the throws of political and gang violence Beth Lesser ventured where few other dared and this book is never before seen record of the exciting, dangerous and vibrant world of Dancehall. Beth Lesser’s book tells this story from its roots to its heights. Living in Jamaica in the late 70s and early 80s she photographed and documented a cultural explosion as producers, singers, DJs and soundsystems who all made a living out of the slums of Kingston.

Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture 

Books GB

Discover Dancehall: The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture by Stuart Baker. New printing with exclusive photos, interviews, and biographies. Available in hardback format from Thames and Hudson.