Who is the greatest dancehall DJ of all time?

[BOOMSHAK]

OK I'm bored and was just thinking. We all know Daddy U-Roy is the godfather, but who is the greatest of all time, from the 60's to present. Not neccessarily who had the most hit singles, but who was most influential, longevity in the business or just plain wicked on the mic, live in the dancehall.

My choice is Pappa San – 80’s – longest lyric and fastest DJ

Other’s to choose from:

Brigadier Jerry – 70’s and 80’s – probably most influential and respected
Ranking Joe – 70’s – tongue twista
Big Youth – 70’s
General Echo –70’s
Lone Ranger – 70’s & 80’s
Ringo – 70’s & 80’s
Michigan& Smiley – 70’s & 80’s
Yellowman – self proclaim King – late 70’s and 80’s
Jose Wales – 70 and 80’s
Early B – 80’s
SuperCat –80’s
Lt Stitchie – 80’s
Professor Nuts – 80’s and 90’s –
Shine Head – US 80’s (MC, Singer and Rapper) – most versatile
Pappa Levi – 80’s – UK
Tippa Irie –80’s – UK
Pato Bantan – 80 and 90 UK
Ninja Man – 80’s and 90’s – best free style
Tony Rebel 80 and 90’s
Shabba Ranks – 80’ and 90’s
Buju Banton – 90’s and up
Beenie Man – 80’s, 90’s
Terror Fabulous –90’s most underated
Bounty Killa – 90’s
Capleton – 90’s
General Degree – 90’s
Spragga Benz - 90’s
Elephant Man 90’s
Sean Paul – 90’s

 

[Mr.Curlz]

Buju Banton always

 

[xtraclip.com]

Bounty Killa – 90’s

Althoug him nah at the top of his game right now but him still and always be my DJ!!!!

 

[Spragga Benz]

-Lukie D
-Tony Curtis
-Super Cat
-Spragga Benz

 

[silkydark]

I love the Ranking Cutta (Cutty Ranks) but not sure he is the best.

Pappa Levi
Tippa Irie
Yellowman
Buju

Some of my personal favs. but your list Boomshak, has some of the most influental dancehall peeps of all time and i'd hate t o put them in any order.

 

[BOOMSHAK]

I know what you mean. Ranking the greatest of all time is hard because they are from different era's plus back in the day, these guys didn't make albums for the masses. They had lyrics to kill, but you could only hear it live on tapes. Very few made albums (michigan & smiley and King Yellowman- he wasfirst to bring dancehall to the international masses).

They just perform on the sound systems and people use to record live cassettes in the dance, so unless you were deep into this, most people back then would not know about some of these guys like how they know Bounty and Beenie today.

Looking at this list, I guess you can only rate them buy the era or time they are in.

Late '70 - General Echo or Ringo
Early to mid 80's - Yellowman, early B or Pappa Levi
Mid to late 80's - Pappa San or Lt Stiche
Early 90's - Buju Banton reign supreme(can't forget Terror Fabulous though)
94 to present - All about the Killa with Beenie and Lady Saw a close second.

Damn - I forgot about the ladies

Mumma Lyza - Late 70's and early 80's
Sista Nancy - early 80's
Sista Carol - Early 80's
Lady Ann - early 80's
Lady G. - Late 80's to present
Patra - late 80's early 90's
Lady Saw - early 90's to present
Tanya Stephens - mid 90's tp present