Scantily dressed, drenched in old oil, grease or tar. Cattle horn headpieces, cow chains, pots and pans. This may be an unfamiliar sight to some, but for others, it is Jab Jab – the darkest portrayal of carnival.
Jab Jab started as the mockery and expression of liberation for many West Indian African ancestors. But what many didn’t foresee is that this mockery would later give birth to a distinct sound. A sound that is on the rise today.
Jab music is a type of call and response chant soca, heavily infused with sounds of conch shells and drums which beckons Jab masqueraders to gyrate through the streets on J’ouvert morning, specifically in Grenada.
Recently, Jab Jab players are not the only ones responding to the wild, yet riveting calls of the Jab sound.
“I want you to pick up something, anything and run, run wid it,” the lyrics from the infectious composition by the reigning International Soca Monarch [ISM], Mr. Killa is having the same effect. But did you know it is a Jab Jab song?
Mr. Killa’s victory at ISM placed the Jab Jab Riddim on the pinnacle of mainstream soca. But why did it take so many years for Jab Jab music to rank among the other permutations of soca?
In the words of the reigning International Power Soca Monarch, here is a bit of Caribbean carnival history to “pick up and run, run wid it”.
Its Roots
Jab simply means to quickly strike with short blows. In the Carnival context, it is a French patios word meaning ‘Diable’ [devil] or for Jab Jab – ‘double devil.’
Certainly, Jab Jabs are not devils, but the embodiment of African ancestors. They darkened their bodies and carried chains and whips to mock the individuals who they deemed as devils – plantation owners.
To celebrate their freedom and ability to partake in carnival, our ancestors continued to portray this fierce persona during carnival.
Despite the various arguments about who owns Jab between Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, this display of mockery started what Julian Hackett told Red Bull Music Academy is the “Most aggressive form of soca. It can cause riots and have people climbing on top cars.” Does it?
Before 1991, Jab Jab music was the unofficial sound played on the streets during carnival. However, that changed when Moss International recorded his road march hit ‘Jambalesse.’ A year later, Trinidadian Soca star, Superblue released ‘Jab Jab’ and then ‘Jab Molassie’ in 1994. Though his roach march winning hits were centered on his country’s version of Jab Jab, the sound was nothing compared to the Jab style rising on the Spice Isle.
The Rise
‘You maadd ah wah…wey di Jab Jab possee dey?’ If you’ve ever heard this line in a Soca song, then you are familiar with the artist who allowed the Jab Jab Riddim to take flight.
Amidst the ‘crab in barrel’ society, Tallpree recorded the hit ‘Old Woman Alone’ in 1999. This single reverberated through airwaves across the Eastern Caribbean for obvious reasons, its distinct rhythm and satirical pull. But its biggest accomplishment was that it ‘touched down and shelled down’ the mainstream soca scene.
“The world fell in love with ‘Old Woman Alone;’ this song was responsible for the Jab Movement. It was different. It was infectious,” says Tallpree.
Tallpree continued to push the Jab Jab Riddim doing collaborations with Machel Montano and Allison Hinds. Later, Iwer George also joined the movement. He released a series of soca songs including ‘Come to me,’ and ‘No Pain’ on Jab Jab Riddims.
“The stamp of Jab music is Grenada. We are a Jab Jab nation. I think it a plus for all those who try Jab Jab Music. Because of that, it is now a Sub-genre of soca,” Tallpree commented.
Producing hit after hit to push the Jab ‘doh normal’ idea paved the way for Jab music becoming a sub-genre of Soca.
Now a sub-genre of Soca
Grenadian artists no longer worry about fitting into the more established sounds of Soca. They are creating road march worthy hits on the staccato beat of the drum and conch shells.
Though Cloud 5 took the Jab Jab sound on a groove with the hit ‘No Behaviour,’ the Wuss Ways duo and Mr. Killa keep the Jab Riddim soaring, commanding masses to ‘get in yuh section’ and ‘run wid it’ respectively.
But the defining Jab song may be the ‘Tombstone’ demand by Mandella Linkz – ‘When ah dead, put Jab Jab on my tombstone.’
So when you do hear the deafening chant, drums and conch shells at upcoming carnival festivities, know that your ancestors’ portrayal of strength and freedom paved the way for the Jab Jab rhythm and ‘possee’ you are now a part of.
