Ting A Ling Riddim: How It Became a Classic in Jamaican Music

It stands in extremely rare company as one of the few riddims of Dancehall that repeatedly blurs the lines between Dancehall itself and Pop, Hip Hop, and R&B. It transforms the works of those who were privileged enough to use it, and those who may yet be lucky enough to use it in the future.

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Ting A Ling Riddim

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Beyond Ninjaman's incredibly original and distinctive toasting style, sheer excitement in its own right, his splatter-shot thematic approach was just about irresistible -- from single to single, one never knew what topic the DJ would tackle next. The effect on full-length records was nigh on overwhelming. Released in 1992, Ting a Ling a Ling a School Pickney Sing Ting paired the DJ at his breakout heights with the formidable Junior Reid, whose ferocious riddims and incendiary production style sent Ninjaman stuttering to a whole new level. Needless to say, classes with the DJ were far removed from the usual grind, as Ninjaman makes clear on the title track, a biting attack on the Jamaican school system structured around spelling lessons. The course continues on "Education," where spelling is just the start for his kiddie rhyme games. But school isn't merely teaching children the three Rs, and on "Consideration," Ninja provides serious study in proper living, while "Attention" is an eloquent essay on reaching out to those in need around you. "Bring in the Gun" contains lessons as well, across a quite brilliant riddim. Incorporating lyrics from Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto," Ninja's exposition on "gun is life, gun is death" contrasts people's need to arm themselves for protection with the spiraling rise of gun crime and violence -- a situation that, on "Tings Get Worse," the DJ lays at the door of the ruling People's National Party, whose promises remain unfilled. The number references Prime Minister Michael Manley's illness: the cancer that would force his resignation and soon kill him. From politics to pathos, there's the haunting "Grandparents," and in an even stranger choice of covers, "Mississippi," where listeners find Jamaica's toughest delivering a country love song. Further romantic adventures are found on "Lovers" and "Love Rushing," the latter the more boastful of the two. From the surely exaggerated exploits of "Ninja" to the so-pleased-to-be-back-home "Motorcade," this is one wild ride. Reid's riddims are unimpeachable, and Ninja is in top form -- a lethal dancehall combination.

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ting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ dem stock up eena pure boom riddim.ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork i fight fi dumplin.Booyaka Booyaka fi Shabba RankinShabba Ranks juss appear and tear annadda man chin through.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkey - yes.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkey.Who dey tink dey are yes dey cant harm mei am di general in di DJ armywe dot all di I and cross all di Tand set all di gyal dem tickle fancyand anywhere we go gyal gwaan crazily so.ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork i fight fi dumplin.Booyaka Booyaka fi Shabba RankinShabba Ranks juss appear and tear annadda man chin through.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkey.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkey yuh see...reggae dancehall it comprised a winery yuh seeLock up yuh foot, gyal wine yuh body yuh seeif yuh can wine yuh hold yuh man in? yuh seepop pure style when yuh see yuh matey yuh seemate a try dress but yuh mate nuh ready yuh see(yuh mate a look like she a bugs bunny)she a cartoon and she not realgyal a get di lovin you a get di money yuh seebumper bump up cos yuh full a qualitytrailer load a girls dem gwaan cra...[crazy]wid di great body girls... damn...like Jamaican girls... damn...an di American girls... damn...an di English girls... damn...what about Canadian girls... damn...all di Japanese girls ...damn...di Caribbean girls... damn...yuh should hear likkle children sing-whe dem sing?ting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ dem stock up eena pure boom riddim.ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork i fight fi dumplin.Booyaka Booyaka fi Shabba RankinShabba Ranks juss appear and tear annadda man chin through.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkeyyuh cyaan mix quantity wid quality.a man of quality yes him av ability.wid mi strong mind and a dat a carry mii get di willpower from God almightymany av come but di chosen is mewhat is for Ceaser could never be for medi cant? me no dey cant? mei am di general in di DJ armywi dot all di I and cross all di TCash register ring an dem make nuff moneyting-a-ling a ling, dancehall it swing, DJ dem stock up eena pure boom riddim.ting-a-ling a ling, schoolbell a ring, knife and fork i fight fi dumplin.Booyaka Booyaka fi Shabba RankinShabba Ranks juss appear and tear annadda man chin through.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkey.Dem a di don, and dat means we av di keyput di don to di key and turn him eena donkey yuh see...reggae dancehall it comprised a wine...Cock up yuh foot, gyal wine yuh body-ee-eejump up-up-up and shake your body-ee-eemodel pon yuh mate cah yu mate nuh ready-ee-ee.mate look skinny like maccaroni-ee-eewhen yuh mate skin yuh juss call out ready-ee-eeif a gyal ready den a gyal nuh ready-ee-eedon't want no gyal wid no ball out belly-ee-eebelly affi flat like a? penny.hear di likkle children sing wid qualitydem singting-a-ling-a-ling, dancehall dem swing...(fade out)

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