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Sound clashes are a thrilling reggae tradition. Will AI ruin them?
The use of fake AI vocals – including those of Donald Trump – is sending shockwaves through this historic scene. At a Montego Bay clash, performers debate their culture’s future
AI vocalists such as this fake Trump, however, are sending shockwaves through a decades-old musical tradition in which authenticity and originality are paramount, and sound systems pay premium rates to artists to get vocals for clashes. Photograph: EsiromTo prepare for a clash, sound systems work with artists to record exclusive dubplates, often covers in an aggressive dub style with lyrics rewritten for battle scenarios. To joyfully blaring vuvuzelas in the Sumfest crowd, German sound system Warrior Sound drop an exclusive dub recorded by Jamaican upstart Nigy Boy, with the lyrics to his viral hit Continent changed with shout-outs to Warrior: “Sumfest / we’ll kill dem / we will win da trophy.” Other artists heard in the clash include Bounty Killer, Damian Marley, Capleton, Beres Hammond and the Heptones.
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