In the early 1990’s when Frankie Sly got in the dancehall game, compact discs were considered cutting-edge and many of his fellow deejays were either into ‘slackness’ or gun talk.
Best known for songs like Ambulance (Wah Wah Wah), Haters Anthem and Fassy, the veteran toaster is currently pitching Party All Night Long, a collaboration with singer Wayne Wonder.
After 30 years in the music business, he recently spoke about the industry’s transformation.
“The music has evolved by the sounds. First, they are changing, the lyrical content has also changed, both slackness and gun songs have changed,” was his assessment.
Frankie Sly, who lives in Maryland, grew up in east Kingston which is one of the bedrocks of reggae. It is where he first met Wayne Wonder during the mid-1980’s.
Both recorded songs for Donovan Germain and Dave Kelly, two of the most successful producers of the 1990’s.
Of the current dancehall acts, Frankie Sly admires Popcaan and Masicka. And although he continues to record, his output is not as prolific as 10 years ago, which he stressed, is deliberate.
“I have been very selective in recordings lately. It’s not about how much songs you do, it’s more about quality for me over quantity,” he said.
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