- Also written
- Sound
What “Sound system” means
A sound system is a large mobile setup of speakers and equipment, together with the crew that runs it, that brings music to dances and street parties. In Jamaica, sound systems are named and have loyal followers. The word can mean the equipment or the whole crew.
Examples
Di sound system jus warm up.
The sound system is just warming up.
Which sound a play tonight?
Which sound system is playing tonight?
How to use it
Everyday among music fans. People often shorten it to "sound".
Cultural context
The app's culture chapter credits sound systems run by operators like Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid with bringing the dance to the people and inventing the remix (dub), the hype man and toasting. Sound clashes, where rival sounds compete, are a famous part of the culture.