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Rude Boy and Rude Girl (also Rudeboy, Rudie, Rudi, or Rudy) refers to a subculture that originated in Jamaica during the 1960s, most notably associated with Ska and Two-Tone music. The term initially described young street toughs in Kingston who were of a poor economic background and often resorted to hustling and violence, but soon came to describe fans of Ska, Two-Tone, and other Jamaican music genres.
By the late-1970s, the terms "Rude Boy" and "Rude Girl" experienced a revival in the United Kingdom thanks to the 2 Tone movement. This revival was influenced by bands such as The Specials or The Selecter, as well as the British Mod and Skinhead subcultures. Although the term was initially associated with fans of Jamaican musical styles like Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, and Dancehall, it expanded to encompass Ska-Punk and other related subgenres that were brought to Britain by the Jamaican diaspora. The term is used in a similar way to "gangsta", "yardie", or "badman".
History[]
"Thus, the Rude Boy hero immortalised in ska and rocksteady – the lone delinquent pitched hopelessly against an implacable authority – was supplanted as the central focus of identity by the Rastafarian who broke the law in more profound and subtle ways." ― Dick Hebdige
The Rude Boy subculture originated in post-war Jamaica, emerging from the dissatisfaction, poverty, and unemployment that followed the country's independence in 1962. Overpopulation in Kingston led to complicated living conditions and competition for resources among citizens. Young men who had migrated to the city seeking a better life often found themselves trapped in poverty, and resorted to hustling and underground activities to survive. Rude Boys adopted a style that subverted the traditional social hirearchy, similar to Mods and Teddy Boys; they began to wear suits, trilby hats, and patent leather shoes, appropriating the status symbols that were culturally associated with the upper-class.[1] Rude Boys were known to frequent dancehalls, where they sometimes disrupted events, earning the moniker "dancehall crashers". Rude Boys were mainly drawn to Ska music, which originated around the same time. In turn, Ska musicians began referencing Rude Boys in their songs, describing their activities and attitude either in a positive or negative light. Various examples include songs like: "Rudy got soul", "Rudie Gets Plenty", "Beware of the Rude Boys", "Rude Girl", "Rudie's all Round", "Rudie Bam Bam", "A Message to You, Rudy". Thus, the Rude Boy image came to be a symbol of cultural pride but also caused concerns due to their involvement in crime.
The subculture spread to the United Kingdom with various waves of Jamaican emigration in the mid-1960s. In Britain, the Rude Boy style and attitude was influenced by both Mods and the then emerging Skinhead subculture. Early Skinheads were also passionate about Ska and Rocksteady music, as well as Reggae, especially before the genre became heavily associated with the Rastafari cultural movement. The association between Reggae music and Rastafarianism in the early 1970s led to a shift in focus within Jamaican youth culture. The sharp suits and trilby hats of the Rude Boy became less prominent as new trends originated.
A comparison between the photograph of Peter Tosh (left) and the 2 Tone logo (right).
A revival of the Rude Boy subculture began in the late-1970s with the 2 Tone movement in the United Kingdom. Multiracial bands like The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness combined Ska with influences from Punk and New Wave. The 2 Tone record label was founded in 1979 by Jerry Dammers, a member of The Specials. The label released music by these bands and became the namesake of the genre. An emphasized value of 2 Tone was racial unity, which is symbolized by the popular black and white checkerboard pattern. The label's logo was designed by John Sims, and features a Rude Boy character in a black suit and trilby hat. Sims' design was based on a photograph of Peter Tosh, whose own image drew inspiration from Curtis Mayfield's group. The movement was relatively short lived, as the 2 Tone label became defunct in 1985. However, it has still been very influential in the context of Anglo-Jamaican music. 2 Tone could be considered a precursor to 80s-90s Gangsta Rap, and also continuously influences Ska-Punk.
In 2014, there was an exhibition titled "Return of the Rude Boy" at the Somerset House, London. It was curated by photographer Dean Chalkley and creative director Harris Elliot, and documented the contemporary resurgence of the Rude Boy style.[2] The exhibition included various modern photographs of people who dress in the Rude Boy style, with accessories like fitted short trousers, spats, pocket watches, and pocket squares. The exhibition also documented the influence of sound system culture in Jamaican music.
Visuals[]
TBA
Fashion[]
TBA
Music[]
Ska[]
TBA
2 Tone[]
2 Tone or Two-Tone is a genre of music that combines ska (brought over by waves of Jamaican immigrants to the UK) with certain elements of Punk and New Wave. Despite the contradicting styles, 2 Tone blends these genres, making for a faster rendition of the ska genre. Many 2 Tone songs are in fact covers of Jamaican songs, such as 'A Message to You, Rudy', 'Monkey Man', and 'Time Hard'. The name comes from the record label of the same name, which was founded by Jerry Dammers, keyboardist of The Specials. Between its music and visuals, 2 Tone became a significant subculture in the British alternative music scene.
Coming along at a time of great upheaval in Thatcher-era Britain, 2 Tone providing youth with an outlet for their discontent and an escape through dancing. Also a key aspect of both the 2 Tone label, music, and the bands themselves was promoting equality and denouncing racism. The checkerboard motif symbolizes a union between the races, and many 2 Tone bands had both black and white members.ers.
Ska-Punk[]
TBA
Other Genres[]
TBA
Songs[]
- Nite Klub by The Specials
- Too Much Pressure by The Selecter
- Ranking Full Stop by The Beat
- Night Boat to Cairo by Madness
- Lorraine by Bad Manners
- Do The Rocksteady by The Bodysnatchers
Resources[]
Every Noise at Once[]
Subgenres/By Region:
- Ska Punk
- Modern Ska Punk
- Ska Jazz
- Spanish Ska
- Catalan Ska
- Italian Ska
- Russian Ska
- Mexican Ska
- Chilean Ska
- Argentine Ska
- Brazilian Ska
- Japanese Ska
- Indonesian Ska
Playlists[]
- 2 TONE 🏁 SKA REVIVAL
- Dance Craze: The Best of 2 Tone by Corpse Britches
- Two-Tone Classics by richardcleaver68
- 2 Tone Mix (Spotify Niche Mix)
Videos[]
Gallery[]
