Woof-Woof

Innocent Crew

Latin meets hip hop this week in the kind of musical collision that could only come from Sly & Robbie, the most innovative production team in reggae. Jamaican producers have never been afraid to borrow from outside musical influences so it's no surprise that hip hop is currently having an impact on the music of Jamaica. There's a vogue this year for reggae DJ "crews" in the American style like the Alias Crew, Squad One Crew, the Innocent Crew itself, and Ward 21 who achieved a big hit with Haters earlier this year and are currently high in the UK reggae charts with Judgement Day.

Woof-Woof itself appears to be a frank appreciation of the delights of attractive young women. These cause the red blooded young men of the Innocent Crew to throw back their heads and bark like dogs. "Whe' dem deh, mi wan' go" they sing. "You so sexy and so sweet, Spanish me a speak when you kiss me pon me cheek." Just like an American DJ crew, their individual contributions combine, overlap and overrun each other in a display of sheer musical exuberance.

The other half of the musical equation here is the Latin styled production. Adventures in the exotic lands of mambo, bossa nova and the tango have a long musical pedigree in Jamaica, going right back to the days of Duke Reid and tunes like Latin Goes Ska by The Skatalites or Harry Mudie's heavily tango-styled Theme From The Gun Court. Sly & Robbie have pursued this rich musical vein with great single-mindedness over the last few years under the name "La Trengae". Here, a powerhouse bass line underpins the whole production and a bright brittle marimbas-style lick builds the tension across the top.

Reggae continues to change and evolve, just as it always has done, and Sly & Robbie continue to be up there at the front.