History · Farin · written in Patois with an English translation
Waak dung Flatbush Avenue inna Brooklyn pon a Saturday, an yu wi tink seh yu deh a Half Way Tree: patty shop, hairdressa, dancehall a play outta car, an pure Patwa inna di air. New York hold one a di bigges' Jamaican community outta Jamaica — Flatbush an East Flatbush inna Brooklyn, an up inna di Bronx too. Every Labor Day, more dan a million people pack Eastern Parkway fi di West Indian Day Parade — mas costume, flag from every island, soca an dancehall a pound. Di carnival start inna Harlem long time aback, inna big indoor dance, den inna 1969 i move go Brooklyn — an now a one a di bigges' street celebration dem inna di whole America. But hear di sweetes' part. Inna 1955, one bwoy name Clive Campbell baan a Kingston. Im grow up a watch di big sound system dem, den im fambily move go di Bronx. Pon di 11th a August 1973, inna di rec room a 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, im play im sista back-to-school party. Dem call im DJ Kool Herc. Im tek two copy a di same record an stretch out di drum break dem, so di dancer dem coulda gwaan dance — an a dat deh night people call di birt a hip-hop. A yaadie kyai di sound-system spirit go a di Bronx, an di whole worl music change. Big up!
Walk down Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn on a Saturday, and you will think you are at Half Way Tree: patty shops, hairdressers, dancehall playing out of cars, and pure Patois in the air. New York holds one of the biggest Jamaican communities outside Jamaica — Flatbush and East Flatbush in Brooklyn, and up in the Bronx too. Every Labor Day, more than a million people pack Eastern Parkway for the West Indian Day Parade — mas costumes, flags from every island, soca and dancehall pounding. The carnival started in Harlem long ago, in big indoor dances, then in 1969 it moved to Brooklyn — and it is now one of the biggest street celebrations in all of America. But hear the sweetest part. In 1955, a boy named Clive Campbell was born in Kingston. He grew up watching the big sound systems, then his family moved to the Bronx. On the 11th of August 1973, in the rec room at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, he played his sister's back-to-school party. They call him DJ Kool Herc. He took two copies of the same record and stretched out the drum breaks so the dancers could keep dancing — and that night is called the birth of hip-hop. A Jamaican carried the sound-system spirit to the Bronx, and the whole world's music changed. Big up!
Waak dong Flatbush Avenue iina Brooklyn pan a Satide, an yu wi tingk se yu de a Half Way Tree: pati shap, ierjresa, daansaal a plie outa kyaar, an pyuur Patwa iina di ier. New York uol wan a di bigis Jamiekan komyuniti outa Jamieka — Flatbush an East Flatbush iina Brooklyn, an op iina di Bronx tu. Evri Labor Day, muor dan a milyan piipl pak Eastern Parkway fi di West Indian Day Parade — mas kostyuum, flag fram evri ailan, soka an daansaal a poun. Di kaanival staat iina Harlem lang taim abak, iina big induo daans, den iina 1969 i muuv go Brooklyn — an nou a wan a di bigis schriit selibrieshan dem iina di uol America. Bot ier di swiites paat. Iina 1955, wan bwai niem Clive Campbell baan a Kingston. Im gruo op a wach di big soun sistim dem, den im fambili muuv go di Bronx. Pan di 11t a Aagos 1973, iina di rek ruum a 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, im plie im sista bak-tu-skuul paati. Dem kaal im DJ Kool Herc. Im tek tuu kapi a di siem rekaad an schrech out di jrom brek dem, so di daansa dem kuda gwaan daans — an a dat de nait piipl kaal di bort a hip-hop. A yaadi kyai di soun-sistim spirit go a di Bronx, an di uol worl myuuzik chienj. Big op!
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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