Shatta

French Caribbean Dancehall subgenre with a focus on sparse percussion, heavy basslines and lyrics revolving around partying and sensuality, often in Creole.

Shatta (derived from the Jamaican slang for “gangster”, though has taken on a wider meaning in Creole for good times in general) is a Dancehall genre born out of the local French Caribbean scene in the departments of Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana. Shatta typically features electronic dancehall beats with lyrics typically revolving around themes of partying, Caribbean culture and sensuality. These lyrics are most often performed in Creole, with English and French sometimes utilised as well. Most notably, shatta beats utilise very deep low-end basslines and minimal percussion or dembow rhythms.

The genre was first developed in the late 2010s from Jamaican dancehall, becoming popular backing music for local carnivals and parties in the area. Producers such as Lijay and JD would help define the sound further whilst shatta would reach wider cultural exposure through social media and fashion shows.