More than two decades after Cordel “Skatta” Burrell created the iconic Coolie Dance riddim, the unmistakable Jamaican sound has found itself at the centre of another major global music moment. Skatta says he never expected Colombian Latin superstar Karol G to use the production, which he describes as one of dancehall’s most remixed, reused and sampled riddims. However, Karol G, alongside Spanish artistes Judeline and Rusowsky, has now taken “BbY WOW”, which samples the legendary riddim, to No. 1 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts.
Speaking with Anthony Miller on Entertainment Report, Skatta reflected on the extraordinary international journey of Coolie Dance, pointing to artistes including Elephant Man, the Ying Yang Twins, Lil Jon and Twista among those connected to its long history of remixes, reuses and sampling. According to Skatta, the riddim has travelled further and been reimagined more extensively than almost any other dancehall production, crossing genres, countries and generations.
Karol G’s use of Coolie Dance, however, came as a surprise to its creator. Skatta said he had not anticipated the Colombian superstar incorporating the riddim into her music, but explained that the parties subsequently negotiated the arrangement properly. The result has been a major international breakthrough for “BbY WOW”, which generated 42.3 million streams worldwide during the August 28 to September 3 tracking period and has surpassed 103 million streams on Spotify.
The song’s rise to the summit of Billboard’s two global charts has added another remarkable chapter to the legacy of a riddim first released in 2003. “BbY WOW” also displaced Shakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai” from the top of the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, underlining the continuing global appeal of Jamaican music and production.
For Skatta, the latest success is further evidence that Coolie Dance remains far more than a nostalgic dancehall classic. More than 20 years later, its sound is still travelling, evolving and finding new audiences, with Karol G’s latest Billboard triumph proving that one of Jamaica’s most recognisable riddims continues to make a global impact.
View this post on Instagram
