Review | Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleng Teng

In 1985, Wayne Smith unwittingly ignited a revolution in Jamaican music with Under Me Sleng Teng. The track’s iconic riddim, created in 1984 by Smith and Noel Davey, was built using the rudimentary sampling capabilities of the Casiotone MT-40 keyboard. Working together, Smith and Davey stumbled upon the now-famous beat, with Smith also penning the lyrics. Producer King Jammy recognized the riddim’s potential and slowed its tempo to better complement Smith’s vocal style. The resulting track debuted in a clash between Jammy’s and Black Scorpio in February 1985, securing a resounding victory for Jammy and cementing Sleng Teng as a cornerstone of Jamaican music history.

Sleng Teng sparked a widespread shift to digital riddims across the Jamaican music scene. While many producers found success with this new sound, there were also notable failures. The Sleng Teng riddim itself has been re-recorded in approximately 500 different versions, with Johnny Osbourne’s Buddy Bye (also known as Put It By Numer One) and Tenor Saw’s Pumpkin Belly among the most celebrated.

Under Me Sleng Teng is a Jamaican slang referring to the state of being under the influence of marijuana, a familiar experience for many on the island. In his lyrics, Wayne expresses a firm rejection of cocaine, attributing its use to the potential for extreme, unpredictable behavior. Drawing inspiration from Barrington Levy’s 1984 hit Under Mi Sensi, Wayne crafts his personal perspective on the subject. Given its cultural and musical significance, it is unsurprising that this classic track has been reissued as a 7″ vinyl single, with the instrumental version featured on the B-side.