Thirty-five years ago, Dem Bow by Shabba Shabba Ranks was released. The song produced by Bobby Digital has generated billions for the global music industry and spawned over 1800 hits.
What began as the instrumental for Gregory Peck’s 1989 track Poco Man Jam, crafted by legendary producers Steely & Clevie, would take on a life of its own, becoming the foundation of reggaeton, Dominican dembow, and countless chart-topping hits across hip-hop, pop, and electronic music.
Origins: Steely & Clevie’s Riddim and Shabba Ranks’ ‘Dem Bow’
The Dem Bow beat traces its roots to Poco Man Jam, a track featuring an innovative digital dancehall rhythm created by Steely & Clevie. The instrumental version, later released as Fish Market in 1990, caught the attention of producer Bobby Digital, who used it as the backbone for Dem Bow, a track by Shabba Ranks that carried strong hegemonic themes advocating for violence against anyone who performed oral sex.
The Evolution of ‘Dem Bow’
The beat migrated from Jamaica to Panama in the late 1980s and early 1990s, where artists like El General helped pioneer Spanish reggae. Puerto Rican artists later embraced the riddim, incorporating it into underground mixtapes and laying the foundation for reggaeton. Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, Dem Bow evolved into a genre of its own, characterized by a faster tempo, repetitive hooks, and a high-energy club sound.
Musicologist Wayne Marshall highlights that Dem Bow’s evolution is deeply tied to migration. Caribbean communities in New York, Florida, and Massachusetts played a crucial role in fusing the sound with hip-hop and Latin influences, ultimately helping it gain global traction. “Every city, every country in the world is in New York. So of course, it’s going to end up being a center for global culture,” Marshall says.
The early 2000s marked a turning point for Dem Bow-based music. Songs like Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina (2004), produced by Dominican duo Luny Tunes, propelled reggaeton into the mainstream. The riddim’s appeal proved universal, driving hits like Don Omar’s Dale Don Dale, Wisin & Yandel’s Rakata, and later, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s Despacito (2017), which shattered streaming records worldwide.
Bad Bunny’s 2022 Grammy-winning album Un Verano Sin Ti further and his performance at the live telecast, demonstrated Dem Bow’s contented impact on mainstream entertainment. Tracks like Tití Me Preguntó showcase the rhythm’s versatility, blending it seamlessly with modern reggaeton, hip-hop, and even pop elements.
Wisin and other reggaeton artists have also acknowledge reggaeton’s evolution through collaboration, technology, and migration.
Dominican Dembow: A Genre of Its Own
While reggaeton introduced Dem Bow to a global audience, the Dominican Republic transformed it into a distinct genre. Dominican dembow, led by artists like El Alfa and Chimbala, is defined by its relentless energy, rapid-fire lyrics, and bass-heavy production. Unlike Puerto Rican reggaeton, which often incorporates melodic elements, Dominican dembow thrives on raw intensity and danceability, making it a staple in clubs worldwide.
To date Steelie and Clevie are entangled in a multi-million dollar lawsuit to reclaim the rights offer 1800 songs alleged to have used their original Fish Market beat. Including in the 160 defendants are Universal Music Group, Warner Music, Sony Music and their publishing arms are listed as defendants, as well as Drake, Justin Bieber and Bad Bunny.
Despite the controversial lyrical themes of its earliest iterations, the rhythm itself remains a unifying force—transcending borders, languages, and cultures. As we celebrate 35 years of Dem Bow, one thing is clear: this riddim isn’t going anywhere. Instead, it will continue evolving, inspiring new generations of artists across the world.
