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A Jamaican dancehall beat from the early 2000s has experienced an unexpected resurgence in global popular music, culminating in the massive success of “BbY WOW,” a new collaboration featuring reggaeton artist Karol G. The track currently dominates streaming platforms worldwide, holding the top position on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart while accumulating over 78 million streams and 21 million YouTube views since its release.
The song’s infectious appeal stems from its sampling of the “Coolie Dance Riddim,” an instrumental beat created by Jamaican producer Cordel Skatta Burrell in 2003. The distinctive drum pattern became synonymous with early 2000s club hits, most notably appearing on Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body” and Pitbull’s “Culo.” The riddim’s infectious quality made it a staple across dancehall, reggaeton, and pop music throughout the decade, with artists like Lumidee and Latin acts Jr Ranks adapting it for their own releases.
After lying relatively dormant for over a decade, the riddim has experienced a global revival over the past six years, with international artists embracing it across multiple genres and regions. Turkish musicians have led a recent wave of adaptations, while Arab pop artists—including Egyptian icon Amr Diab and Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna—have incorporated the beat into their work. French house producers and R&B artists like Kehlani have also contributed modern interpretations, demonstrating the riddim’s remarkable staying power and cross-cultural appeal.
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Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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