Dub

While the word "dub" can refer to almost any instrumental reworking of an existing recording, it most commonly refers to instrumental reggae. Dub was accidentally invented by Osbourne Ruddock (King Tubby) at Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio in '68. Ruddock inadvertently left the vocals off an acetate (or dub plate) he was cutting for his Home Town Hi-Fi sound system. Enhanced with reverb, echo, and delay, Tubby's dub took off and inspired the likes of Rainford Hugh Perry (Lee "Scrach" Perry) and Bunny Lee to step into the studio. "Prince" Philip Smart, Lloyd James (King Jammy), and Overton "Scientist" Brown would follow shortly thereafter. Nowadays, it is British producers such as Adrian Sherwood (On-U Sound), Neil Fraser (The Mad Professor), and Dub Syndicate who are leading the way in the field of dub. The music has unquestionably played a key role in the development of hip hop (especially with regard to toasting), drum and bass, jungle, and to a large extent, downtempo.