Rolling Stone

U-Roy, Reggae Artist and Toasting Pioneer, Dead at 78

U-Roy, the influential reggae artist who specialized in the art of toasting and whose style became a key precursor in the early development of hip-hop, has died at the age of 78. The singer and ...
The New York Times

U-Roy, Whose ‘Toasting’ Transformed Jamaican Music, Dies at 78

He popularized the genre in which the D.J. adds a vocal and verbal layer to a recorded track, a precursor of rap. By Neil Genzlinger U-Roy, who helped transform Jamaican music by expanding the role of ...
Northcountrypublicradio.org

U-Roy, Jamaican Vocalist Who Defined Dancehall And Presaged Hip-Hop, Dies At 78

Influenced by jazz, the Kingston-born vocalist revolutionized the art of occupying a space with his words. "Before U-Roy, no one was toasting,"... Ewart "U-Roy" Beckford, who transformed the Jamaican ...
Hosted on MSN

Hip-hop's evolution blends deep roots with global trends

Hip-hop in 2026 reflects a dynamic fusion of its cultural origins with global innovation, from Jamaican toasting influences to AI-driven production and international collaborations. Personalization ...
Hosted on MSN

Hip-hop's roots show deep cross-genre connections

Recent analyses highlight hip-hop’s enduring tradition of personalization and musical exploration, challenging stereotypes of limited genre exposure. From Jamaican toasting and doo-wop harmonies to ...
KCRW

U-Roy, Jamaican Vocalist Who Defined Dancehall And Presaged Hip-Hop, Dies At 78

Ewart "U-Roy" Beckford, who transformed the Jamaican art of toasting, or deejaying, from a sound system phenomenon into a hit-making art form that deeply influenced generations of dancehall artists as ...