Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
Sean Paul

Sean Paul

Date: Mar 31 2003

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Since Bob Marley became an international superstar, music from Jamaica has remained popular all over the world. However, in the past few years it has gotten even bigger because of artists like Shaggy and Beenie Man. The newest music star from Jamaica is Sean Paul. His first major worldwide hit “Gimme the Light” has made him one of the biggest names in pop music.
Dutty Rock is Sean Paul’s second album, but it’s the first that has made a lot of noise in the States. Read on to learn more about Sean Paul and Jamaican dancehall music.

Dialog

1. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Sean Paul is from Kingston, Jamaica. People speak English in Jamaica, but with a patois that makes it difficult to understand for non-Jamaicans. In his music, Sean Paul tries to use regular English in order to appeal to English speakers around the world. He says, “This language is broken English with all kinds of different words in it, and it’s hard for American pop fans to understand. Bob Marley used quite a few English terms… his songs are basically written in English with a few Jamaican slangs here and there. That helped people understand those Jamaican slangs and it helped the rest of the world to understand our music and culture. It’s the same thing I’m doing: writing songs where people can understand more universally.”
Since releasing Dutty Rock and becoming well known in the U.S., Sean Paul has collaborated with Jay-Z, Blu Cantrell, Mya, De La Soul and Beyoncé Knowles. About Beyoncé, he says, “I’ve been a fan of her work for a long time. She expressed to me that she’s been listening to a lot of my music. She wrote a great song.”

 

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz Go Super!

 

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3 Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Discussion

I’m a huge Bob Marley fan, but I don’t listen to other reggae very often. Sean Paul may change that. His album is really cool. The music is a combination of reggae, hip-hop and pop music, so it’s perfect for parties. I really dig hearing it in the club because it’s great to dance to.
If you’re a fan of reggae music or hip-hop you should definitely check out Dutty Rock. It’s one of the most interesting albums out there right now.
Rock on,
Migs

 

Likes (5):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast