There are riddims that are songs and there are riddims that are history. Sleng Teng is one of the latter — and now, 41 years after he was born, he has a new voice: that of Sean Paul.
With"Stand On Business", the Jamaican dancehall superstar climbs for the first time in his career to the riddim that reinvented Jamaican music. It's not just any feature, parce — it's the meeting of two dancehall eras speaking the same language.
What is riddim Sleng Teng?
To understand why this weighs so heavily, one has to go back to 1985. The Sleng Teng is born from the work of Noel Davey, Wayne "Ian" Smith and Lloyd "King Jammy" James, and premieres with the voice of Wayne Smith in the song"Under Mi Sleng Teng".
What makes it mythical is not just who did it, but how. King Jammy -then known asPrince Jammy-heard the potential of a riddim built from the “Rock” preset of a keyboard Casio MT-40, slowed it down to fit Smith's voice, and the result was something Jamaica had never heard before. Raw, minimalist, futuristic - that day it became clear that a hit no longer needed a full live band — the era of digital dancehall was born.
Since then, the riddim has been covered more than 450 times, connecting generations of artists from Tenor Saw and Nitty Gritty to Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel. His influence was felt even beyond reggae, seeping into hip-hop and electronic music.
The riddim that taught dancehall to be digital.
Sean Paul goes up to Sleng Teng — for the first time
Here's what makes this release special: Despite more than two decades of running,Sean Paul had never officially recorded about Sleng Teng until now. A curious void, considering how central that riddim is in the history of dancehall that he himself helped to globalize.
“Stand On Business”was released on August7, produced byKing Jammyand distributed byVP Records, and on August21 itarrived with official video, giving the collaboration a full visual treatment.
About this collaboration, King Jammy was clear: he felt that Sean Paul came to Sleng Teng with his own style and his own energy, and that listening to the riddim playing in 2026 confirms to him that real music never ages.
The upcoming anniversary project
"Stand On Business" does not arrive alone. It is thelead single from the upcoming Sleng Teng anniversary projectbeing prepared King Jammy, planned for later this year. After last year marked the riddim's 40th anniversary with archival content, reversals, remixes and exclusive interviews, this new stage aims to introduce the sound to a whole new generation of dancehall — with Sean Paul leading the way as the first featured artist.
Why this matters for sound system culture
In Pull It Up Radio we keep track of these moments because they are not just releases — they are direct lines to the root of everything that sounds in any reggae or dancehall party today, including those that are put together in Guadalajara, CDMX or any corner of Latin America. The Sleng Teng is proof that a well-assembled sound system needs nothing more than a riddim with a soul and a voice that knows what to do with it.
That Sean Paul -one of the names that brought dancehall to the whole world- returns to this source 41 years later, is not nostalgia. It is to remind the scene where all the fire that continues to light horns to this day comes from.
🎧 Listen to “Stand On Business” and tell us in the comments which version of Sleng Teng is your all-time favorite.
📲 Follow us on @pullitupradio for more stories of the dancehall that marked generations.
Frequently asked questions
What is riddim Sleng Teng?
It is the riddim created in 1985 by King Jammy, Wayne Smith and Noel Davey from a preset of a keyboard Casio MT-40. It is considered the first all-digital riddim of reggae and ushered in the era of digital dancehall.
When did "Stand On Business" come out of Sean Paul?
The single was released on August 7, 2026, with the official music video premiering on August 21.
Who produced "Stand On Business"?
It was produced by King Jammy and distributed by VP Records.
Is this the first time Sean Paul has recorded about Sleng Teng?
Yes, it is the first time in his career that he officially records about this riddim.
What is the Sleng Teng anniversary project?
It is a project that King Jammy is preparing for 2026, of which "Stand On Business" is the lead single, celebrating the trajectory of the riddim more than four decades after its creation.