Jersey Club

Club Zanzibar in Newark, New Jersey, where DJ Tony Humphries began his residency in 1982, helped "spawn the sometimes raw but always soulful, gospel-infused subgenre" of deep house music known as the Jersey Sound.[3][4] The club scene also gave rise to the ball culture scene in Newark hotels and nightclubs.[5] "Queen of House" Crystal Waters and other house luminaries performed on the Newark scene. DJ Kerri Chandler, another Zanzibar DJ, was another pioneer of the predecessor "Jersey sound" variety of house music. Jersey artists like Jomanda found success on the early 90s house music scene. Some have said that "when New York went to rap [during this period], Jersey stayed with club. Because of Zanzibar.”[6]

Abigail Adams's house-music record label and store, Movin’ Records in Newark's neighbor East Orange, was another contributor to the Jersey Sound.[7][8][9] In 1992, Union County's Aly-Us released their deep-house hit "Follow Me."[10][11]

Jersey club music developed more robustly during the 1990s, specifically in the city of Newark (affectionately nicknamed “Brick City”).[12] It was pioneered throughout the early to mid-1990s to the 2000s by artists like DJ Tameil, DJ Tim Dolla, Mike V and DJ Black Mic of the “Brick Bandits Crew” who were largely influenced by the Baltimore club scene of the 80s.[13][14][15][16]

The basic musical structure is similar to Baltimore Club, but it differs in the use of the same beats and mixing. Brick City or Jersey club is popular in Jersey, Philly, and Georgia. Some songs have been featured on the reality show Love and Hip-hop.

Now, the style and its direct derivatives are becoming known on the internet due to music sharing websites and social media such as SoundCloud, YouTube, Vine and Dubsmash becoming popular across the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.[17][18][19] [20]

Each track usually consists of a kick used by many other producers and DJs in the same tracks, along with the terms Movie and Building Shaker thrown into the song.

Strong emphasis on dance accompaniment is a major element in Jersey club culture, as evidenced by performances at Jersey club-centric events, including Essex County's Highlights Festival held annually in the summer. [21]

The 2016 Running Man Challenge, a viral meme in which participants filmed and shared short clips of themselves performing a dance resembling running to the 1996 song "My Boo," was based on well-known Jersey club moves. The original videos were posted on Vine by high school students in Newark-adjacent Hillside, New Jersey.[22]

Popular DJs include Kevin "DJ Lilman" Brown (whose music videos on YouTube have received nearly 100,000,000 views as of January 2019),[23][24] DJ Sliink, UNIIQU3 (billed as the Queen of Jersey Club),[25] DJ Frosty, DJ Jayhood, DJ Smallz 732, Mvntana, and DJ Taj (including his sister Lil' E).

In 2017, DJ Sliink, Wale and Skrillex released the Jersey club track "Saint Laurent".

Artists and producers DJ Joker, DJ Jayhood and Dizzy Rambunctious have all produced noted Jersey club remixes that have gained attention in the music and pop culture press.[26]

DJ Sliink and DJ Jayhood garnered press attention in 2018 for their Jersey club remix to Drake's "In My Feelings".[27]

Ciara's 2018 hit "Level Up" is heavily influenced by the Jersey club genre.[28][29]

4B (musician) best known for his remix of DJ Snake's "Middle (song)"

Jersey club has raised in popularity in the past couple of years. This genre, which was originally created purely for party culture in New Jersey, has grown into a major music brand all over the world. With Jersey club's newfound exposure, many popular artists have sampled and duplicated the rhythms and iconic sounds of Jersey club. This trend of infusing Jersey club with popular music originated with Beyoncé. In her album titled Lemonade, she features some musical elements of Jersey club in some of her singles. Another artist who has used Jersey club in their music is Ciara. Her comeback single "Level Up" uses a beat structure that is similar to that which is used in Jersey club music.[30] For DJ Khaled's single "To the Max", DJ Jayhood even claims that DJ Khaled was inspired by his Jersey club single "HeartBroken".[31]

Jersey club also influenced a new trend on the Internet which involves remixing viral videos and turning them into music. This phenomenon originated in 2015 when Vine was still up and running. Musicians and DJs would take these six-second loops and add a heavy percussive sound that resembled Jersey club. Nicolas Fraser’s Why You Always Lying Vine video was one of the millions of videos that have been remixed and turned into samples for Jersey club. After Vine, this phenomenon extended to other major social media sites including Twitter and Instagram.[32]

• Tony Humphries (musician)
• Club Zanzibar - historic black electronic music venue in Newark
• McDonald's Gospelfest in Newark
• Lincoln Park Music Festival in Newark
• Institute of Jazz Studies in Newark
• Newark Black Film Festival
• Newark Arts High School
• Sparky J's and Key Club (jazz club) (historic Newark jazz clubs)
• Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in Newark
• Grammy Museum Experience in Newark
• Afro Beat Fest in Newark