Ironically, reggae isn't really truly Jamaican. Its roots are American R&B and African folk music. A prominent bass line and a syncopated guitar rhythm characterize reggae's distinctive sound. The typical reggae band consists of drums, bass, keyboard and guitar.
Dancehall music is reggae stripped down to its percussion, with hardly any harmony. The music is mostly synthesized, with a drum machine acting as the rhythm section. The result is a sparse, minimalist sound. It is called dancehall because it was played in dancehalls, because it was easier to dance to than reggae.
Henry "Junjo" Lawes was a Jamaican music producer who in the early 1980s debuted the dancehall hit album, Bounty Hunter. Upon its release, Lawes was credited with fully developing dancehall music into a distinct musical genre.
The lyrical content of dancehall has been criticized as being vulgar, violent and homophobic. It is often compared with gangsta rap and has been accused of inciting violence between feuding MCs and violence among the music's patrons. Reggae lyrics generally promote peace, love and a call for social and political change, without the extreme violence and vulgarity.