Skatta Burrell’s Iconic ‘Coolie Dance Riddim’ Still Impacts the World 22 Years Later

Music figure and producer Skatta Burrell relishes as his ‘Coolie Dance Riddim’ still resonates worldwide, recalling its global success. “This beat is taking over crazy territories that I never even imagined,” he said

Skatta Burrell, alongside Vybz Kartel, enjoys the Everlasting impact of Coolie Dance Riddim (Photo: Rojhay Anderson)

Music executive, producer, and industry entrepreneur CorSkatta Burrell reflects on the global legacy of his timeless crossover masterpiece, Coolie Dance Riddim, which continues to resonate with audiences worldwide 22 years later.

When Cordel "Skatta" Burrell released the Coolie Dance Riddim in 2003, he couldn’t have imagined its global reach. It was listed by Rolling Stone among the 25 Riddims That Shaped Jamaican Music. The project has evolved into one of dancehall’s greatest international crossovers - sampled and stretching from Latin America to India, the Arab world, and the U.S. pop scene. “Years ago, my publicist looked at me and said, ‘You have a beat where my face can be more rotated.’ Now this beat has dominated pop charts all over the world. I never expected it,” Skatta reflected.

“Fast forward to now, this beat is taking over crazy territories that I never even assumed,” he added, encouraging creators to explore those regions as the riddim continues to resonate worldwide.

The Coolie Dance Riddim powered some of the most viral dancehall hits of the early 2000s, including “Jook Gal” by Elephant Man, Mr. Vegas’ “Pull Up,” and Bounty Killer’s “Yuh Gwan.” Tracks like T.O.K’s “Unknown Language” were also staples in the juggling, dominating dance floors and parties across Jamaica and beyond.

Its global reach expanded with Pitbull’s Latin smash “Culo,” while its most successful crossover came with Nina Sky’s “Move Ya Body,” which broke into the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 and later earned a remix featuring Vybz Kartel.

Even Beyoncé moved to the pulse of the riddim during her 2023 Renaissance World Tour. More than two decades later, the beat continues to command global attention — most recently sampled in Kehlani’s 2024 viral single “After Hours,” proving it remains one of the most impactful crossover riddims in dancehall history. If the Coolie Dance Riddim had been released in today’s streaming era, it would have likely amassed millions of streams and generated significant earnings for both Burrell and distributor Greensleeves Records, further underscoring its timeless influence.