On This day in Jamaican history  –  On September 21, 1942 musician U-Roy, best known as the pioneer of toasting, was born in Jamaica. Toasting is a style of lyrical chanting which, in Dancehall music, involves a deejay “chanting” (talking) over a riddim. Jamaican-born toaster DJ Kool Herc brought the style to Queens, subsequently setting the stage for the birth of rap and hip-hop.