Mento, also known as Jamaican calypso, has a beat that is distinctly different from Trinidadian calypso despite sharing some similarities with it. The music is particularly noteworthy because it was the first and, in a sense, most indigenous form of popular music in Jamaica. In actuality, Mento was the first piece of popular Jamaican music to be professionally recorded. The genre has its own distinct flavor and was born out of slavery. Slaves were forbidden from gathering, and obviously, the concept of free speech did not exist. Chanting lyrics that were brought to the West Indies from Africa were the main form of communication. Slaves were frequently given performances for European plantation owners who believed the slaves were amusing them. As a result, in order to appease their masters, slaves began to incorporate aspects of European melodies into their music.

The Jolly Boys – Take me back to Jamaica – YouTube