Interview: WackJetta on Mobile Audio and Jamaican Soundsystem Culture

Back in the day on the block, some kids waited on the stoop with coins in their pockets for any sign of the Good Humor jingle. Others chased down garbage and fire trucks, waving at the drivers until they gave them a honk. Meanwhile, I hoped that the souped-up Honda CR-Xs and Toyota sports coupes with massive soundsystems would cruise by, rattling the entire neighborhood with Bounty Killer or The LOX. If enough of us were outside, they’d park and let us poke our heads inside the vehicles just to see the speakers pulse and vibrate. That’s what I imagine it would be like to see a Transformer in real life.

One time, my uncle pulled up in his Scion xB with a brand new soundsystem hooked up in the back. Shit was banging so hard the box-shaped car bounced up-and-down like a pogo stick. “Yo Jr. get in,” he said to me with his head hanging out of the window, before taking me on a 10-minute ride with the volume at such a level that I thought the tremors were going to make me burst into pieces like Drake in that one Sprite commercial.

Outside of certain neighborhoods nowadays (you know, Flatbush and The Heights) I don’t hear these bass-heavy soundsystems as much as I used to. My belief is that the rapid gentrification of the five boroughs has brought on an opposition to non-city approved noise and public gatherings that has stunted soundsystem culture. (Also, who the hell has to bread Pimp My Ride their car?) In my eyes, though, it’ll always be a part of the fabric of New York and the Caribbean; whenever I go to visit my mom’s side of the family in Saint-Martin I look forward to hanging out by the roadside grills where you can usually count on someone to be hanging out with their modified speaker system on full blast.

All of that nostalgia is probably why I’m such a fan of WackJetta’s Instagram page. Run by Tyler, a 19-year-old Broward County auto technician, he uploads videos of himself in the front seat of his Volkswagen Jetta cranking bass and reggae classics through his custom mobile soundsystem strapped into the backseat like a restless brat. Paying homage to his roots in Jamaica, where sound systems were popularized after World War II as a way to bring attention to local businesses and later integral to the formation of Jamaica’s record industry, Tyler’s speakers are painted green and gold like the flag and prioritize a bass-y yet clear sound specific to the audio preferences of the island.

In his videos—of songs like Wayne Smith’s “Under Me Sleng Ten” and John Wayne’s “Call The Police”—the camera shakes like he’s in a found footage disaster flick as he vibes out and sings along. I like when he takes requests and it feels like he’s connecting with the bass in real time. These videos are cool as hell. He’s a mobile DJ, bringing the party wherever he goes. It’s also pretty resistant to the way of the world right now, where public expression is often criminalized. The other night, I hopped on FaceTime with Tyler, from the frontseat of his Jetta, to get his story.

Alphonse: How did you get into soundsystems?

Tyler: My dad’s a Jamaican DJ, so from the womb I’ve been hearing bass. Early on in my life I took a strong interest in it, so I knew how to string up a soundsystem—in a car, at home, or for a party—from a young age. And everyone he was around was always about music. My uncles made music, and had record stores in Jamaica. I just took from that.

What type of events did your dad DJ?

Weddings. Parties. Every year he would throw his own New Year’s party, it would be super packed with a bunch of people and great vibes. And I was always a super curious kid, so I would be there asking a ton of questions. He would either show me or I would watch him, and then he would be like, “Oh, did you just learn that?” I was like, “Yeah, man.”

What was your favorite part about the parties?

The music. I been in love with bass my entire life. It was one of my dreams to have my own car with my own soundsystem just so I could play bass.

What is it about the sound?

That you can feel it. Music is not just something you listen to, but feel. If I can’t feel it, I don’t want to listen to it.

Were you always a car kid?

Yeah, my dad passed that onto me as well. He liked Audis and Subarus, and honestly, I like those same cars, too. I drive a Volkswagven, which is in the Audi family. He also liked Mitsubishis and older Toyotas, not so much BMWs. But I like cars that I can have fun with. They gotta have space to do whatever you want to them.

When did you get your first car?

In December, it’ll be two years since I got the Jetta I’m in right now.

How old were you?

17.

Was your first thought to make it loud?

Absolutely. I had my first subwoofer before I even had a car. I was just sitting, waiting for the day. I didn’t even have my license yet when I got the car, but had the music all set up.

What was the set-up like at first?

Way smaller. I had one little box that I still have as a memento, but it was just two bigger speakers and two smaller speakers. Gradually, I just started adding, until I thought I was going to build something that looks cool. I ended up coming up with a design and found this builder in Miami who built the boxes for me and helped me to get them painted in the colors to represent Jamaica.

How did you find a builder?

Instagram. I seen some people I follow get their boxes built by this guy, so I hit him up and he gave me a good price. My friends got their boxes built by him, too; he does great work. I don’t just have my own system. I install other people’s systems, and I go through him to get them built now.

Was the style of your boxes inspired by anyone?

I attend a lot of car shows, but I’d say the Dominicans and the Brazilians. I would see them on Instagram from New York with boxes like these, but on a way bigger scale.

Are there major differences between Dominican and Brazilian soundsystem culture vs. Jamaican?

Absolutely. Island people, you know, Jamaica, St. Kitts, the Virgin Islands, we like an even sound. All the highs, mids, and lows are very even, so the sound is very full. I noticed the Dominicans like everything super high. They want your ears to be piercing. Brazilians just wanna be loud. Really loud. Jamaica has a lot of bass. A lot of snares and other percussion.

Which side do you prefer?

Oh, the island side for sure. I love clarity and bass that you can feel from 150 feet away. I more like the Dominican designs, personally I don’t like the way Jamaican speaker boxes look. I like the way mine look. The way they sit on top of the car. The way you can put them on the ground.

Why’d you decide to strap them in the backseat like that?

For safety reasons. They move when I drive. So if anything ever happened it would be pretty dangerous. Now they don’t go anywhere when I’m moving.

Are the car meets more competitive or communal?

People just pull up and do whatever. Some don’t even have music, just a nice car. I’m the one with the music, I bring all the vibes. I’m a party on wheels. I always go the beach and people are always dancing when I pull up. But music choice is of course super, super important.

How do you pick?

Reading the crowd. I’m basically a DJ. For instance, last night I was at a car meet at a ice cream shop, so it wasn’t only people from the island there. I had to play stuff that everybody would know.

Give me an example.

“Saddest Day” by Wayne Wonder. There’s nobody that doesn’t know that song.

What sounds best super loud?

Jamaican music and Dominican music. This is music meant to be played loud. It’s music that if you played it in a regular car you won’t hear the things that you hear in my car.

Who do you like to play?

Sean Paul. Wayne Wonder. Buju. Beenie Man. But it’s more about the riddims. You know, in Jamaica there’ll be 19 songs to one beat.

What’s the one song someone has to hear in your soundsystem?

“My Princess Gone” by Jah Mason. That’s a song that’ll shake the ground. It’s very bass-heavy, but not overpowering. It has a very clean audio, despite how heavy the bass is. It was produced very well. That’s why I don’t play rap in my car sometimes, it can be too overpowering. But “My Princess Gone” is my most popular video on Instagram.

Why did you start posting on Instagram?

I noticed that there’s not many people that do what I do out here. A lot of people around me have cars with really good sound, but nobody’s posting. But it’s cool I’m part of the newer, younger generation, but I have an old soul. I think a lot of people like seeing this young kid listening to a lot of older music. A lot of older Jamaican people like me.

What type of songs blow up online?

On Instagram, it really just depends what sounds good in the speakers. On TikTok, literally anything.

Does it hurt your ears?

100%. I try not to play it loud for too long. My dad is like 63% deaf in one ear from DJing. But I’ve been around it my whole life so maybe I have a tolerance. I don’t know if that’s true. I just know in a couple of years I’ll have tinnitus.

Do you have earplugs?

For other people if they get in my car. Because even if I’m taking you somewhere I’m still gonna play my music.

Does anyone complain about the noise?

Only one time somebody left a note on my car saying to “Be mindful of your neighbors,” but other than that they don’t really care. All my neighbors come and talk to me when I’m outside playing my music or messing around with my car. They tell me they love my music. I try to be respectful; not too early, not too late.

What kind of other work do you do on cars?

I work at Nissan as a technician. I really enjoy fixing problems on people’s cars.

Do you think soundsystems are as popular as they once were?

I think people are getting back into it. There was a point in time—I wasn’t really conscious—where people said everyone around you would have music in their cars. I know a big factor down in Florida is the law. We have a noise ordinance law that if you can hear the music from beyond 25 feet it’s a ticket. I got that before. People are kind of scared. Getting a ticket. Bringing attention that might get your car broken into. But I think TikTok and Instagram is helping the younger generation to get into it. That’s why I post. That’s what drives me to keep going.

Do people recognize your car right away?

Yeah, people know me as the boy with the loud car. That’s the best part about it.