A sound system is a group of DJs contributing and working together as one, making one kind of particular electronic music. This particular usage of the term is derived from the Jamaican sound system culture which firmly rooted itself in the UK in the 70s, which in turn took the name from extensive use of sound reinforcement systems by DJs. Aba Shanti-I, Good Times and Jah Shakas systems are examples. Hip hop grew from ex-pat Jamaican DJ Kool Herc's sound system parties in New York in the 80s.
Some bands or producers like to call themselves or are referred to as sound systems, for example Dub Narcotic Sound System or the On-U Sound System. Other bands, like Asian Dub Foundation, make a distinction: when they are advertised as Asian Dub Foundation the whole band performs, but when other times they announce themselves as Asian Dub Foundation Sound System only the DJ of the band mixes and plays music (music by other artists, rather than by ADF) while one or two MCs rap over the songs.
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