Best of World Music: Reggae

A blog dedicated to the best of world music, with a focus on reggae. Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s.

What is Reggae?

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word “raggedy,” which describes the way the rhythm of the music sounds. Reggae is typically characterized by a 4/4 time signature, offbeat rhythms, and recurring riffs. The genre developed from ska and rocksteady and is typically slower than both of those genres. Reggae songs often feature themes of social injustice, love, and religion.

Origins of Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae encompasses a variety of musical styles including ska, rocksteady, dub, and dancehall. Reggae is often associated with the Rastafari movement, which includes elements of African spirituality and culture.

Reggae has its roots in Jamaican mento, a folk style that combines elements of African and European music. Mento typically features clapping, singing, and dancing, and it was popularized in the 1950s by artists such as Lord Flea and Count Lasher. Ska emerged in the 1960s as a faster-paced offshoot of mento, and it quickly became the dominant musical style in Jamaica.

The first wave of international reggae popularity began with Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1974 album Catch a Fire. Marley’s distinctive vocal style and politically charged lyrics helped to make reggae an international sensation, and he remains one of the genre’s most iconic figures.

Other important early reggae artists include Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and King Tubby. In the 1980s and 1990s, reggae fusion emerged as a popular subgenre that incorporated elements of hip hop, dancehall, and other contemporary genres. Today, reggae continues to evolve as a global musical force with artists like Lauryn Hill, Sean Paul, Damian “Junior Gong” Marley keeping the genre fresh for new generations of fans.

Reggae in the 1960s

Reggae began to emerge in the 1960s, when artists like Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley started to gain international popularity. Reggae’s roots can be traced back to the folk music of Jamaica’s Afro-Caribbean community, which was influenced by both West African and Central African music. Reggae developed a distinctly Jamaican sound, with a strong emphasis on percussion and rhythm. The genre soon spread beyond Jamaica, and became popular in many other countries in the Caribbean and Africa. Reggae also had a significant impact on rock music, and has been credited as one of the main influences on the development of punk rock.

Reggae in the 1970s

The 1970s saw reggae music become more influenced by politics, with many artists using their music as a platform to voice their opinions on the current state of the world. The increase in popularity of the genre also led to a rise in the number of artistes recording reggae music, with many international and Jamaican acts releasing successful albums during the decade.

One of the most successful reggae albums of the 1970s was Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Exodus”, which was released in 1977. The album topped the UK charts and was certified gold in both the UK and US. Other successful reggae albums released during the decade include Dennis Brown’s “Words of Wisdom” (1977), Gregory Isaacs’ “Cool Ruler” (1978), Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey” (1975) and Lee “Scratch” Perry’s “Super Ape” (1976).

Reggae in the 1980s

By the early 1980s, Reggae was becoming more deeply entrenched in Rastafarian culture, with many songs openly espousing Rastafarian ideals and philosophy. At the same time, the political climate in Jamaica was becoming increasingly volatile, with rising tensions between the two major political parties. This tension spilled over into violence and political turmoil, which had a profound effect on the music of the time. Many artists used their music as a way to comment on the social and political climate, and to protest against violence and injustice. Along with this more serious side, there was also a lighter, more fun side to Reggae in the 1980s. This includes the rise of dancehall music, which was characterized by its fast tempo and often lewd lyrics.

Reggae in the 1990s

Reggae in the 1990s was characterized by a slower, more meditative style known as roots reggae. This new style was influenced by the Rastafarian movement and its focus on repatriation to Africa. Many of the biggest reggae stars of the 1990s were Rastafarians, including Buju Banton, Capleton, and Beenie Man.

Reggae also began to fuse with other genres in the 1990s, giving birth to new styles like dancehall and ragga. Dancehall is a fast-paced, bass-heavy style that was popularized in Jamaica in the 1980s. It often features explicit lyrics and is considered one of the forerunners of modern hip hop. Ragga is a similar style that developed in the UK in the 1990s and often features MCs rhyming over reggae tracks.

The 1990s were a golden age for reggae music, with many classic albums being released during this period. Some of the most influential reggae albums of the 1990s includebuju banton’s Voice of Jamaica (1992), Sean Paul’s Stage One (2000), and Beenie Man’s many classic albums including Art & Life (1997) and Many Moods of Moses (1995).

Reggae in the 2000s

While sales of reggae music in the US and Europe languished in the 1990s, the genre continued to be extremely popular in Jamaica. In the early 2000s, a new generation of reggae artistes emerged who brought the music back to its roots. These artistes harkened back to the golden age of reggae in the 1970s when groups like Bob Marley & The Wailers, Burning Spear, and Culture dominated the airwaves.

The leading figure in this roots revival was Capleton, whose string of hits in the early 2000s made him one of the most popular artistes in Jamaica. Other important figures in this resurgence included Sizzla, Anthony B, and Morgan Heritage. The success of these artistes led to a renewed interest in reggae music internationally, and by the mid-2000s, reggae was once again becoming popular in the US and Europe.

The late 2000s saw a further rise in popularity for reggae music with the emergence of Jamaican dancehall artistes like Mavado and Vybz Kartel. These artistes combined Jamaican dancehall with American hip-hop to create a unique sound that was extremely popular with young people around the world. The popularity of Jamaican dancehall has continued to grow in recent years, with artistes like Sean Paul and Shaggy achieving mainstream success.

Contemporary Reggae Artists

Reggae music has been around for over half a century, and the genre has produced some of the most iconic and influential artists in history. But reggae isn’t just a style of music from the past—it’s still very much alive and thriving today. There are plenty of contemporary reggae artists making great music in the 21st century.

So if you’re looking to get into reggae or just want to check out some of the best new(ish) stuff the genre has to offer, here are 10 contemporary reggae artists you need to know.

1. Protoje
2. Chronixx
3. Koffee
4. Jess Glynne
5. J Hus
6. Raleigh Ritchie
7. MIST
8. Stefflon Don
9. Jorja Smith
10. Mahalia

Best Reggae Songs of All Time

From its beginnings in the late 1960s, reggae has become one of the most popular music genres in the world. Rooted in Jamaican ska and rocksteady, reggae incorporates elements of blues, jazz, and R&B. The music is characterized by a heavy backbeat, off-beat chords, and lyrics that often deal with social and political issues.

Although reggae’s popularity has waxed and waned over the years, there are a number of classic songs that have stood the test of time. Here are 10 of the best reggae songs of all time:

1) “One Love” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
2) “I Shot the Sheriff” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
3) “Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
4) “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
5) ” Redemption Song” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
6) “Jamming” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
7) “Stir It Up” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
8) “Could You Be Loved?” by Bob Marley & The Wailers
9) “Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley & The Wailers 10) Exodus written By: Edwin Arnaudin