The Best of Brooklyn’s Roots Reggae Music
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The Best of Brooklyn’s Roots Reggae Music. Reggae artist and groups from Brooklyn, New York.
What is Roots Reggae?
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of African-Americans and other peoples of color in the Western world. It developed out of the politically and socially conscious Rastafarian movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and took its name from the 1968 album The Best of The Wailers by Bob Marley and The Wailers.
The History of Roots Reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that came to prominence in the 1970s. It is characterized by its Rastafarian lyrics and spiritually-inspired themes, as well as its focus on the struggles of the impoverished. While its origins can be traced to Jamaica, roots reggae gained international attention thanks to the success of artists like Burning Spear, Bob Marley, and Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Roots reggae has remained popular in Jamaica and throughout the world, with both new and established artists continuing to release music in this style. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in roots reggae, with many younger fans discovering the music for the first time. Thanks to its message of peace and love, as well as its infectious rhythms, roots reggae continues to be a force for good in the world.
The Best of Brooklyn’s Roots Reggae Music
Brooklyn has a long and rich history in the reggae scene, and there are plenty of great artists that have come out of the borough. If you’re a fan of roots reggae, then you’ll definitely want to check out some of the best Brooklyn has to offer. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top roots reggae artists from Brooklyn.
Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist who rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His groundbreaking album Englishman was released in 1979, and he followed it up with a string of hits including “Shaolin Temple”, “Here I Come”, and “Ah So We Do It”. Levy’s popularity continued into the 1990s with songs like “Living Dangerously” and “Under Mi Sensi”. Today, he is considered one of the pioneers of reggae and dancehall music, and his influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary artists.
Junior Reid
Reid was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963. After being orphaned at the age of 13, he was taken in by family friend and reggae artist Black Uhuru, with whom he would go on to form a band called African Star. Reid went solo in the early 80s, and had his first hit with the song “One Blood”. He has since released a number of well-received albums, including Mr. 215 (1987), Pure Gold (1989), and Another Day In Paradise (1991).
Maxi Priest
He was born in Birmingham, England to Jamaican parents, and soon after moved with his family to Hackney, London. There he met and was influenced by other British Jamaican musicians such as Aswad and Steel Pulse. His musical career began in the 1980s when he recorded with sound systems such as JBC International and Saxon Studio International. He found success in 1988 with his first album, Maxi Priest, which included his hit single “Wild World”.
The Future of Roots Reggae
The future of roots reggae music is bright, with new artists emerging and continuing to bring the genre to new audiences. While the sound of roots reggae music may be evolving, the messages of peace, love, and unity remain the same. We can expect to see roots reggae music continue to grow in popularity around the world as more people discover its positive vibes and uplifting messages.