Now That’s What I Call Music: Reggae

All the biggest reggae hits from the past and present!

What is Reggae?

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” was the first popular song to use the word “reggae”, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to most types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that was strongly influenced by traditional mento as well as American jazz and rhythm and blues, especially the New Orleans R&B practiced by Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint. Reggae differs from ska and rocksteady in that it is more slow and concentrated on rhythm rather than melody.

The Origins of Reggae

Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The word reggae is derived from the word “raggedy”, which was used to describe the way the early Jamaican musicians played their music. Reggae is a very popular genre of music that is enjoyed by people all over the world.

Ska

Originating in Jamaica in the late 1950s, ska is a style of music that combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a walking bass line accented with staccato chords, syncopated rhythms, and horns.

Ska became popular in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and it was during this time that the music developed into two distinct subgenres: rocksteady and reggae. Reggae is a style of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. It is a regional variation of ska that incorporates elements of African music, such as the call-and-response singing style, Afro-Cuban montuno piano patterns, and Jamaican percussion.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady originated in Jamaica in 1966. The style was created as a slower alternative to the then-popular ska. Rocksteady is characterized by a 4/4 beat, off-beat guitar chords, and organ riffs. The lyrics are often about love or social issues.

The rocksteady sound was pioneered by producers such as Duke Reid and Sonia Pottinger, and singers such as Alton Ellis and Ken Boothe. The style was given its name by Vincent “Randy” Chin, owner of the record label Vita Records. Rocksteady became popular in 1968, after DJ Kool Herc began playing it at his “sound system” parties.

Rocksteady was short-lived, lasting only a few years before giving way to the more aggressive sound of early reggae. Nevertheless, it left a lasting impression on Jamaican music, with its laid-back style and soulful lyrics.

The Golden Age of Reggae

Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The golden age of reggae was the 1970s. This was a time when many different styles of reggae were being created. Reggae became a world-wide phenomenon in the 1980s.

The Wailers

The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band led by Bob Marley, which developed from the earlier ska vocal group, the Wailing Rudeboys, and eventually managed to achieve international success. Theiar best-known lineup consisted of Marley himself as well as Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and backing vocalists Aston “Familyman” Barrett and his brother Carlisle on drums and bass respectively.

The group was originally formed in 1963 by Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, and Cherry Smith. The earliest incarnation of the Wailers was as a ska vocal group called the Teenagers or the Rudeboys. By 1966 Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith had left the group; they were replaced by the Barrett brothers – Aston “Familyman” Barrett on bass guitar and his brother Carlton “Carly” Barrett on drums. The Wailing Rudeboys scored their first hit with “Simmer Down”, a Jamaican number-one single that sold over 60,000 copies. Despite its success taking them out of Kingston’s rough Trenchtown ghettos to Jamaica’s famous Beachcombers Hotel in Ocho Rios , original lead singer Clive Nestor quit for a career in insurance soon after recording it because he “didn’t want to be poor all his life”.

With Nestor gone (and with Marley being given creative control of The Wailers’ recordings), The Wailers continued touring Jamaica as an instrumental band backed up various singers includingoral triggers like Jimmy Cliff and Winston Matthews . By early 1967 Bray had also been replaced by Joe Higgs .

Bob Marley

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, to Norval Sinclair Marley and Cedella Booker. His father was a Jamaican of English descent. His mother was of African descent. He was a Rastafari. He grew up in Trenchtown, a poor neighborhood in Kingston. He began his professional musical career in 1963, after forming the group the Wailers. The Wailers released their debut studio album, The Wailing Wailers, in 1965; it peaked at number four on the Jamaican charts. The group went on to release eleven additional studio albums before dissolving in 1974.

Marley pursued a solo career thereafter; his first album, Natty Dread, was released in 1974 to critical and commercial success. His next two albums humorously continued his Taking Heads US tour with “No Woman No Cry” (1975), which remains one of his best known songs; and “Exodus” (1977), which is widely considered one of the greatest reggae albums ever made and included the directed film of the same name by Harold Cheetham that won Best Film at Festival LussasDocuFest that year . After unleashing twelve more studio albums over two decades until his death from cancer on May 11, 1981,” Rebels Without A Pause”, “Posthumous compilations and live albums kept Marley’s legacy alive; he became the first Jamaican artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he was posthumously inducted in 1994.” In 2012, Marley was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff, OJ, OD is a Jamaican ska and reggae musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and actor. He is the only currently living musician to hold the Order of Jamaica, one of that country’s highest civilianhonours. Cliff is best known among mainstream audiences for songs such as “Sitting in Limbo”, “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “Hot Shot”, although his 1969 album Wonderful World, Beautiful People was also a big seller worldwide.

Cliff was born in Somerton District, St. James Parish, Jamaica on 1 April 1948 to Violet Brown. At 14 he joined his first band The Alpharites after which he found success as a solo artist with songs including “King of Kings”, “Dearest Beverley” and “Miss Jamaica”. His debut album was Hard Road to Travel in 1967; it sold poorly in the UK but was a hit in West Germany and other European countries. Between 1977 and 1983 Cliff released seven singles that made it into the Top 40 charts in the UK, including two entries in the Top 10; however he did not release an album there during this period. In 2002 he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contributions to music; he received an Ivor Novello Award in 2010 for International Achievement, and was presented with an Honorary Doctorate by University Campus Suffolk on 16 November 2011 during their graduation ceremony guest-presented by Jimmy Cliff himself , becoming only their second ever honorary degree recipient.

The Reggae Revival

The Reggae Revival is a catch-all term used to describe the renewed interest in and popularity of the reggae genre that started in the 2010s. The revival is often credited to a new generation of artists who brought fresh sounds and perspectives to the genre, which had become somewhat stagnant in the years prior. These artists incorporated elements of other genres, such as hip hop, dancehall, and pop, into their music, leading to a more diverse and accessible sound that appealed to a wider audience. The revival has also been credited with revitalizing interest in Jamaican culture and music both in Jamaica and abroad.

Chronixx

Chronixx is a Jamaican reggae artist who is part of the reggae revival movement. He is best known for his song “Here Comes Trouble”, which was featured in the 2013 film The Purge: Anarchy.

Chronixx was born in Fulton, St. James, Jamaica, on October 10, 1992. His father is Chronicle (real name Lloyd Dennis), a well-known dancehall deejay who performed under the name “original Mr. Chocolate”, and his mother is Miquel Noxious (real name Anita Rutherford). He has two sisters, Javanna and Nicole.

Chronixx began his musical career as a deejay, performing under the name “Lil’ Chronixx”. He toured with his father and worked with various producers before releasing his debut mixtape, Hooked on Chronixx, in 2012.

In 2013, he released the single “Here Comes Trouble”, which was featured in the film The Purge: Anarchy. The song became a hit in Jamaica and helped to launch Chronixx’s career.

He has released two albums, Dread & Terrible (2014) and Chronology (2017). His music has been described as “roots reggae” with a modern twist.

Chronixx is considered one of the leading artists of the Jamaican reggae revival movement. He has collaborated with several other artists from the scene, including Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Bob Marley’s grandson Skip Marley, and Raging Fyah.

Protoje

Protoje is a contemporary reggae singer and songwriter from Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica. His mother is Jamaican singer Lili Grennan, who recorded the 1983 album Sings Tommy McCook and The Supersonics. He was raised in a Rastafarian household. Protoje’s uncle is the record producer Lloyd “King Jammy” James, who helped launch the careers of artists such as Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. In 2010, Protoje released his debut album entitled Seven Year Itch. The album was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

The Future of Reggae

After a long dry spell, it seems that reggae is finally making a comeback. Numerous young artists are making waves in the industry and bringing the genre to a new generation of fans. Let’s take a look at some of the artists who are leading the charge in making reggae relevant again.

Koffee

Koffee is a 19-year-old Jamaican singer, songwriter, and rapper. She is the youngest artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the reggae category. Her single “Toast” went viral on social media and has been used in many ads and television shows. Koffee’s music is a mix of reggae, hip-hop, and R&B. She has collaborated with many artists including Wizkid, Chronixx, Diplo, and Major Lazer.

J Hus

J Hus is one of the most listen to artists in the U.K, with his songs often being played on mainstream radio stations such as BBC Radio 1Xtra. His song ‘Did You See’ was even used in a Nike commercial. He has been praised by major publications such as The Guardian, Pitchfork, and NME.