What Are the Different Types of Reggae Music?

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Reggae music is a genre that began in Jamaica in the late 1960s. Though it has its roots in traditional African-American music, reggae incorporates elements of African and British music, as well as the American jazz tradition. Reggae is characterized by a strong rhythmic pulse, often created by drum and bass, as well as by the use of syncopated guitar or piano riffs. The lyrics of reggae songs are often concerned with social and political issues, as well as

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 originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.

Ska

Ska is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica in the 1950s. It is a style of music that is characterized by a fast tempo, off-beat guitar strums, and horns. Ska music was popularized in the United Kingdom in the 1960s by bands such as The Specials and Madness. In the 1980s, a new wave of ska bands emerged, including The English Beat and The Selecter.

Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a type of reggae music that was popularized in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The name rocksteady comes from the fact that the music was slower than ska and more “rocking” than reggae. Rocksteady was usually played by an instrumental trio, with bass, drums, and guitar being the most common instruments. The sound of rocksteady is very similar to that of early reggae, but it is often slower and has a stronger focus on the rhythm section.

One of the most important aspects of rocksteady is the bassline. The basslines in rocksteady are often very complex, with many different notes being played at once. This gives rocksteady a very unique sound that can be difficult to recreate if you’re not a experienced bass player.

Rocksteady was only popular for a few years before it was replaced by reggae, but it has since experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to its nostalgic appeal. Many modern reggae artists have been influenced by rocksteady, and some have even made entire albums dedicated to the style.

Reggae

Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The style developed from earlier genres such as ska and rocksteady, and reached international prominence in the 1970s. Reggae typically features a 4/4 time signature, offbeat rhythms often accented with piano or guitar, and repetition of chords. The lyrics are typically about topics such as love, peace, and social issues.

Reggae has been popularized by artists such as Bob Marley, Augustus Pablo, and Ziggy Marley. The genre has also been embraced by many other cultures around the world, including the United States, where it has influenced genres such as hip hop and rap.

There are four main types of reggae: roots reggae, dub reggae, dancehall reggae, and ska. Each type has its own unique sound and message.

Roots reggae is the original form of the genre and is characterized by its conscious lyrics about issues such as poverty, racism, and political oppression. Dub reggae is a slower style that emerged in the 1970s and is characterized by its heavy bass and drum sound. Dancehall reggae emerged in the 1980s and is characterized by its fast tempo and explicit lyrics about sex, violence, and drug use. Ska is a Jamaican style that combines elements of both Arabic music and calypso music; it was popular in the 1960s but experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s with the rise of ska-punk bands such as Sublime and No Doubt.

Dub

The origin of dub music can be traced back to the 1960s in Jamaica. It is a genre that is closely associated with the Rastafarian movement. Dub music is created by adding echo and reverb effects to existing tracks. This creates a spaced out and atmospheric sound.

Dancehall

Dancehall is a type of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, it was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent in dancehall music, giving rise to a more Rapid and aggressive sound. Dancehall artists frequently use the term “RIP” to refer to the style of music they perform.

Dancehall has many different subgenres, including:

-Bashment: A fast-paced style of dancehall that often includes sexually explicit lyrics.

-Ragga: A slower, more hypnotic style of dancehall that began in the early 1990s.

-Reggaeton: A fusion genre that combines elements of hip hop, Latin American music, and reggae.

Dubstep

At its core, dubstep is a dark, bass-heavy electronic dance genre which emerged in London clubs in the late 1990s. The style is typified by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. When dubstep first evolved from 2-step garage, it was known for its murky ‘black’ sound and often featured use of ‘ amen break’ samples.

Reggae-influenced genres

Over the years,Different Types of Reggae Music has grown and expanded to include many different subgenres and styles. Here are just a few of the most popular types of reggae music being created and enjoyed today.

Reggaeton

Reggaeton is a genre of music that is derived from reggae and hip hop. The music is typically characterised by heavy bass, lyrics in Spanish, and a sexually explicit or violent subject matter. It first became popular in the early 2000s, when artists such as Daddy Yankee and Don Omar began to release songs that fused reggae with other genres such as hip hop and mambo. Reggaeton quickly spread throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and has now become one of the most popular genres of music in the world.

Reggaeton is typically divided into two subgenres: ‘hard’ and ‘soft’. Harder-hitting reggaeton often features aggressive lyrics about sex, violence, and drugs, while softer songs often focus on love and relationships. The genre has also been influenced by electronic dance music (EDM), with many songs featuring electronic elements such as synthesizers and drum machines.

Reggaeton has been accused by some of promoting misogynistic and sexist attitudes towards women. However, many female artists have emerged in recent years who are challenge these stereotypes, such as Ivy Queen and Karol G.

Ragga

Ragga is a subgenre of reggae that originated in Jamaica in the late 1980s, primarily due to the popularity of dancehall and the influence of hip hop. The term ragga is often used interchangeably with dancehall, but there are some differences between the two genres. Ragga is typically characterized by its faster tempo, whereas dancehall is typically slower. Additionally, ragga often contains elements of hip hop, such as rap or deejay toasting.

Jungle

Jungle is a type of reggae that developed in the mid-1990s. It’s characterized by sped-up drum and bass rhythms, or “breaks,” which are often created by sampling old funk or disco tracks. Jungle is also known for its ” Amen break,” a drum loop that’s been used in countless jungle and drum & bass tracks.

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