Reggae music doesn’t consist of just one component; rather, its definition must include most or all its characteristics working together as a cohesive whole.
Reggae songs often incorporate traditional Nyabinghi drums for creating an intoxicating beat, alongside other hand percussion instruments such as wooden blocks, scrapers, quiccas, shekeres and claves for creating rhythmic beats.
Mento
Mento is a Jamaican folk music style which predated both ska and reggae in its modern forms, yet its vibrant African influences laid the groundwork for these innovations. Mento was formed through an amalgam of European musical traditions intermixing with African cultures during colonization of Jamaica during the 1500s and 1600s, giving rise to something uniquely Jamaican: Mento’s unique sound was made possible through this mix that involved instruments like guitar, banjo and the rhumba box (an instrument similar to an mbira but made into box shape that could be played while sitting).
Reggae music, like hip-hop, has often been used as an avenue to challenge the establishment by addressing social injustices, supporting Pan-Africanism, and opposing Eurocentrism. Artists such as Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, Big Youth and Burning Spear have used reggae as an antidote against Eurocentrism while spreading messages of racial equality and spirituality in their songs.
Rooted in African tradition, reggae music’s lyrics often focus on black identity and fighting back against oppressive systems. Desmond Dekker’s groundbreaking early reggae song “Israelites,” for instance, depicted Black people as modern-day Israelites trapped under Babylon and seeking comfort from Zion through prayerful songs like Dekker’s classic early reggae track titled after it. This theme formed part of Rastafari movement’s wider framework that encouraged Black artists to use music as a vehicle to spread these religious messages throughout society through religious songs written specifically about Black people as Desmond Dekker did so successfully with his early reggae song from 1982 that gave rise to many early reggae tracks as early as 1992!
Reggae became increasingly popular across France during the 1980s due to Jamaican immigrants and French Caribbean descendants who resonated with its themes of equality and unity. Artists such as Pablo Master, Princess Erika, General Murphy, Daddy Yod and Tonton David became part of what became known as France’s Reggae School; these musicians later played major roles in developing dub and dancehall styles as well.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was one of the most influential figures to emerge from Jamaican music in the 1960s, becoming an icon for reggae music and Rastafarianism and encouraging others to follow in his footsteps. His death came at age 36.
Marley was born in Nine Mile, St Ann Parish and taught himself piano and organ by his mother. Neville “Bunny” O’Riley Livingston encouraged Marley to pick up the guitar; together they founded The Wailers which would become one of the foundations of reggae music today.
Marley quickly rose through the ranks, taking over as lead vocalist in 1963. Along with playing guitar and singing lead, Marley also excelled at keyboards, bass guitar and percussion instruments.
Reggae music’s hallmark sound relies heavily on African rhythms. These syncopated beats allow certain instruments to skip one or two beats while other pick up the slack, creating what is known as “pulsing” of rhythm – giving reggae its signature sound and making its African influences stand out more visibly among other musical genres.
As Jamaica’s music gained in popularity, its tone began to reflect the anti-colonial and religious atmosphere at that time. Many songs criticized Jamaica’s oppressive past of slavery (Peter Tosh’s “400 Years” and Burning Spear’s “Slavery Days”) and ongoing exploitation of Blacks; at the same time, African was recognized as being the source of all life and therefore spiritual homeland of Blacks.
Reggae became even more widely popular during the 1970s due to Michael Manley’s Democratic Socialism and anti-imperialist views, inspiring young people to rediscover their heritage and stand up for their rights. Additionally, female artists such as Pablo Master, Princess Erika Daddy Yod and Tonton David began making waves within this genre during this era.
Reggae can be broken down into many sub-styles due to the diverse cultural environment that gave birth to it. For a deeper exploration, check out Kevin Macdonald’s 2012 documentary Marley for more insight – it features interviews with family members as well as unreleased recordings from this prolific musician who passed away.
Toots and the Maytals
Ska and Rocksteady had become somewhat exhausted by the late ’60s, prompting musicians and producers to experiment. By mixing the typical rhythm of mento with more prominent rock beats and adding beautiful choral harmonies they created Reggae music; Toots and the Maytals was one of the first Jamaican vocal groups that popularized Reggae under Toots Hibbert’s charismatic leadership.
Reggae originally originated as dance music; however, as it developed its artists increasingly used its songs as a vehicle of empowerment to address social issues and inspire positive change in Jamaica and elsewhere throughout the Third World. Michael Manley’s “Slavery Days”, Peter Tosh’s “400 Years”, or Burning Spear’s “It’s Only a Matter of Time” all come to mind as examples of topical reggae tunes which inspired musical revolution – think Michael Manley “Slavery Days”, Peter Tosh “400 Years”, or Burning Spear “It’s Only a Matter of Time”.
In the early ’70s, reggae music experienced significant development thanks to more and more musicians adopting Rastafari beliefs. One prominent figure among these was Bob Marley; as an icon for unity he believed in creating a better and more peaceful world and expressed this through his music.
After Bob Marley died in 1981, reggae continued to develop and many artists created Roots reggae as an evolving subgenre that combined traditional Jamaican musical elements with spiritual themes.
Recent changes to reggae music include the addition of electronic instruments like keyboards and synths to create Ragga music – characterized by more danceable rhythms with minimal lyrics – popular artists include Shaggy, Chaka Demus and Shabba Ranks in this genre.
Reggae music also became widely popular during this same time in Africa, inspiring African artists to combine elements of it with their local traditional music to form Reggaeton; some of its creators remain active today.
The Roots
Reggae music remains fundamentally Jamaican despite its global reach. Its cultural and spiritual roots lie with Rastafarian religion, founded in Bull Bay Jamaica during the 1930s. Many reggae artists practice Rastafarianism as part of their music; its themes often echo throughout Jamaican society such as black-and-white identity issues, anti-imperialist political beliefs, social justice equality and anti-colonialism.
Reggae artists have long pushed its limits and taken it worldwide. Singer-songwriter Bob Marley was a pioneer of this genre who believed music could unite people and inspire change; his songs chronicled social injustice, racism, unity and conflict; inspiring generations around the globe to follow in his footsteps.
Marley’s style of reggae, commonly referred to as “roots” reggae, can be defined as traditional Jamaican rhythm and harmony with an emphasis on downbeats of measures; similarly to rhythm and blues but characterized by stronger emphasis on downbeats than rhythm and blues. Over time it has also been versioned and dubed, giving rise to crossover styles such as dub and dancehall.
Roots reggae draws upon traditional Jamaican music as well as influences from Africa and the Caribbean. Its acoustic nature made it perfect for African drumming and melodic structures – in fact much of Jamaican folk music (such as mento) has roots in African traditions.
Desmond Dekker’s 1968 hit song, “Israelites,” set the scene for reggae’s golden age. This track, which alluded to Black people as being true Israelites enslaved by modern-day Babylon, longing for deliverance by an all-powerful God in Zion who would hear their pleas, became one of reggae’s signature themes – one which symbolized its legacy today.
Jamaican reggae artists of a new generation have contributed significantly to roots reggae’s surge in popularity, particularly roots reggae roots artists. Many are women reflecting an evolving Rastafari faith that emphasizes female agency over patriarchy. Queen Ifrika, Jah Nine, Hempress Sativa, and Etana have emerged as top artists within this genre.