Multiple choice quiz on reggae music genre. Free and online accessible.
Who composed “Get Up, Stand Up” with Bob Marley?
Which artist often opens their albums by singing an iconic Bible verse introduction?
Origins
Reggae may conjure images of dreadlocked warblers strumming syncopated guitar beats on a beach, marijuana clouds, chill vibes, and palm trees – but do you really understand this genre that has become such an important symbol of Jamaican pride and national identity?
Reggae music‘s roots can be traced back to other musical styles that predated it. Ska first emerged in the late 1950s, mixing Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues to produce fast-paced, upbeat tunes called “ska.” When this style began to decline, rocksteady slowly took over, slowing down tempo while emphasizing bass line emphasis – ultimately setting the foundations of what would later become reggae.
Toots and the Maytals, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh pioneering early reggae music incorporated elements of ska and rocksteady while adhering to their Rastafarian beliefs. Later, Bob Marley would become one of reggae’s biggest stars through both his music and fervent Rastafarian convictions he held firmly to.
Sly & Robbie were two legendary drum and bass session musicians on the reggae scene, working with numerous artists over their career. Their signature sound featured an off-beat rhythm which highlighted the 3rd beat in 4/4 time signature, giving reggae its unique feel.
Lee “Scratch” Perry was an innovative producer and multi-instrumentalist known for expanding the boundaries of reggae beyond what had previously been achieved through ska and rocksteady. He pioneered organ shuffle, an organ playing technique characterized by chord changes creating a syncopated rhythm; additionally he established dub music which heavily influenced African American hip-hop and dance music.
Styles
Reggae music encompasses elements from other musical genres. It’s often characterized by slow tempo, interlocking rhythmic patterns, and chants; also using the horn section and often played on timbales-type drums. Artists singing in English or rapping with Patois lyrics (Jamaican Creole language) or Spanish for vocal style; roots Rastafarian influence may even include inserting an anti-Bible verse at the start of songs to give listeners something they may otherwise not hear elsewhere!
Reggae music embodies many political and social messages, from its roots as an anti-American genre in Jamaica’s early years to being part of black awareness campaigns in recent decades. Today it remains a worldwide musical phenomenon with fans that span continents.
This quiz will test your knowledge of reggae musicians, classic songs and sub-genres. It also asks you to identify key facts about its history and culture.
Which artist was known as the King of Lover’s Rock? What band did he perform with before going solo, earning his silky voice the name Cooler Ruler? Additionally, their 1978 album Two Sevens Clash became a top seller in the UK market?
Who sang I Shot the Sheriff to popularise reggae music in America? Which band was formed from members of Bob Marley’s band in the 1960s and which song first appeared on their debut album?
Influences
Reggae music evolved from Afro-Caribbean mento music. Mento has an indecisive beat and reversed instrument roles (guitar as rhythm instrument and bass as melody instrument). Furthermore, this style includes a syncopated bassline.
Bob Marley and the Wailers played an instrumental role in popularizing reggae as a symbol of Rastafarian ideology, which advocates for African diaspora to return to Africa, reveres Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I (known by his precoronation name Ras [Prince] Tafari), and endorses marijuana use as part of sacramental ritual. Reggae-Rastafari music can often feature strange sound mixes, slow tempos, and lyrics with spiritual-political themes.
Reggae rhythms draw on European musical styles for their rhythmic inspiration, often employing a common “1 drop” whereby the first beat drops to emphasize the third beat and has an off-beat rhythm with heavy effects that gives it its heavy feel; this style is sometimes known as backbeat.
Reggae music draws upon both European and indigenous Jamaican influences; soca and dancehall music in particular were an influence. Peter Tosh and Burning Spear, in the 1980s, used reggae as an outlet to address poverty, social inequality and political corruption affecting Jamaica as well as globally; their messages inspired movements for social justice worldwide.
Reggae stands out among other genres because of its distinctive sound, drawing influence from punk music as well as other musical genres, including R&B and soul music. Reggae serves as an outlet for political protest, featuring distinctive sounds created by its guitar distortions and vocal style that often criticizes existing rules or political systems; its lyrics often criticize status quo politics while its message suggests people must come together against oppression to reach equality and create social change.
Artists
Are You an Admirer or New to Reggae? Take Our Quiz Now to Test Your Knowledge Our quiz will test your knowledge about this diverse musical style and its artists, songs and sub-genres! We’ll feature some of the most notable reggae musicians who have contributed classic tunes along with its wider cultural significance!
Reggae can be traced back to Jamaica during the late 1950s and early 1960s when ska and rocksteady dance styles gained widespread popularity at home, taking inspiration from African beats, Latin rhythms and US R&B radio broadcasts that could be heard cheap transistor radios across Jamaica. These sounds were supplemented by Jamaican folk music traditions including mento (an island dance rhythm) and Nyabinghi (a religious drumming style).
Reggae music was developed during the late 1960s in Jamaica as a result of these influences, and has since spread globally. Reggae transcends Jamaican culture to reach people across various social classes around the globe.
Bob Marley and The Wailers, Toots & the Maytals, Peter Tosh, Sly & Robbie as well as Delroy Wilson’s Mighty Diamonds are among the most celebrated reggae musicians of all time, producing iconic reggae tracks like No Woman No Cry, Iron Lion Zion, Get Up Stand Up. These musicians produced timeless songs like these.
Reggae music encompasses several subgenres, such as dancehall, which is more closely associated with hip hop than other Jamaican genres, lovers rock (featuring its distinctive “skank” rhythm) and Pato Banton earned his place as the King of Lovers Rock due to his distinctive voice crooning lyrics about suffering and songs for Rastararian consciousness.
Albums
If you enjoy reggae music, then familiarizing yourself with some of Jamaica’s greatest musicians should be part of your repertoire. Here are a few examples: Gregory Isaacs was well known for his soothing yet soulful voice; one of his albums called Night Nurse has become one of the most acclaimed reggae releases ever. Gregory Isaacs sang songs filled with both love songs and social commentary making him widely considered “King of Reggae.”
Black Uhuru released their album ‘Two Sevens Clash’ in 1978 and became an instantaneous success. They became well known for their Rastafari beliefs and active activism on political issues; one song entitled ‘Iron Lion Zion’ even refers to holy symbol called the Lion of Judah as part of its tribute to Rastafari movement; they were also heavily influenced by British punk and rock bands at this time.
Bob Marley first wrote the song ‘No Woman, No Cry’ in 1963 as a protest against racism and sexism. One of the first reggae songs ever to discuss politics with its message of love being heard across several countries at that time, its impactful message being taken up by several artists across genres. Today it stands as an iconic classic that continues to inspire creativity among artists around the globe.
This musician has sold more than one million albums worldwide and is the top selling reggae artist of all time. As well as writing and producing his music, he also serves as an activist who speaks out against injustice and has won multiple awards. His beautiful sound stands out amongst all others!
Reggae music was popularised during the late 1960s in Jamaica. Sung both in Jamaican English and Jamaican patois, its first song featuring this term being Toots and the Maytals’ 1968 track ‘Do the Reggay’.