Reggae music is beloved all around the globe. This channel brings you classic reggae love songs alongside modern remixes – something for every taste and preference!
Dancehall queen Spice tops this list for 2022 based on YouTube charts and insights, with India, Turkey, and Bangladesh showing most engagement with her music.
1. Jahshii – Born Fighter
Dancehall artist Jahshii looks set to continue his meteoric rise at this year’s Rebel Salute. Last year, Jahshii secured the most streamed Reggae-Dancehall song on YouTube (24 million), as well as amassing an extensive catalogue of hits which garnered him global fame.
At home and internationally, St. Andrew deejay Mluleki Clarke has proven his worth as one of the most reliable performers, contributing significantly to 2021’s staging of Sumfest. Mluleki Clarke will make his first appearance this Friday at Sumfest and is sure to wow fans with his unique blend of folklore music fused with contemporary beats.
He will be joined at the event by several top-ranking artistes such as Skeng – currently the most watched Jamaican artist on YouTube (88 million) – as well as other popular acts, with Vybz Katel and Shenseea making their debut appearances at this event.
Reggae music has spread throughout the world, having an enormous influence over many genres of music. Reggae was particularly instrumental in shaping punk rock in Britain during the 1970s and 80s – bands like Clash, Ruts and Members of UB40 were known to include reggae songs as part of their sets. Reggae music also quickly found acceptance in South America where artists combined it with local instruments and styles for unique Latin American versions of reggae music.
Reggae music has quickly become one of the most beloved genres of Caribbean music in Europe, with artists like Vybz Katel attracting large audiences to events like Summerjam and Rototom Sunsplash in Germany and Spain, respectively. Additionally, reggae has gained considerable traction both Japan and Australia where festivals dedicated to it take place each year; even here in America where bands such as Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid and Stick Figure can be considered progressive reggae bands that combine other genres such as jazz or hip-hop into their sound.
2. Skeng – Protocol
Skeng has quickly become one of the most sought-after dancehall artists, known for his daring lyrics and dark visuals. His latest release Protocol follows this trend by exploring life changes brought on by success as well as new challenges he is currently facing. It features a slow reflective drop that has won him many fans among both reggae fans as well as those at home or driving carpool.
Reggae music 2022 youtube typically incorporates both acoustic and electronic instruments in its instrumentation, usually featuring drum kits, bass guitars, horns, keyboards and percussion instruments as well as vocalists singing in Jamaican patois, Jamaican English or Iyaric dialects; sometimes harmony voices are employed to provide counterpoint to the main melody of each track.
Reggae music has had an enormous global influence. Punk rock bands such as the Clash and Ruts were greatly influenced by reggae’s rhythmic beat. Additionally, reggae incorporates elements from other musical styles including rhythm and blues, jazz, mento (a celebratory rural folk form used as dance music instead of church hymns or adaptations of chanteys), calypso and even calypso.
Many reggae songs have strong political messages, addressing topics like social critique and religion. These topics are especially prevalent in Jamaica where reggae music has long been the favorite form of entertainment across generations from young to old. Reggae even forms a central part of Rastafari culture with songs often advocating cannabis use (also referred to as herb, ganja or sinsemilla) being seen by some members as holy sacrament by members of Rastafari movements.
Reggae music has long been a hit across Africa, often merging it with other styles to produce unique performances. Papa Cidy of Uganda famously blends reggae and traditional music together; Dub Colossus and Invisible System have successfully combined reggae with Malian music while in Sudan some musicians have adopted beats and drumming from reggae music for performances; Matisyahu for instance became widely-renowned for combining Jewish traditional music with reggae as part of his performances.
3. Malie Don – Michigan
Malie Don is one of the many dancehall artists releasing quality music this season. Her single 4Life features romantic duet lyrics that depict classic Jamaican love stories with eternal passion – an especially welcome change from the dunce theme that has dominated dancehall for too long.
Reggae music is known for its tradition of social critique in its lyrics; however, most reggae songs tend to focus more on lighter matters such as love and socializing. Many reggae artists also incorporate religious themes – particularly Rastafari shamans who promote using cannabis (also referred to as herb, ganja or sinsemilla) as an act of worship in their songs – into their work; other popular topics in reggae songs may include black nationalism, antiracism or anticolonialism among others.
Reggae music first emerged during the late 1950s as an offshoot of ska, popularised by artists such as Toots and the Maytals and Bunny Wailer (who later founded Wailers with Peter Tosh). Due to Caribbean people migrating to Britain as early as 1950s seeking asylum and integration of Jamaican music – including reggae – into mainstream British culture via Chris Blackwell’s establishment of Island Records record label in 1960, reggae music became part of mainstream British culture through record labels such as Island Records founded by Chris Blackwell’s record label Island Records by Chris Blackwell through Chris Blackwell’s creation of Island Records record label established by Chris Blackwell’s record label Island Records by Chris Blackwell through Chris Blackwell’s record label Island Records established by Chris Blackwell through Chris Blackwell’s establishment of record label Island Records record label and his establishment of record label Island Records by Chris Blackwell’s establishment of record label Island Records by Chris Blackwell’s Island Records record label established by Chris Blackwell’s Island Records record label established by Blackwell in 1960 with Jamaican music integrated into British culture through Chris Blackwell’s establishment of Chris Blackwell’s record label Island Records by Blackwell in 1960 which provided for integration of Jamaican music into British culture; thus contributing to integration through incorporation of Jamaican music into mainstream British culture through integration via Chris Blackwell’s establishment of Island Records record label established by Blackwell’s Chris Blackwell by Chris Blackwell’s creation by creating Island Records by Chris Blackwell as Chris Blackwell through Chris Blackwell by established Chris Blackwell through which Blackwell who in turn providing British audience access via Chris Blackwells creation of Island Records by Chris Blackwell at Island Records by Chris Blackwell’s establishment by Chris Blackwell’s Island Records by Chris Blackwell in 1960 as one more than its British-established by Chris Blackwell through Island Records by which reggae integration via Chris Blackwell’s record label through Island Records who established itself through Chris Blackwell’s recording label Island Records which Blackwell established Island Records established through Chris Blackwell’s establishment on their release through which Chris Blackwell recorded Island Records which Chris Blackwell through Chris Blackwell who created Island Records that label Island Records by Chris Blackwell’s record label; Chris Blackwell created their record label Island. Blackwell in 1960 as recorded records whose Chris Blackwell. Blackwell in which Chris Blackwell in establishing Chris Blackwell created Island Records by Chris Blackwell’s established recording label Chris Blackwell who released regga music is recorded label. Blackwell in 1960 which launched itself under Chris Blackwell who would release later under Blackwell also became Island records himself through. Blackwell who later Chris Blackwell did.
Reggae music’s hallmark sound is its heavy bass sound, often thick and full with low frequencies highlighted. When playing simple chord progressions, bass lines often repeat two or four bar riffs while in more complex harmonic structures the pattern may shift around in order to support each chord structure more adequately.
Outside of Jamaica, reggae has enjoyed wide acceptance in Europe and America. In particular, its widespread embrace in Britain has resulted in numerous subgenres and fusions being developed such as Lovers Rock, which blends traditional Jamaican rhythms with English pop melodies. Progressive reggae also enjoys widespread support from audiences throughout New York City, Washington, DC Miami and Honolulu – the latter three having scenes dedicated solely to progressive reggae music.
4. Silk Boss – Paranoia
Reggae music originated in Jamaica and has spread around the globe, inspiring numerous subgenres and hybrid forms such as dancehall, dub, roots reggae. Furthermore, reggae also had an enormous effect on popular cultures across Europe – for instance the British punk rock scene saw the Clash, Ruts, and Members incorporate reggae music into their sound.
Silk Boss has made waves this year with his debut of Where Silk Gone. Featuring dancehall producer Rvssian as guest vocalist for the first time ever on one of his songs, Where Silk Gone is an upbeat party club banger that explores friendship ties that may change and relatable lyrics that discuss this phenomenon.
This song, released in March 2022 as the second single from his new album Life Story, has amassed over 415 million global views on TikTok and other platforms, marking an outstanding feat for this dancehall icon. Additionally, the track reached number 10 on Jamaican music charts.
Spice has had an exceptional year, topping the list of dancehall artistes in 2022. Shenseea and Stefflon Don are trailing closely behind. This achievement represents a substantial improvement over prior performances when Spice struggled to make it into the top five.
This single is a welcome change from the dunce-centric dancehall music of recent years. It tells a contemporary love story between an ambitious individual and their life partner; its production is lively and upbeat, making this an excellent end of year track.
Reggae music channel is a great place to find fresh Jamaican tunes. With an impressive variety of reggae artists and remixes – such as Bob Marley – as well as dancehall, pop, classics genres available, this channel can help you discover music perfect for every mood and occasion – you’re sure to find just the tunes you’re searching for! You can even search specific artists.