Reggae music has long been recognized for its ability to address social issues like racism, religion and capitalism with music that highlights oppressed groups as well as supporting one’s beliefs. Rastafarian ideology promotes positivity while building communities.
Reggae on the Boardwalk was first organized in Coney Island by WCKR DJ Carter Van Pelt who works at Queens-based VP Records and since has grown into an annual celebration of Jamaican culture and local performers. This weekend’s concert series will take place at Rockaway Beach Amphitheater located on Shore Front Parkway near Beach 94th Street.
It’s a part of the culture
Reggae Music Queens NY has long been part of its culture. Originating in Jamaica but heavily influenced by American rock and roll styles, its sound encapsulates New York City with a distinctive sound characterized by slower tempos and relaxed rhythms than other forms of dance music. Reggae can be heard everywhere from concerts to festivals as a form of art in Queens NY – whether from bands or solo performers performing it live! Additionally, there are various venues where reggae can be heard across Queens NY that host reggae performances from bands or solo artists!
New York producers and DJs helped shape the early ’80s sound of reggae. Some of the top artists came from this city, including singer Sammy Levi and Scion Sashay Success as well as deejays such as Screechy Dan and Red Fox. New York City also had an active underground scene for reggae music which flourished through nightclubs such as The Noise where dancehall stars Ivy Queen, Daddy Yankee and others tested out their skills; these nightclubs also played host to birth of perreo; an iconic dance move associated with reggae genre music.
Reggae music underwent a digital revolution during the late ’80s as producers such as Sly and Robbie integrated drum machines and synth bass into their riddims to give it more of an electronic sound that was inspired by American rap and Latin freestyle, appealing to youth audiences while providing political messages through lyrics that addressed contemporary social issues.
Reggae music continued its expansion throughout the ’90s and beyond, particularly in Latin America where artists such as Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi became hugely popular. Additionally, lovers rock – a more delicate form of reggae with romantic themes – gained ground.
Reggae music may still be misconstrued as masculine, yet its value as feminist art is growing ever greater. Female artists such as Ivy Queen, Queen Ifrica, RaiNao Cazzu and Villano Antillano Antillano are challenging a male-dominated industry and finding empowerment within it themselves – thus revolutionizing its image.
Reggae music has become an integral part of Queens residents’ everyday lives, often being enjoyed at bars, restaurants, private parties and even featured in movies and television shows. Reggae has an immensely positive effect on its community – uniting people through shared experience while inspiring youngsters to pursue artistic endeavors.
It’s a way of life
Reggae music queens of New York enjoy an active and vibrant lifestyle. Adherence to Rastafari philosophy centers around balance and harmony; lifestyle activities include vegetarian eating, meditation and using herbal medicines (as well as smoking ganja to attain higher states of consciousness), drumming as a communication method between community members, dancing as a celebration tool, using drums for communication purposes among themselves, drumming as communication among themselves as well as drumming to communicate between individuals, using drums for communication with one another as well as drumming communication among each other as well as drumming togetherness between individuals within this cultural group based around principles of balance and harmony based around these principles; this culture embraces this belief system by which all aspects of lifestyle are combined into an active, vibrant lifestyle that encompasses principles of balance and harmony based around vegetarianism with meditation practices such as vegetarianism whereby principles such as balance and harmony are practiced as well as using drumming as well as smoking ganja to reach higher states of consciousness and smoking ganja to reach higher states of consciousness, smoking ganja to reach higher states of consciousness as well as smoking ganja for reaching higher states of consciousness atop all this is all done using drumming drumming together while dancing celebrate life events on occasions that brings celebration of life events through celebration of rhythmic drumming for which Rastafari beliefs in use to drumming drumming each other uses drumms can communicated dancer utilised celebrate life events through drumming each other ganja uses drumms using drums to reach higher states of consciousness among various degrees than usual! Finally ganja also smoking marijuana to achieve higher states of consciousness as well smoking to higher states of consciousness while smoking ganja for smoking to achieve higher states of consciousness smoking to reach higher states while using drumm.
Queens music is an eclectic mixture of cultures and styles, continuously adapting to meet the needs of its residents. This vibrant borough showcases this musical variety through artists like The FRIGHTNRS who combine vintage vibes of rock steady with 80s rub-a-dub to produce their distinctive sound.
Established by WCKR DJ and curator Carter Van Pelt in 2010, Reggae on the Boardwalk series brings traditional Jamaican sound system culture to New York City. At these free events featuring legendary Jamaican emcees and DJ’s performing on a massive Jamaican-style sound system (or “soundsytsem”) with powerful speakers designed to amplify music with power and clarity, the Reggae on the Boardwalk events take place both at Coney Island Boardwalk as well as now in Rockaways Queens!
Queens is home to some of the world’s best reggae artists. These include Sammy Levi and Scion Sashay Success who helped pioneer modern dancehall, Admiral Tibbett (ska/rocksteady), Barrington Levy, and Garnet Silk (ska). Additionally, New York producers like House that Smart Built studio have helped define New York’s dancehall scene through beats and riddims created there.
Queens was an epicenter for gang activity during the ’80s and ’90s. Notable gangs included the Supreme Team led by Kenneth McGriff and Gerald Miller, which inspired rappers such as Nas, LL Cool J and Jay-Z with its fearsome lifestyles. Queens also gave rise to Mobb Deep and 50 Cent who went on to become major influences within hip-hop.
It’s a form of entertainment
Reggae music hails from Jamaica but now can be found all around the globe due to its infectious beat and lyrics. Reggae music has also become an influential cultural touchstone, inspiring artists and musicians to create their own versions of it; film and theater adaptations even exist!
Since 1977, VP Records has served as both an advocate and conduit for Jamaican music in New York City. Now at SummerStage, they present an event featuring Jamaican artists specializing in “roots reggae”, an underground subgenre linked with Black liberation, revolution, Rastafari religion and spiritual aspects. Part of an annual series dedicated to Queens Borough music heritage.
The lineup for the show boasts some artists making waves in reggae music industry, including deejay CK Pragmatic from Brooklyn; reggae dancehall singer Nrozae from Bronx; and trio Tribal Legacy who will perform songs by Bob Marley and the Wailers, Berris Hammond, Gregory Isaacs and UB40.
Reggae music can be an inspiring form of entertainment that encourages positive changes in people’s lives. As an inclusive genre, reggae brings diverse communities together for enjoyable afternoons of dancing and fun – its sounds and rhythms upbeat yet soothing, making it the ideal choice for any event.
Grace Jones was an iconic reggae artist of all time, famous for pioneering female vocal performances during the ’80s. Her signature androgynous image and groundbreaking albums blended R&B, new wave and reggae sounds into one distinctive and pioneering style; her music continues to influence contemporary artists including Rihanna and Massive Attack.
If you are planning a special event, hiring a reggae band could add the perfect atmosphere. They will keep guests dancing all night with classic hits from the 1960s through today – perfect for weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties and corporate functions alike! Their repertoire features songs by Bob Marley, The Temptations and UB40 among many others!
It’s a business
Reggae music of Jamaica is an irresistibly captivating force, making its popularity all the easier to comprehend in America. Indeed, recorded sales here currently top those seen worldwide; furthermore, streaming services make reggae more readily accessible than ever.
New York City has long been a center for Jamaican music, and VP Records has long been at the center of it all. From early days of ska and rock steady recordings through dancehall’s birth in the ’80s, VP has helped shape and elevate Jamaican sounds in America.
Established by Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin and Vincent in 1979, the business remains family-owned today and continues to prosper. Offering new releases as well as vinyl classics from artists like Fay-Ann Lyons, Bunji Garlin and Elephant Man to keep dancehall, reggae, soca and soca music fresh and lively.
Reggae’s global commercial standing can be seen through its presence on streaming platforms, particularly in the USA where digital revenues for this genre currently rank first. Industry figures indicate that paid streaming and ad-supported services accounted for 83% of music industry digital revenues in 2020 – an trend repeated throughout most major markets worldwide.
While some are concerned that these platforms are threatening traditional recording formats, others find them helpful in that their business models provide record labels with greater revenue and exposure for their music. It’s clear that both parties involved should embrace and adapt quickly to this new paradigm within the industry.
Spice, who used to be part of Vybz Kartel’s group, has made her presence felt in reggae music since 2018. Since the release of her debut full-length album Captured in 2018, Spice has released multiple mixtapes and EPs as well as signing with VP Records for her second studio project that promises collaborations with some of the industry’s biggest names.