Reggae music hails from Jamaica and incorporates elements of mento, ska, rocksteady and American rhythm and blues into one genre. It can typically be identified by its slower tempo, offbeat guitar strums and prominent bass lines. Lyrically, its lyrics speak of hope, love and rebellion; its roots lie within African culture as well as European […]
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Toots and the Maytals’ song, “Do the Reggay”, first introduced reggae as an artistic genre to an international audience in 1968. Rocksteady music evolved out of this type of rhythm which reduced ska tempo while adding syncopations, as evidenced by Toots and Maytals’ title of that track “Do the Reggay”. Peter Tosh was one of
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Rebelution, the UC Santa Barbara alumni band, has quickly established itself as a premier producer of grassroots reggae music since 2007. From their self-produced 2007 record Courage to Grow through 2014’s Count Me In and 2016’s Grammy nominated Falling Into Place releases, Rebelution’s popularity continues to soar with each release. Peace of Mind was recently
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Reggae music has evolved into so much more than simply an audio genre; with a history rich with activism and Jamaican pride, reggae has become an emblem for an entire nation. Early reggae was, like its predecessors ska and rocksteady, heavily focused on the suffering of poor Jamaicans. Influential artists within this genre often addressed
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Reggae music has had an enormous influence on musicians from across the world. Ugandan musician Papa Cidy fuses reggae beats with traditional African music while Ugandan gospel singer Arthur Lutta and Sudanese band Tiken Jah Fakoly both use reggae beats to craft their unique styles of reggae music. Even those who may disagree with dancehall’s
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Reggae music was deeply linked with Rastafarianism during this era. Rastafarians advocate the return of diaspora residents back to Africa, worship Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I and support equality as well as endorse using marijuana sacramentally for spiritual use. Singers such as Gregory Isaacs became beloved figures of lovers rock, a subgenre of reggae that
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Ziggy Marley is the son of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley and has released two albums of his own music which is soothing and soulful. His 1988 album Conscious Party introduced Ziggy and the Melody Makers to a wider audience and garnered them a Grammy Award, marking their entry into mainstream popularity. It proved pivotal
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Koffee is an up-and-coming Jamaican singer who has steadily been making waves ever since she first entered the scene. Her music perfectly complements the current reggae revival with its distinctive tone and captivating lyrics. Mikayla Simpson aka Koffee stands just five feet, yet commands attention with her vocal prowess and memorable hits like Rapture, Throne
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Reggae music found widespread success during the 90s, thanks to dancehall artists like Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks who released hit after hit. Lady Saw is known for having an eclectic vocal range that ranges from vulnerable and straining, to irreverent and playful in an instant – both approaches were on full display during this
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As DJ Queen Majesty (Erica Diehl) transitioned from Buffalo to New York, she pursued two passions simultaneously – Jamaican music and her eponymous hot sauce line. Heavy D’s song ‘Queen Majesty’ provides an intimate yet poetic portrayal of an intense unrequited love. Sung in Patois (a Jamaican dialect), Heavy D refers to her “every night
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