Jamaican music embodies its nation’s rich past, present tribulations and future dreams. The genre’s music features deep bass lines and drums which take center stage; lyrics combine sociopolitical discussion with messages of hopefulness for its listeners.
Desmond Dekker’s early reggae song, “Israelites”, depicted Black people as true Israelites living under modern-day Babylon and yearning for an oppressed God in Zion who hears their cries for redemption. Other artists including Bob Marley and the Wailers followed suit with their work.
Ska
Ska is a form of Jamaican popular music which emerged during the 1950s. It combined elements from New Orleans jazz, early Rock n Roll/R&B music and Jamaican folk music into one coherent style, featuring free walking styles with relatively fast tempos. Vocal harmonies were prominent, featuring groups such as Wailers Maytals Paragons Melodians. Ska was widely popular due to its low production costs – home record systems cost about one year’s salary for working-class families living in urban Jamaican neighborhoods where a home record system cost about one year’s worth of income according to San Jose State University research.
By the late 1960s, ska had transitioned into a darker and more spiritual sound due to Haile Selassie’s visit to Jamaica in 1966 and an increasingly active youth Rastafarian movement. Bass lines slowed and guitar upbeats (known as guitar skanks ) became simpler and less frenetic, marking what later came to be known as Rock Steady and Reggae music styles.
This change in music was reflected in its lyrics, which increasingly focused on spiritual themes such as equality and freedom. Furthermore, this period witnessed the advent of sound systems. These mobile speakers could transmit recordings from America over long distances and were an essential link between Jamaican popular music and wider cultural aspects of Jamaica. Ska’s rising popularity among Britain’s West Indian immigrant community in the mid ’60s also helped push it into mainstream acceptance. Bands such as English Beat and Madness popularized it under their 2 Tone moniker; prior to this revival reggae had first made waves among skinhead subculture in England during the ’70s.
Rocksteady
February is Black History Month, but for Jamaicans it’s also Reggae Month! Jamaica’s musical contributions to the world have earned international respect and have made them an icon for equal rights and justice. One influential genre from this country was rocksteady – an influential transitional form that left its mark on future reggae music genres.
Rocksteady musicians largely emerged from ska groups such as Gaylads, Heptones and Techniques; all three groups having made their mark in this genre. But in order for rocksteady to work properly, its rhythms had to be modified; it is said that Lynn Tait of the Jets may have invented it when he ordered the band to slow down Hopeton Lewis’ 1966 hit “Take It Easy,” thus setting in motion its development into this unique style of music.
Rocksteady became immensely popular due to the challenging social climate in Jamaica after independence, where hopes for an economically stable country were betrayed. Strikes and violence in urban ghettoes further fuelled public unrest while Rastafari discrimination increased substantially. Rocksteady’s slow, contemplative pace may have been seen as an attempt to restore order to this troubled society.
Rocksteady music features a slower tempo than most Western genres and emphasizes singing and vocal harmony, drawing inspiration from Jamaica’s indigenous folk music, Mento. Mento was at its peak during the ’50s; its colorful blend of European and African musical traditions included guitar, rhumba box, flute and banjo alongside electric bass patterns which left more space between beats – emphasizing its third beat known as “one drop”. These elements would later transition into Reggae.
Dub
Dub is a subgenre of reggae music which emerged in the 60s and 70s. This form involves stripping away vocals from an original song while accentuating its instrumental and rhythm sections with mixing board effects such as reverb. Dub music was pioneered by producers such as King Tubby, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Augustus Pablo – among many others.
Sound systems were an integral part of Jamaican culture during this period. They would organize dance parties on Kingston streets using massive speaker boxes under an idyllic Caribbean sky. These events proved immensely popular among those unable to afford uptown clubs like Kingston. Musicians like King Tubby would create dubbed out versions of their tracks that could be heard over loudspeakers; these versions would later contribute immensely towards developing reggae music.
Apart from music itself, dub had important social and political ramifications. Songs reflected desperation amongst the populace, frustration over lack of economic opportunities, as well as resistance against an oppressive government. They served as an outlet to express this frustration in order to express it artistically and creatively.
Reggae was popularised globally during the late 1960s through artists like Prince Buster’s Al Capone in Britain and Jimmy Cliff’s Wonderful World Beautiful People forging links with hippie ideology and peace and love philosophy. Meanwhile in America Neil Diamond’s Red Red Wine and Johnny Nash’s Hold Me Tight were leading lights that propelled reggae onto mainstream charts.
Bob Marley became an icon of the movement during the early 1970s. First as part of the Wailers, then as an international religious (rasta) leader. His songs became reflections of their people’s struggle – ultimately becoming international bestsellers.
Lover’s Rock
Reggae lyrics often explore topics like sexism, racism, misogyny, homophobia and broad social commentary; yet some topics have proven controversial. Jamaican musicians, for instance, have often included songs about cannabis use as it is considered sacred by Rastafarians and practitioners of this religion.
Lover’s rock (sometimes known as lovers’ rhythm or love song reggae ) emerged on London’s reggae scene from 1974-1985 and focused on lighter romantic topics than its contemporary subgenres of ska, rocksteady and dub. Influenced by Motown and Philadelphia soul ballads it offered something new in reggae music history.
Owners of London sound systems released the initial singles featuring lovers’ rhythm, such as Count Shelly’s Ginger Williams’ Tenderness in 1974 and 14-year-old Louisa Mark’s Caught You in a Lie (both issued by Count Shelly and Louisa Mark respectively) that featured female vocalists singing romantic themes; by emphasizing female singers over male ones, lovers’ rhythm established itself as more feminine and less aggressive form of reggae music.
This more sentimental style gave women a voice in the UK reggae market that had previously been male-dominated, as well as challenging racist stereotypes of Caribbean people in Britain. Lovers’ rhythm music may not be as politically charged as roots reggae but still addressed issues like repression and the exploitation of Black women.
Jamaican music underwent profound change during this period, giving rise to new styles such as dancehall and ragga which were pioneered by MCs (also known as Dee Jays) such as Kool Herc. Toasting, which became a form of verbal communication popular in American hip hop and rap music, also originated here – using various Jamaican dialects while emphasizing wordplay as part of its repertoire of speech patterns.
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths has become one of the most iconic Jamaican singers ever, earning her title of “Queen of Reggae.” Renowned for her powerful yet silky alto that effortlessly traverses from spirituality to celebration to love and loss, Marcia Griffiths has carried reggae music through its many different eras: ska, rock steady and roots music.
Born on November 23, 1949 in Kingston, she first started singing church and school concerts as a teen. Her professional singing career took off in 1964 when she sang a duet with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires at a party following Easter Monday that year; impressed by their performance, their promoter asked her to record with Clement “Sir Coxone” Dodd at Studio One where Clement “Sir Coxone” Dodd produced her first hit “Feel Like Jumping.” Bob Andy brought her in as his duo “Bob & Marcia”, creating international fame through their renditions of Nina Simone’s inspirational song “Young, Gifted and Black”, Nina Simone’s classic song “Young Gifted and Black”, as well as classic Pied Piper.”
After they parted ways in 1974, she released Naturally and Steppin’ on the roots-oriented Shanachie label and both albums became hits in America; both are still available today. Griffiths typically sang American-influenced styles that differed from male stars like Marley.
Griffiths continued touring as both a solo artist and as part of Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt’s I-Threes after Bob Marley died, ultimately becoming its leader after his passing. In 1982 she released an uptempo dance tune titled the Electric Boogie which rose quickly up the charts to number one on U.S. Billboard charts; later this same year it inspired the world-famous dance move known as Electric Slide.
Jamaica is an enchanting Caribbean island boasting mountains, rainforests and spectacular beaches. It is perhaps best-known internationally for Reggae music dating back to the 1950s and ’60s; early ska and rocksteady artists like Toots & the Maytals, Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley became global icons during this era.
Origins
Reggae music is a Jamaican form of popular music that combines rhythm and blues, African folk music, mento, calypso and jazz into one unique genre. Reggae has become an internationally popular genre associated with Jamaican culture and Rastafari movements worldwide, often touching upon themes related to love, social justice and spirituality – music which has touched the lives of countless individuals while remaining part of Jamaican traditions that will never die out.
Reggae music was heavily influenced by Rastafarian ideology during its initial surge. Reggae became more spiritual as its focus shifted toward loving God, neighbor, and self – helping its listeners deal with daily hardships while expressing optimism for the future.
Reggae music’s roots can be traced back to ska and rocksteady. Ska was an uptempo form of reggae music which used 2/4 rhythms with elements from mento, calypso, jazz and blues combining; drawing inspiration from American R&B soul music as well as Jamaican two-tone and punk bands during its time. Ska was the precursor to reggae which in turn had an influence over British two-tone punk bands of the 70s.
As rocksteady evolved from ska, the songs’ tempo slowed, enabling musicians to employ more complex bass lines into the music and incorporate political and sociological lyrics which reflected Jamaicans’ growing concerns regarding social injustice and poverty.
Rocksteady would become obsolete when Jamaica’s social climate worsened and “rude boys,” or gangsters known for making life difficult in ghetto areas, began harassing residents. This gave rise to dancehall, which featured speechifying with musical accompaniment and an upbeat drum beat as its distinguishing features.
Reggae music has had an enormous influence on other Jamaican forms of popular music, including dub and ragga. Dub is a form of instrumental reggae which utilizes effects like echo and reverb to create an atmospheric soundscape; bass lines and guitar riffs played offbeats of each measure also add texture. Dub was first pioneered by King Tubby and Lee Perry during their groundbreaking days of pioneering it during the 1960s and 70s.
Influences
Reggae transcends musical genre; it represents an entire culture and way of life in Jamaica. Reggae music serves as a source of pride and national identity; yet its global reach extends far beyond local passions. To understand how it came to become such a wildly popular art form, one should explore all its influences that shaped it.
Reggae music’s roots lie within traditional Jamaican folk music known as mento. Mento was created through an amalgam of African and European traditions melding during colonization of Jamaica; this blend helped give reggae its signature sound. Although mento often had political overtones to its lyrics, its musicality also included humorous twists.
Ska and rocksteady music styles from Jamaica also greatly influenced reggae music. Rocksteady was more relaxed and melodic than its counterpart, featuring bass guitar and drums for accompaniment. Toots & the Maytals, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and Bob Marley used rocksteady to promote Rastafarianism whilst simultaneously calling for reform on their respective islands while using its message to address international issues through song.
In the 1970s, Jamaican popular music underwent another dramatic transition as dancehall and ragga emerged. Both styles moved away from political and spiritual lyrics often found in reggae’s early days to focus on lighter topics; dancehall music featured predominantly spoken-word verses accompanied by musical accompaniment while ragga used computerized beats and sequenced melodic tracks for accompaniment.
Reggae was propelled forward by these changes, leading to its enormous global success. Its message of freedom and positivity resonated with people from all backgrounds – hippies to drug dealers alike. Reggae became the soundtrack of revolution against poverty and injustice both locally in Jamaica and worldwide, fuelling movie releases such as The Harder They Come which featured reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff.
Reggae continues to have an international impact today. Not only is it popular music in America and Europe, but its roots can also be found across numerous other nations’ cultures – for instance Uganda is home to artists like Papa Cidy and Arthur Lutta who combine reggae with African traditional music; while Mali features askia modibo who combines its rhythms with Malian traditions.
Styles
Reggae music’s roots go back centuries, to Jamaica’s history of colonization, slavery and racial inequality. Reggae became a genre that often delivered messages of hope, love and rebellion against oppression – it even spread internationally during its peak period! Today however, reggae remains fundamentally Jamaican art form yet also stands out for its traditions of religious critique and social commentary in its lyrics.
Ska, the precursor to reggae, was an upbeat rhythm that celebrated Jamaican independence and nationalism. Adopting American R&B styles, ska also integrated elements such as calypso and mento into its upbeat rhythm; its two-four timing with strong bass lines created an identifiable Jamaican sound.
As the popularity of ska grew, Jamaica’s professional recording industry started to flourish. Recording studios began renting their facilities out to local musicians who recorded original songs that they would then play out to listeners via local sound systems — giving rise to what has come to be known as “toasting.”
In the 1960s, ska was altered into rocksteady to allow more vocal range and an easier dance beat; this new style became particularly popular among Jamaica’s ‘rude boys’ artists such as Desmond Dekker.
As the 1970s approached, reggae began to take on more Rastafarian influence. Rastafari’s message of black people’s struggle against modern Babylon and their longing for Zion provided a framework that became part of Jamaican reggae music – Desmond Dekker’s classic early song “Israelites” being an excellent example of this change of theme.
The 1970s also witnessed the birth of raggae, an updated form of rude boy music focusing on street life and gang culture, popularized by artists like Yellowman and Edward Thornton. British Two-Tone was another form influenced by this genre that gained traction later. Today both styles remain relevant alongside their Jamaican counterpart ska.
Artists
Reggae music was birthed from Jamaica’s struggle against poverty and disenfranchisement, with bands like Toots & the Maytals giving voice to those left out by society. Bob Marley became synonymous with reggae after its rise during his revolutionary run through the late ’60s; his charismatic persona and uncompromising attitude transformed it into an international sensation.
Reggae emerged from ska and rocksteady music due to Jamaica’s transition away from British colonial rule, sparking cultural renewal that resulted in social upheaval caused by these changes – which led many Jamaicans looking for symbols of their individual identities through reggae as an outlet.
Ska, with its syncopated snare drum and hi-hat pulse, and rocksteady’s bass and guitar interplay, provided an important musical foundation for reggae’s evolution. Gradually the tempo slowed down over time to form this mellower genre; and its prominent horn section gradually receded while remaining rhythmically pulsed to drive riddims of reggae riddims.
These rhythms and sounds merged with musical traditions from both Africa – such as mento – and the Caribbean Islands (especially calypso ) to create reggae music, which combined elements from African, European, and Rastafarian cultures; its focus eventually becoming love itself – initially romantic love but later shifting more toward spiritual devotional love or universal humanity.
As Jamaica embraced Rastafarianism during the late 1960s, it marked an exciting period of transformation and awakening – and this had a direct influence on music of Jamaica as artists explored new ideas and concepts; especially reggae which often addressed political topics such as black nationalism, antiracism, and anticolonialism in its lyrics.
Jamaican sound systems – mobile discos that could be set up anywhere from bars to streets – made reggae accessible to wider audiences, and musicians playing on these systems perfected the art of “toasting”, or rapping over instrumental tracks – paving the way for hip hop’s worldwide popularity.