Reggae music emerged during the early 1960s from ska and rocksteady styles, and has since become an international craze.
Reggae evolved from the rhythms of ska and rocksteady, featuring syncopated snare drum beats, bass guitar riffs, and offbeat chords; its tempo being slower than either.
The origins of the term
Reggae was birthed in Jamaica during the 1960s as an expression of nationalism and desperation on the streets. The genre represented people’s struggle and hopes for unity – hence Bob Marley and the Wailers emerged, taking reggae global. At that time roots reggae lyrics focused on Rastafarian beliefs and black history while subgenres including dub evolved that used recycled and remixed ska and rocksteady tunes as well as featuring vocalists delivering Rastafarian messages over them – something precursors would lead eventually lead directly into rap music!
Reggae music developed from the syncopated snare drum and hi-hat pulse of ska and rocksteady’s swaying bass interplay, but with bass taking center stage. These basic rhythms remained, though bass took on more prominence within reggae music; three-part horn sections became more prevalent, lead guitar often played an octave up with heavily damped sound highlighted bass melody, lead guitarist often used an octave up with heavy dampening sound while picked to accent bass melody; finally reggae drummers employ what’s known as “one drop,” where bass plays the beat instead of high hats; drummers use muted strings between thumb and palm to achieve deep throbbing bass sounds essential within reggae rhythms.
Riddim, an original rhythm composed by bass players and designed to accompany rocksteady and ska, developed over time as another innovation. While still having the same basic structure, its speed differs significantly – bass players would bang their instrument instead of using hi-hats to keep time with each beat and would slap strings hard and fast for deeper rhythmic effects.
Reggae music was further popularized by dancehall deejays who improvised along to dub tracks, leading to its wider dissemination worldwide. Toasting led directly to hip hop’s development here and helped spread reggae message worldwide; music remained popular with African Americans until 1980 when new forms of rap began emerging.
The origins of the music
Reggae was popular among Jamaica’s urban poor in the 1960s, helping them gain some measure of social recognition and respect through music. Reggae also provided a means of rebelling against oppressive forces that were holding them back; its influences included rhythm and blues, jazz, calypso, traditional African folk music as well as call and response singing and its socially progressive themes. It eventually gained international renown owing to call and response singing as well as its social commentary themes.
Bob Marley and The Wailers became the pioneers of reggae music during this era, while Third World were among its more mainstream practitioners. Desmond Dekker was another key figure in developing this style; his song Israelites served as a protest against poverty and injustice while its use of musical sounds and images set it apart from other Jamaican songs at that time.
In the mid-1960s, ska gave way to rocksteady music, which featured slower rhythms and romantic lyrics. Popularised in Britain by groups such as UB40, Smiley Culture and Carroll Thompson; its adaptation here focused on British inner city life rather than Jamaican roots with Jamaican patois interspersed among Cockney slang lyrics.
The ska beat was kept, though guitar playing became less frenetic. Drums were played at a metronomic rate with every third beat marked with an accented bass drum pound; bass melody would often feature syncopation while lead guitar would play chords offbeat that repeated themselves within bassline melody.
Dub music followed suit in adopting this style, taking recycled rocksteady and ska tunes and adding an MC with Rastafarian messages to voice over each tune with his Rastafari messages. Dub incorporated both spirituality and contemporary issues such as capitalism’s effects in Jamaica while at the same time providing a way to oppose Babylon.
The evolution of the music
Reggae music originated during the 1960s from an amalgam of American and Jamaican styles, featuring vocal chanting and bass-guitar riffs that provided its unique sound – soon earning worldwide acclaim. Reggae’s tempo is slower than both ska and rocksteady with emphasis placed on off-beat rhythms and staccato chords; its rhythm also draws inspiration from traditional African folk rhythms, particularly mento – an celebratory rural folk form.
During the late 1960s, Jamaican studio musicians became heavily influenced by American funk music and experimented with various rhythmic patterns. Organ was more frequently utilized and guitar upbeats (known as “guitar skanks”) were simplified so as not to double up on themselves – giving rise to what became known as skinhead reggae from British subculture’s embrace in the 70s; and later by artists like Bob Marley & Wailers’ depiction as Rastafarian spiritual leaders portrayed themselves.
Many songs sung by singers of this era addressed social criticism and promoted cannabis use – something central to Rastafari movement and still often mentioned in contemporary reggae music.
Reggae reached its pinnacle of musical evolution during the late 1980s and early 1990s with its return to its roots, marked by an appearance of female artists such as Queen Ifrika, Hempress Sativa, Etana and Koffee who represented an emphasis on equality between genders in Rastafarian philosophy. This shift mirrored their changing roles within music production itself.
By the end of this era, reggae had made its way to America via British punk rockers such as The Clash and Ruts. From there it spread around the globe via fans like these bands who adopted it into their cultures and languages. Reggae also played an influential role in shaping hip-hop’s sound in America and Africa – even helping create its sound here! It has since evolved into an entire lifestyle genre complete with fashion, cuisine, philosophy and visual aesthetics all its own; its slogan of One Love by Rastafaris movement remains an integral component of its worldwide popularity.
The impact of the music
Reggae music has become the soundtrack for protests around the globe, providing hope to millions. Reggae’s message of love and peace can be heard in lyrics of many songs; furthermore, its rhythm inspired rock and metal genres through its use of skank guitar rhythms that were characteristic of early reggae albums – eventually giving birth to modern rock music!
Ska gradually gave way to rocksteady in the mid-1960s. The slower tempo allowed bass line prominence; rocksteady may have emerged when singer Hopeton Lewis found it difficult to sing at ska speed; in addition, its popularity may reflect Jamaica’s increasing Rastafari influence; one notable instance occurred during 1966 when Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia visited and attracted over 100,000 people who saw him as their messiah figure.
By the 1970s, reggae had become one of Jamaica’s main exports and was widely appreciated worldwide by Black people of all ethnicities. The music’s influence enabled an entire generation of Africans to embrace their heritage while standing up for their rights – many artists who emerged during this era are still performing today; most notably Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear among many more.
Roots reggae music was an integral component of Michael Manley’s Democratic Socialism during the 1970s. It provided the soundtrack for Jamaica to confront its history of slavery and ongoing exploitation of Black people while providing support for armed liberation movements on African frontlines through songs such as Peter Tosh’s “Apartheid” or Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe.”
Reggae was greatly influenced by street life in Kingston and elsewhere in Jamaica, drawing inspiration from street dances in empty storefronts or garage dancehalls popular among working class communities. Dances featured MCs, DJs and sound systems improvising along to dub tracks known as toasting; similar to rap but differing because its melodic content sets it apart.