Jamaica’s far-reaching global cultural influence is astonishing given its size and colonial history. This is particularly true in the realm of music. A Caribbean island of fewer than three million people, Jamaica has given the world a number of genres, including ska, mento, rocksteady, dub, dancehall, ragga and, most famous of all, reggae.
An evolution of ska and rocksteady, reggae is set apart from other genres by its rhythmic accents on the off-beat. Its noticeably softer and slower tempo can be attributed to its influences, not least traditional African music, American jazz and rhythm and blues.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Jamaican reggae artists conquered the charts the world over, becoming household names in the process. Some of the most revered musicians of the 20th century shaped, and were made famous by, the genre.
Indeed, such is the enduring popularity of the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Jimmy Cliff, that international perceptions of Jamaica are inextricably interconnected with reggae.
Reggae encapsulates the unique passion and character of Jamaican people and the rhythms of the beautiful island they inhabit. Capture a glimpse of the country’s soul by listening to this playlist of classic Jamaican reggae.
- Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- 54-46 Was My Number – Toots & The Maytals
- Satta Masagana – The Abyssinians
- I Can See Clearly Now – Jimmy Cliff
- Israelites – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
- Montego Bay – Freddie Notes & The Rudies
- Johnny B Goode – Peter Tosh
- The Tide is High – The Paragons
- I Am The Upsetter – Lee “Scratch” Perry
- Money In My Pocket – Dennis Brown
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: Ricymar Fine Art Photography)
