Reggae – a Brief History

Originally published in Tearaway Magazine (1990s)

MENTO

One of the styles of music which influenced the rise of ’ska’ in the late ’50s. Mento was a style of blues-oriented folk music.

SKA

Originated around the ’50s and ’60s ’ska’ became Jamaica’s own unique music style. Nobody is exactly sure who pioneered ska – but the ‘Skatalites’ are the most famous ska band – and still going strong!

ROCK STEADY

Came about in the late ’60s. This was a slowed down version of ska with a rock feel.

ROOTS REGGAE

This is a broader term for all the reggae-styles mentioned here, but with more of a rock influence. Roots reggae was best known in the ’70s and ’80s – especially with the rise in popularity of Bob Marley.

HOT-TIPS: Culture, Judy Mowatt , Black Uhuru, Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, Peter Tosh.

DUB

First began with reggae/rock-steady bands doing sound-checks at gigs. The instrumental style of playing caught on and soon bands began taking vocal tracks from the A-sides of their records – would pump-up the bass, add echo effects on the instruments, and sample the vocals. This remixed ‘version’ track would then usually appear on the B-side of the record. These days dub music is made using computer programmes (perhaps making dub reggae’s equivalent to techno).

HOT-TIPS: Mad Professor, Dub Syndicate, Sly & Robbie, Jah Shaka, Alpha & Omega.

DANCEHALL

One of the most popular forms of reggae music today dancehall originated from ‘toasting’ and DJs. ‘Toasting’ is where a reggae singer would chant or sing over the top of existing dub tracks. This was then followed by the DJ-style which was more rap-oriented and is more the style we hear today (as known as ‘raggamuffin’).

HOT-TIPS: Buju Banton, Eek-A-Mouse, Terror Fabulous, Apache Indian.

JUNGLE / DRUM’N’BASS

A style of fast-moving music pioneered by DJ’s mixing hardcore house, breakbeats, hip-hop, and ragga chants. Earlier known as ‘Gangsta Rave’ this frantic music runs at around 160 beats per minute, but is usually layered over the top of slower tempos, allowing dancers to choose the speed they prefer.

HOT TIPS: Peshay, Alex Reece, Goldie. NB – Most of the best is under obscure names!

BHANGRA / BHUNGLE / BHANGLE

Afusion of raggamuffin with the yoots (youth culture) dance music of the European Asian community. This music (known as ‘Bhangra’) features raggamuffin vocals, jungle breakbeats, wild tabla drums, and Indian-style chants all interweaved into a dancehall frenzy. Perhaps some of the fastest jungle breakbeat known, it often exceeds 175 bpm.

HOT TIPS: Bindi, Sasha, Bally Sagoo.

REGGAE = RASTA?

To be a reggae-lover doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a Rasta – or even the other way around infact (there are apparently many Rasta’s who love country music in Jamaica!). So just what is a ‘Rasta’ anyway…?

It all began at the beginning of this century when a Negro-rights activist from Jamaica called Marcus Garvey said “Look to Africa, where a black king shall be crowned”. Soon after Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned and became the emperor of Ethiopia. Marcus Garvey started an organisation with the aim to help black people in the western world go back to their homeland in Africa.

It was their belief that Africa was the true Zion, and that white Christian missionaries had altered the Scriptures to conceal the fact that Adam, Eve and Jesus were infact black. This was the beginning of the Rasta movement. ‘Rasta’ is of course short for ‘Ras Tafari’, the original name of the Ethiopian emperor. Reggae is the popular music of the Rastafarian movement.