Growing up in the Caribbean means that you are well acquainted with reggae music from Jamaica.
The roots of Reggae come from traditional mento folk music, which influenced ska and rocksteady in Jamaica in the 1950s, eventually becoming Reggae in the 1960s.
Reggae has come a long way since Toots and Maytals released the first popular song mentioning 'reggae' in 1968
In no particular order, here are some of my personal favourite Jamaican reggae artistes and tracks.
Some are old, some are new. It's definitely not meant to be a conclusive list!!
I am a 'conscious man' meaning I prefer reggae that isn't just about dance and girls and badman culture. 'Conscious' music.
Hope you enjoy these islands vibes on a Friday!
You cannot have a reggae list without Bob Marley.
Live is best. The King of Reggae music. If I could bring one musician back, it would be Bob.
Don't forget your history;
Know your destiny:
In the abundance of water,
The fool is thirsty.
Rat race, rat race, rat race!
Adapted from a speech by Emperor Haile Selassie.
That until there no longer
First class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes -
Me say war.
And a couple of the Marley boys.
Stephen Marley feat Capleton and Sizzla.
Rock stone was my pillow could not find place fi sleep
Pot dem empty we haffi find food fi eat
Everyday we terrorize by soldier and police
When the thing dem a drum and di thing dem a beat
I absolutely HATE the dubstep at the end.
Damian Marley feat. Capleton - It Was Written
Your body is just a vehicle transporting your soul
It's what's inside of people is beauty to behold
Fear not of evil, every day them flesh it grow old
Changes of the times take a toll
Buju Banton — Hills and Valleys
Only Rasta can liberate the people
Over hills and valleys too
Don't let them fool you
Don't believe for a minute that they are with you
Sizzla — Like Mountains
Like mountains round about Jerusalem
So is Marcus Garvey stand around I and I, I and I, I and I, hey
Like mountains round about Jerusalem
So is Emperor Selassie I in Zion I, Zion I, Zion I, hey
Luciano — Give Praise
Hope is there for all to share,
We need to live as one,
Love and Care to keep us firm and strong,
So for all these thoughts,
I call on thee,
Please listen to my song,
Together this battle must be won,
Capleton — Jah Jah City
Send me go trod down ina di east
tell dem fi hold di peace
we nuh waan no more coffin, we nuh waan no more hit
Well life we ah promote fi mek de ghetto youth see't
Life is wha we wish
Chezidek - All My Life
Give Thanks For the sun come shining
Give Thanks For the moon at night
Give Thanks For the rains that falling
Give Thanks For the cool wind blowing by
Chezidek - Bun the Ganja
Herb tree grow like flowers ah me yard,
tell dem say woi! papa Chezi ah de real Herb Lord
Seh me bun de ganja, bun de ganja, bun de ganja real hard
Anthony B — Raid The Barn
Nobody wannu plant the corn
Everybody want to raid the barn
Who yuh a guh blame it on
When is a next man yuh a depend pon
Well yuh wrong
Fantan Mojah - Rasta Got Soul
When the reggae touch Italy and Germany
Rasta a bring out the ceremony
All over inna Nairobi, even dung a Cali
I would say dem a be sure me no see nobody
This is not a competition, check the vision
Jesse Royal — Modern Day Judas
So why should I be afraid of you
When you bleed just like I do
The more you try fight
Jah Jah light keep shining through
So I've got no time for you
Cause in my view you wanna step in mi shoe
You wish you never live a luu and feel so damn confused
Oh every day you wake, you quake
Because you know you fake
This guy is fairly new on the scene, and already has a recognisable name around here. Really good stuff.
Chronixx — Here Comes Trouble
Jah people dem a ball seh dem tired a mediocre
Evil a go fall when wi trop inna Ethiopia
Believing from dawn 'caz' dem life no easy bout yah
Even Banton seh it’s not a easy road
Operation occupy the mother land
Like Jesse Royal and Protoje, Chronixx is fairly new on the scene but has exploded lately.
Protoje feat Chronixx — Who Knows
"Who knows, who knows, who knows, who knows
I just go where the trade winds blows
Sending love to my friends and foes
And I suppose I'm pleased
To be chilling in the West Indies
Jah provide all my wants and needs
I got the sunshine rivers and trees
Green leaves... oh yea
That's all for now.
Peace, Love and Light