Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is more carried out and stand as a symbol for a music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady. Reggae is the Jamaican music that evolved from ska and rocksteady developing into a huge musical force. Reggae is based on rhythmic style characterized by regular beats on the off beat know as the skank. In 1960 musicians turned the beats around placing the emphasis on the second and fourth beats of each bar rather than the usual first and third. The new style became know as ska, and proved incredibly popular with Jamaicans.
In the beginning reggae music supported much of the Rastafarian faith, and included many political themes. Reggae lyrics spoke of Ethiopian and Mount Zion as the musicians began to sport the traditional Rastafarian hair style or dread locks. Bob Marley said the word reggae came from a Spanish term for "the king music". Reggae song lyrics deal with many subjects, including religion, love, sexuality, peace, relationships, poverty, injustice, and other social and political issues. Jamaican music flowed in the dances the evening gatherings in clubs or outside were recorded music usually American R&B was played. When rock emerged as the dominate music in the U.S. the supply of R&B slowly dries up and by the late 1950s Jamaicans were making their own music. Many Jamaicans were listening to American rhythm and blues music.
Ska music is a thing that Jamaican music genre created in the late 1950s. Ska music then went on to influence the later reggae music form. Ska music was between 1959 and 1961 and it was influenced by Jamaican mento genre. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and Calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska music was made for dancing. Ska music is upbeat, quick, and exciting. Ska genre was precursor to reggae. Ska was typically set to four/four time drum beats. This mean the drum beats is on second and fourth beats. Meanwhile, ska music remains a popular music genre back in Jamaica. Ska made an introduction in American; however, it was not successful, but it made impact upon Britain. Ska was made through a working course. Ska music is all over the world and has brought joy and entertainment to millions of fans world wide with generally fun loving up beats songs.
Rocksteady is a music genre that came to Jamaica around 1966. Rocksteady was performed by Jamaican vocal harmony groups. Rocksteady came from a dance style. Rock steady is like ska music, but has roots in traditional Jamaican mento as well as American R&B and jazz. Just like ska music rocksteady was a music that was popular for street dances. Rocksteady was songs that described dances; it was very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Rocksteady provides a slower, mellower beat, allowing for more relaxed dancing. Dancing to rocksteady was less energetic than early ska dances. Rocksteady went away by the end of 1960s, but it didn't really die out, it went into what we know now as reggae today.
Mento music is a style of Jamaican music in the early part of the 1900s. Mento music is much like other Caribbean folk music, and is a blending of African rhythms. Mento music found its popularity in the 1940s and 1950s in Jamaica before rocksteady and reggae became musical style. Mento music relaxes your mind whenever you hear it. Mento music was largely unheard and unknown, because of ska and reggae music. Mento music was sounds by banjo, guitar, hand drums, homemade saxophone, flute made from bamboo, and a lot more. Mento music was sometimes confused by calypso music, which was from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Both music shared some similarities, but were very distinct and separated in music forms. Mento music has very long history and is still performed today.
Kumina is a cultural form to Jamaica. Kumina is also called Cumina. Kumina is a form of ancestral worship. Kumina is a traditional Jamaica folk form involving dance, music, and religious practices and beliefs. Kumina was practiced in large parts of Jamaica. Kumina is an afro Jamaican religion. Kumina refers to religion and dance. Dance was an entertainment and they use it during the private religious ceremonies. Drumming and singing are key elements in kumina music. Kumina believe in knowledge and wisdom of their ancestors. In America kumina is still being practice today.
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for romantic sound and content. Lovers rock has been apart of reggae since the late 1960s. Lovers rock is a genre that black Britons can claim as their own. Lovers rock focuses on romance and love. Lovers rock is a smooth and quieter reggae beats. Lovers rock got its name from England in the mid 1970s. As lovers rock developed it became popular back in Jamaica where older reggae artists supported it as a way to attract new fans.
Dance hall is a music genre that came about in the late 1970s. Dance hall music is most popular music in Jamaica. Dance hall music became more popular in the mid 1980s. Dance hall is generally deejay toasting or rapping. Dance hall genre mainly focuses on dancing, violence, sexuality, homophobia, and other subjects. Dance hall artists took old rhythms and tweaked some things, and then added new vocals to create dance hall sound. Dance hall has a faster rhythms and reggae rhythms. Dance hall is also known as regga or dub. Dance hall gets its name from large halls or street spaces where deejays were setting up their sound system. Dance hall is also known as bashment, a term which can refer to music itself or large party where dance music is played. Dance hall is all about energy and having a great time. They call it dance hall because it was played in dance halls, because it was easier to dance to than reggae. Dance hall replaced reggae as the party music choice. In the late 1990s dance hall stayed popular and continued to be and kept coming with new talent.
Dub is a genre that is form of Jamaican music, which developed in the early 1960s. Dub is considered a subgenre, thought it has developed to extend beyond the area of reggae. Dub genre is mostly instrumental remixes of existing recordings. Dub is a version of an existing song, emphasizing the drums and bass for a sound popular in local sound systems. The music sometimes features sound effects and other noises. The word dub today is still used to describe a genre of music that consists of instrumental remixes of existing recording. Dub music is often use for toasters, and rapping heavily rhymed lyrics. Dub has become a buzz word for any style of music that has to deal with remixing sounds. In 1971 the first real dub recording began to appear. In the 1990s dub influenced dance music, techno, ambient music, and hip hop, with many dub tracks produced by non traditional musicians from these other genres. Dub music introduced a new ear in reggae music. Almost all reggae still carries an instrumental version. Dub has continued to keep up its popularity in musical fashion.
Dub poetry have been invented by Jamaican poet Oku Onuora to describe a form of oral art that has been developing in Jamaica since the early 1970s. Oku said dub poem was built on reggae so that it can be heard and felt. The term dub poetry has not always found favor with the entire genre. Dub poetry evolved out of dub music consisting of spoken words over reggae rhythms in Jamaica. Dub poet's performances are normally prepared, and dub poet's generally perform with out backing music. Dub poets usually perform with a band playing music that has to do with the poem rather than simply performing over top. Dub poets can adapted to performing along with music, which is usually reggae or something with a similar rhythm. Dub music is often preaching about injustice to non Jamaican audiences. Dub poetry is often said to be musical genre due to its close connection to reggae music. This kind of poetry may not be as popular today as it once was.
The sound system is also an important part of Jamaican musical genres. Sound system is a group of DJs working together, and making music. A sound system in Jamaican is a term for a large street party. Sound systems took over in Jamaican dance hall in 1950s because it was music playing on the streets. DJs would get a generator, turntables, and huge speakers and set up large street parties. When Jamaicans travelled; sound systems were apart of their luggage. Sound systems were also a business, and a way to make more money in some areas. DJs would make there profit by charging a minimal admission, selling food, drinks, and alcohol. The popularity for sound system was having new music. In the 1950s sound systems became a public entertainment. Sound system continues to get popular all over the world.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s toasting became quite popular in Jamaica. Toasting originated in the Caribbean calypso and mento which had became popular in Jamaica. Toasting is the act of talking over rhythms or beats by a deejay. In the early 1970s Jamaicans called toasting deejay and spelled like DJ. Toasting, chatting, or deejaying is the act of talking or chanting over a rhythm or beat. Deejay toasting influenced the development of rapping in African American hip hop and the development of the dance hall style. Deejaying is still popular in today's life.
Then you have root reggae which is a sub genre of reggae. Root reggae focuses on every day life. Root reggae is a sub genre that most Americans and European think of it as reggae, but it is often found in Jamaican music. Root reggae sounds just like what you already hear and identify in reggae music. The vocals are harmonized and have soulful lyrics. Root reggae carries positive messages in the lyrics. Root reggae is the most popular sub genre of reggae in the United States.
When you think of reggae music the very first name that comes to mind is Bob Marley. Reggae back ground began along with jazz music. Most people feel that first reggae recording was "Do the Reggay" by Toot and the Maytales in 1968. Reggae is a African Caribbean style of music developed on the island of Jamaica. Some Jamaicans will tell you that the term reggae means "coming from de people" a phrase by Toots Hibbert. Reggae is music from Jamaican that comes from ska and rock steady; developing into a huge musical force. Reggae music originated in Jamaica; during the late 1960s. Many people think that reggae is one sound that came out of Jamaica but their wrong. Reggae music and beats came after the development of ska and rock steady. Reggae tempo is usually slower than ska and rock steady music. Reggae music is extremely popular and it has broken down many walls and made its way across the world influencing many people. Reggae music help make a way for music such as dance hall music, for the younger generation. The name reggae evolved from the world. The term ragged is a term to describe a style of dance music which had rhythm and blues. It changed to the style we use today and its origin is not actually Jamaican, but a mix of sounds from the United States and Africa. Reggae music is set away from other styles because of its syncopation. Syncopation allows the emphasis of the beats that would otherwise not be emphasized and rhythms that are often deviate from their expected placement. Reggae usually means that the second and fourth beats are accented, and the third beat is emphasized. The rhythmic and style of reggae is off beat. Reggae is relaxed and slower than other music genres; such as, disco, soul, jazz, and pop.
Common instruments found in other musical genres are also used in reggae music. The bass drum is often played as a heart beat, and the bass guitar is in the front with a thick treble less sound. Guitars often take a back seat in reggae, unlike most styles of music including rock and jazz where the guitar incorporates melody. Playing the drums in most reggae songs use a standard drum kit, but the pieces are played in specific way. A snare drum is often tuned to a higher pitch which gives it a sound that resembles timbales. Reggae drum patterns usually place an emphasis on the third beat. The bass guitar is played with the drums, and the bass guitar provides the rhythm of a reggae song. An electric guitar in reggae tends to stress chords over individual notes pattern. Unlike the other instruments there is a more relaxed feel to the sound of a guitar in reggae. Reggae also has a horn section; such as, a saxophone, trombone, and trumpet. Each member playing will play the exact same pattern. The horn section plays during the introduction, instrumental breaks, solos, or counter melodies. Small hand percussion instruments can also be used in reggae music; like the congas and bongos. The bongos are use to give a spiritual as well as an African feel to a song or beat. Reggae use a variety of instruments to create the reggae rhythms associated with the style.
Most reggae artists were born and raised in Kingston Jamaica. The most common man for reggae music is Bob Marley. Bob Marley is the main man who turned Jamaican reggae songs world wide with help from several others. Bob Marley was best known for reggae music. Bob Marley was best known for his work with his reggae group called "The Wailers", which included two other reggae musicians, Bunny Livingstone and Peter Tosh. They left the group and became successful solo artists. Bob Marley wanted to do his own work, and wished to bring reggae to the world. Bob Marley planted himself deeply into the heart or reggae fans throughout the world. Bob Marley started his musical experimentation in ska and gravitated towards reggae as the music evolved playing, teaching, and singing for a long period of time in 1970s and 1980s. Bob Marley was responsible for the first all reggae album, and was an activist for the Jamaican people. In 1975 his hit No Woman, No Cry gained him fame. Bob Marley focus on putting out good music so the reggae would spread all over the earth. Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981. Bob Marley music has gone from strength to strength in the years since his death and stills continue to produce. Bob Marley influenced musicians of many other genres.
Reggae music has become the sound of Jamaica; then the music spread throughout the United States. Reggae music has found its way into films, televisions, and the mainstream music scene. There is still a lot of ska, rock steady, lovers rock, dancehall, dub, toasting, root reggae, reggae and many more reggae genre, but the main focus today is just reggae music itself. Reggae music is still popular today and still increasing in number.
Reference Page
http://www.acesandeight.com/reggae.html
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/reggae_music#section5
www.Jamaicansmusic.com
www.kumina.com
www.musicstack.com
www.interruptor.ch/dub.html
www.dubwisefestiva.com
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley
http://www.historyking.com/music-history/Bob-Marley-History.html
