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Reggae


Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica. Reggae may be used in a broad sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, including ska, rocksteady, dub, dancehall and ragga. The term may also be used to distinguish a particular style that originated in the late 1960s. Reggae is founded upon a rhythm style which is characterized by regular chops on the back beat, played by a rhythm guitarist and known as the "bang", and a bass drum often hitting on the third beat of each measure, known as "one drop." Characteristically, this beat is slower than in reggae's precursors, ska and rocksteady. Reggae is often associated with the Rastafarian movement, which influenced many prominent reggae musicians in the 1970s and 1980s. However, the subject matter of reggae songs deals with many subjects other than Rastafari, with love songs, sexual themes and broad social commentary being particularly well-represented.

Origins


:''See also Music of Jamaica''Its origins can be found in traditional African Caribbean music as well as US and R&B. Ska and rocksteady are 1960s precursors of reggae. In 1963, Jackie Mittoo, pianist with the ska band The Skatalites was asked to run sessions and compose original music by record producer Coxsone Dodd at his Studio One record studio. Mittoo, with the help of drummer Lloyd Knibbs, turned the traditional ska beat into reggae, slowing the rhythm down in the process. Bob Marley, who popularized reggae worldwide, also recorded rocksteady records early in his career. By the late 1960s reggae was already getting radio play in the UK on John Peel's radio show.It is thought that the word "Reggae" was first used by the Ska group Toots and the Maytals, who coined the phrase in the title of their hit ''Do the Reggay'' in the early sixties.

Styles

In Jamaica however, new styles are nowadays becoming more popular, among them, dancehall and ragga (also known as raggamuffin). Mixing techniques employed in dub, an instrumental sub-style of reggae, influenced Hip hop, drum and bass and other styles. The toasting or dee jaying first used by artists such as U-Roy and Dillinger had a world-wide impact because Jamaican DJ Kool Herc used them as he pioneered a new style that subsequently became hip hop or rap music. In the Jamaican sense of the word, a "DJ" is an "MC" or rapper, whereas the term "DJ" describes the music selector in the US. Therefore what is called ''dee jaying'', ''toasting'' or ''chatting'' in Jamaica is called ''rapping'' in most other parts of the world.

Roots

Roots is the name given to specifically Rastafarian reggae music. It is a spiritual type of music, whose lyrics are predominantly in praise of Jah (God). The songs often include the exclaimation "Rastafari", meaning 'Prince Tafari', which refers to the birth name of Haile Selassie of Ethiopia – the religious symbol for God incarnate among the Rastafari movement. Recurrent lyrical themes include poverty and resistance to government oppression. The creative pinnacle of roots reggae is arguably in the late 1970s, with singers such as Johnny Clarke, Horace Andy, Barrington Levy, and Lincoln Thompson teaming up with studio producers including Lee 'Scratch' Perry, King Tubby, and Coxsone Dodd. The experimental pioneering of such producers within often restricted technological parameters gave birth to dub music, and is seen by some music historians as one of the earliest (albeit analogue) contributions to the development of techno.Roots reggae was an important part of Jamaican culture, and whilst other forms of reggae have replaced it in terms of popularity in Jamaica (Dancehall for instance), roots reggae has found a small, but growing, niche globally.

Social issues

One of the main themes of reggae music has been social liberation. This has both political and religious aspects.

Political awakening

The music attempts to raise the political consciousness of the audience:

''The American dream''

''Is not what it seem.''

''Why do you slumber?'' (Jimmy Cliff, "American Dream" 1983)


Alternatives to orthodox religious dogma

It also militates for freedom from religious delusion:

''Most people think''

''Great God will come from the sky''

''Take away everything''

''And make everybody feel high''

''But if you know what life is worth''

''You would look for yours on earth''

''And now-a you seen the light''

''You stand up for your right.'' (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, "Get Up, Stand Up")


Freedom of religious expression

Repression of many kinds, and especially repression linked with the prohibition of ganja (marijuana), which is considered a sacrament by Rastafarians, is another recurring theme in the music.

Controversy





Homophobia

The sub-genre of Reggae called Dancehall has come under increased criticism from both Jamaican and International organisations for homophobic themes and lyrics. Anti-homosexual or homophobic themes have been a part of dancehall music throughout its history. To a significant degree these themes reflect the anti-homosexual, though not necesarily violent, sentiment of Jamaican society in general. A similar strong anti-homosexual sentiment is present in most English-speaking Caribbean nations. Homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica as well as in most former British colonies in the Caribbean.The increased criticism of dancehall music by international organisations is often attributed to the increased international exposure of the music, especially with regards to international media and the Internet. Dancehall has always included themes of not only homophobia, but of violence, sexism, and misogeny as well. However only the issue of anti-homosexuality has received significant international attention.

Reggae music festivals



Jamaican reggae music festivals

* Reggae Sunsplash, Ocho Rios, Jamaica,