Reggae music is an art form that was created barely 50 years ago out of a little island in the Caribbean. Today, reggae permeates the entire globe. What is it about reggae that gives it such a universal appeal? Aside from the emergence of a guy named Bob Marley, reggae has some things going for it that other music genres just can't capture. Clearly, the superstardom of Bob Marley was transcendent in making reggae an internationally recognized musical genre. But in 1981 when Bob Marley passed on reggae was still little more than a niche genre of music that had a minor following.
It has been in the past 20-30 years that reggae has really taken off and splintered into a host of sub-genres being created by various countries around the world that has taken its popularity and appeal to the next level. So what is it, at its root, that makes reggae so appealing? Well, you could probably get a thousand answers from a thousand people but what makes reggae such an appealing music for me lies in 3 key areas: the message, the groove and the culture.
The message of reggae music is one of the sufferer. It is a struggle for human and civil rights, for a basic standard of living, and one that speaks to the brotherhood of humanity. Reggae is rooted in themes of solidarity, righteousness and justice. And it is one with worship, honor and respect for Jah---the God of the Bible. These themes are honest, real and speak to the hearts of people all over the world who are familiar with suffering and injustice---or anyone who truly cares about their brothers and sisters of humanity and the sanctity of life. These themes are by their very nature uplifting, righteous and pure. Listening to reggae speaks to the better part of our nature and uplifts us to a higher plane of thought and morality.
As many are familiar, reggae was derived from Ska and Rock Steady, their precursors in the Jamaican music scene. Reggae is simply a twist on the "bang" or the emphasis on the 2nd and 4th beats of the measure, but the reggae "bang" has a cooler, more easy going vibe than its predecessors. This reggae groove is meditative, soulful and hypnotic in a way that Ska and Rock Steady never were. The tempo of reggae is not too fast, not too slow--it's just right. Listening to a great reggae groove is something that feels like you could rock to it forever and not lose the feeling. At the heart of the reggae groove though is the drum and bassline patterns which also have a bouncy, soulful but swaying, circular feeling that syncopates with the human heartbeat and can put the listener in an almost trance-like state. There is really nothing like reggae and the appeal of the reggae groove has been able to truly cross racial lines, borders, continents and touch the hearts of all walks of life.
Finally the culture of reggae is so unique--much like the island that invented the genre. Jamaican culture and the personalities of many Jamaicans are so unique, so bold, so full of life that there is really no other way to explain the huge impact the small island of Jamaica has made on the world. There is a brash rebelliousness and self-confidence about Jamaican culture that penetrates the music and carries a coolness that is hard to ignore. This has been evident in the personas of so many major reggae artists over the years--namely characters like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Big Youth, Shabba Ranks, Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, Gregory Isaacs and many others. The impact of Rastafarianism and the look of long, swinging dreadlocks hanging down the backs of some of the greatest singers and musicians is a look that commands attention, interest and respect. There is a spiritual and charismatic power to Rasta and Jamaican culture that has been exemplified by reggae music, its culture and the many characters and great artists it has produced.
One other powerful aspect of the culture of reggae is its connection to and celebration of the African roots of the Black Diaspora. Reggae was a front runner in boldly proclaiming its pride in being a music by black people rooted in African history--and tying that pride to an acknowledgment of and solidarity with the African homeland of its creators, with the central figure in Rasta, Haile I Selassie being from the birthplace of civilization, Ethiopia. A big part of the reggae theme and brand revolves around the Red, Gold, Black and Green that are ubiquitous throughout the African continent and the primary colors of many African nations flags.
Finally, reggae is the one music of the world that, through Rastafarianism, has attached itself to and legitimized marijuana consumption as not only ok, but a royal and honorable activity. The universal mass appeal of "herb" and reggae's inherent connection to it, has only fueled the impact and popularity of reggae over the years. It's not hard to sell people on the idea of smoking herb, and reggae was the first art form to come out and publicly embrace marijuana consumption as a part of its identity.
Today reggae is so much more than its Jamaican roots. It has become a worldwide phenomenon with subgenres that attract completely different audiences from Jamaican reggae. But this is what happens when an art form explodes in popularity and touches the human experience--it gives birth to new ideas, new creators and expands into something much broader and more complex than what it is was when it began. Still, it is amazing to see something that started out in a small corner of the world with the creative ideas of a small group of men turn into an art form that has impacted the lives of literally billions of people. What a great time to be a reggae fan and what an exciting time to be a reggae artist.
Now...it's time to make some good reggae music!!!