Roots Reggae - The Basics:
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae music which focuses on socially conscious and religious (specifically Rastafarian) lyrics. Roots reggae is the genre that most Americans and Europeans simply think of as "reggae," but it stands in sharp contrast to the slackness that is often found in modern Jamaican music.
The Sound of Roots Reggae:
The sound of roots reggae is likely what you already identify with reggae music - a one drop rhythm, vocals that are often harmonized, and deeply soulful lyrics. Roots reggae is really only distinct because of its lyrical content.
Roots Reggae in Europe and the United States:
Roots reggae is the most popular subgenre of reggae in Europe and the United States. First of all, the progenitors of roots reggae (who include Bob Marley and Peter Tosh) were the first artists to become internationally popular, and thus set the precedent for what people expect reggae to sound like. Secondly, the lyrics are far less objectionable than those of much dancehall and similar modern Jamaican genres.
Roots Reggae Artists:
Roots reggae originated with artists from the 1970s, including the aforementioned Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, as well as Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, and Black Uhuru. Roots reggae is also the genre that most European and American reggae groups play, including bands such as John Brown's Body, Groundation, and Jah Roots.
Roots Reggae Starter CDs:
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Uprising (Compare Prices)
Multiple Aritsts - The Harder they Come (Compare Prices)
Burning Spear - Jah Is Real (Compare Prices)
