International Reggae Day: 5 Classic Reggae Songs To Listen To

International Reggae Day: 5 Classic Reggae Songs To Listen To

 

In 1994, July 1st was declared as International Reggae Day. Organized and founded by Andrea Davis, International Reggae day was created as a global celebration of reggae music and its cultural influence, which is still heavily impactful to this day. Though originating on the island of Jamaica in the 1960s, its roots have spread far beyond the Caribbean over the years. Not only is reggae music enjoyed and listened to by millions of people around the world who come from various walks of life, but it also had a hand in creating other genres of music. You can find reggae influence in several diverse genres, including hip-hop, punk, rock, and reggaeton.

In honor of International Reggae Day and the force that is Jamaican culture, here are five classic reggae songs that you should listen to today.

One Spliff A Day – Billy Boyo

Much of reggae music is connected and associated with the use of marijuana, which is not seen as a drug, but a medicinal plant, primarily used by those who practice the Rastafari faith. Though not always connected with the religion itself, many reggae songs have been made on the topic of smoking weed.

In 1982, young prodigy and artist Billy Boyo released “One Spliff A Day.” He was only 13 years of age. The song was about weed and how it alleviates the “evils,” which are the things that can often make someone feel troubled or stressed out. Though Boyo unfortunately passed away from a brain tumor in 2000 at the age of 31, the song has taken on a life of its own decades after. Over the years, “One Spliff A Day” has been sampled several times by many popular artists, including SiR, Wiz Khalifa, and DJ Khaled.

 

The Stopper – Cutty Ranks

Dancehall music is one of the most popular sub-genres in the reggae world. Initially coming about in the 1970s, dancehall has been known for incorporating faster and more upbeat rhythms, as opposed to roots reggae, which is known to be much more mild and relaxed in nature. With the rise of dancehall music, many careers were made and many people rose to fame. Some of the most prominent dancehall artists include Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, Buju Banton, and of course, Cutty Ranks.

Cutty Ranks’s “The Stopper” is a popular dancehall track known for its fun and energetic lyrics as well as unforgettable sound. Released in 1991 on his album, also called The Stopper, the song features a unique hook that slows the entire beat down for a few seconds before speeding it right back up immediately after. Being the influential and classic track that it is, Cutty Ranks’s “The Stopper” has been remixed and sampled a number of times. Many who are not familiar with dancehall even discovered the song because it was sampled on Mac Miller’s song “Jet Fuel,” the 11th song off of his 2018 album, Swimming.

 

Chase the Devil – Max Romeo

Though not many people are aware of this, the Rastafari faith is a variation of Christianity, just in a more Afrocentric and culturally conscious light. Therefore, many of the various beliefs and concepts associated with the Christian faith are acknowledged and believed by Rastas as well. One of the concepts that is accepted is the idea that there is evil and sin in the world, which is often referred to by Rastas as “Babylon.”

In 1976, Max Romeo released his album War Ina Babylon, featuring Lee Perry’s band The Upsetters. The album had many religious and politically conscious themes. Many consider this album to be his best work. One of the songs on the album, “Chase The Devil” remains one of Romeo’s popular songs to date. Max Romeo sings about getting rid of the devil and sending him away from the earth, so the devil can stop spreading evil.

“Chasing the devil means chasing the negativity out of humanity, and letting it be controlled by positive, which you would call God, then,” Romeo stated in a 2011 interview with the BBC.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpIAc9by5iU

Murderer – Barrington Levy

Besides the culture and music that comes out of Jamaica, the island is also known for its high levels of crime and violence. Last year in 2020 alone, the island recorded 1,301 killings, with the region’s highest homicide rate at 46.5 per 100,000 people. Many individuals who grow up in Jamaica experience this violence or become affected by it, losing family members and loved ones.

In “Murderer” by dancehall legend, Barrington Levy, he talks about the violent atmosphere that many people live in. He warns listeners to watch out for those that might want to cause them harm, or even worse, death. Many other reggae artists have spoken about the nature of violence that plagues the island. Songs such as “Welcome To Jamrock” by Damian Marley, “Murder She Wrote” by Chaka Demus & Pliers, and “Murderer” by Buju Banton all speak to the issues that the country has yet to solve.

 

Marcus Garvey – Burning Spear

Pan-African nationalist, Marcus Garvey, is one of Jamaica’s most renowned figures, even being designated as one of the country’s national heroes. He has also been heavily revered by members of the Rastafari movement as a prophet and visionary. Needless to say, he is often mentioned on reggae songs that are based around the themes of Black pride and political consciousness.

In 1975, Rastafarian and reggae artist Burning Spear released “Marcus Garvey,” the first track off of his Marcus Garvey album. Throughout the song, Burning Spear pays homage to Garvey and his struggle to better the condition of Black people around the world. He sings about how through it all, Garvey was still betrayed by his peers when all he wanted to do was implement positive change. Burning Spear has repeatedly referenced Garvey in his music, even creating another album the following year in 1976 called Garvey’s Ghost.

 

Post a Comment