Regale the Reggae

Source: Vijay Times, BVT PG - 4.
Copyright © 2005 Puja Goyal.

Poverty, resistance to the government, Freedom and Liberation, Religion and the redemption of soul… Reggae is a journey through life. Although it was Jackie Mittoo who originally formulated Reggae music, it was Bob Marley who popularized it. Reggae, a traditional style of Caribbean Music was developed in Jamaica. Often associated with the Rastafarian Movement, it influenced many prominent reggae musicians in the 1970s and 1980s.

Many forms of Reggae have emerged, like Dancehall, Ragamuffin, and Dub. Mixing techniques employed in Dub have probably influenced genres like "Hip Hop". DJ Kool Herc used another form of Reggae known as "Toasting" to come up with a style later called "Hip Hop" or "RAP". 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.

It is said that "Techno" also finds its roots in Reggae, as producers experimented and formed something called "Dub Reggae". Rockers Reggae is a sub-genre of Reggae music popular in the mid to late 1970s. You will find traces of romance in the lyrics of Rockers Reggae. It is also known as Lover's Rock. Important artists include Gregory Isaacs, Horace Andy, Black Uhuru, Junior Murvin, Dennis Brown, Steel Pulse, Aswad and Matumbi.

Many artists in India are trying to inculcate the style in their music, because it is easy to relate to Reggae and combine it with our own genres like Bhangra. Artists around the world create Reggae Music, but Reggae will always be Caribbean and the genre will always be associated with Jamaica… a haven that inspired Bob Marley to sing…

We refuse to be what you want us to be
We are what we are
and that's the way it's going to be
You can't educate I for no
"equal opportunity"
Talking about my freedom, people?
Freedom and liberty.
(Survival, 1979)

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