Roots reggae brought spirituality, social commentary and a deep bass-centered groove to the center of Jamaican music during the 1970s.
Rastafari and resistance
Artists including Bob Marley & The Wailers, Burning Spear and Culture connected reggae to Rastafarian belief, African identity, political struggle and everyday life.
The sound
Heavy bass, spacious drums, offbeat guitar and restrained arrangements created a sound that depended on groove and atmosphere rather than density.
Why it matters
Roots reggae became Jamaica’s most influential global musical export and shaped punk, dub, dancehall and modern world music.