GENRE

ROOTS REGGAE

early 1970s – present (revived 2010s)Kingston
THE STORY

1970s reggae at its most conscious: Rastafari teaching, one-drop weight, harmony trios and militant hope. The island’s moral voice — and one of its greatest gifts abroad.

GO DEEPER

Roots reggae is 1970s reggae at its most conscious: Rastafari teaching, Black liberation, repatriation and everyday sufferation carried on the one-drop. Burning Spear, Culture, The Abyssinians, Max Romeo and Bob Marley & The Wailers — peers, not a pyramid — made it the island’s moral voice and one of its greatest gifts abroad. In the 2010s a Kingston generation returned to that sound and walked it forward again.

HOW THEY STAND
GREW INTOReggae deepening from 1970 onward — heavier bass, heavier word.
SPIRIT OFRastafari is the air around it — drumming, language, livity.
RETURNED TOThe 2010s generation returned to this sound, then walked it forward.
one-drop · militant bassRastafari themesharmony trioshorns as testimony
LISTEN
Marcus GarveyBurning Spear · 1975
Two Sevens ClashCulture · 1977
Satta MassaganaThe Abyssinians · 1976
MEET
Burning SpearBob Marley & The WailersCultureThe AbyssiniansMax Romeo
EXPLORE
RASTAFARISPIRIT OF · the spirit in the songsREGGAE REVIVALRETURNED TO · Kingston looks home againBob Marley & The Wailersthe voice the world heard first

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Updated 2026-09Ranges kept honest · contested dates marked “c.”