Lately reggae has been sounding pretty damn good to me. I havn’t the slightest clue what is out there though that is real quality. Any suggestions?
So far I’ve only been listening to Marley.
Hello:
There is lots to choose: Sean Paul Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Damien Marley, Sizzler, Morgan Heritage, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man.
Or you could go for some classics such as Augustus Pablo, Lee Perry, or Mikey Dread. Dub Syndicate is good also for some 90s dub.
To get a sense of history, listen to some Desmond Dekker.
Also, Junior Murvin’s “Police and Thieves” is one of my favorites (No, the Clash did not write it. They covered it).
[quote]deshawn wrote:
There is lots to choose: Sean Paul Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Damien Marley, Sizzler, Morgan Heritage, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man.[/quote]
Wow, those must be newer guys, cause I’ve never heard of 'em.
I’m more old school. My all time favs are Steel Pulse, the Rolling Stones of Reggae. I don’t normally advocate greatest hits packages but their catalogue is extensive, as the nickname implies. Ultimate Collection covers their seminal work in the 70s and the early part of the 80s. Smash Hits covers the rest of the 80s and the early 90s.
There’s been three main guys since their inception, and they have the meanest vocal harmonies around.
Others “oldies” (70s/80s) to look at include Black Uhuru and Marley’s old buddy Peter Tosh.
[quote]simon-hecubus wrote:
Wow, those must be newer guys, cause I’ve never heard of 'em.
[/quote]
Wow. I went to South America and they are in love with Sean Paul. If you never heard of him, you must not be paying attention. Buju Banton has been out for well over 15-20 years now (if not longer). These guys aren’t “new”. You just don’t listen to the music obviously.
I went to Marleyfest in Miami a few weeks ago pretty much just for fun (I had no interest in reggae) but ended up having a blast and learning to like it. I still can’t understand most of it for shit but it still has a good beat.
If you want to sample some new school raggae, pick up a Chinese Assassin mixtape.
Off the top of my head and what I can find in my iTunes…
Shabba Ranks
Super Cat
Buju Banton
Cutty Ranks
Elephant Man
Beanie Man
Capelton
Born Jamericans
Mad Cobra
Shaggy
Barrington Levy
Mad Lion
Dennis Brown
Peter Tosh
Alpha Blondie
Steel Pulse
Inner Circle
Ziggy Marley
Damien Marley
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Wow. I went to South America and they are in love with Sean Paul. If you never heard of him, you must not be paying attention. Buju Banton has been out for well over 15-20 years now (if not longer). These guys aren’t “new”. You just don’t listen to the music obviously.[/quote]
“those must be newer guys”
“I’m more old school.” I said newER, not new. I listen to the old stuff.
Good work, detective.
My girlfriend loves Sean Paul. It’s fun music. But it ain’t reggae.
Reggae is a political music. That stuff has some of the beat and instrumentation, but it’s not true reggae.
[quote]simon-hecubus wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Wow. I went to South America and they are in love with Sean Paul. If you never heard of him, you must not be paying attention. Buju Banton has been out for well over 15-20 years now (if not longer). These guys aren’t “new”. You just don’t listen to the music obviously.
“those must be newer guys”
“I’m more old school.” I said newER, not new. I listen to the old stuff.
Good work, detective.
My girlfriend loves Sean Paul. It’s fun music. But it ain’t reggae.
Reggae is a political music. That stuff has some of the beat and instrumentation, but it’s not true reggae.[/quote]
Many people would probably agree with you about Sean Paul considering his “pop music” status. I personally won’t dissect the entire genre like that. reggae isn’t just political. Much of it is love…like Buju’s “I want to be loved” (One of my favorites from years ago). I personally can’t stand it when people try to not only divide music, but stand around and pick out what is “real” and what isn’t…even if they hadn’t even heard of the guys.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Many people would probably agree with you about Sean Paul considering his “pop music” status. I personally won’t dissect the entire genre like that. reggae isn’t just political. Much of it is love…like Buju’s “I want to be loved” (One of my favorites from years ago).[/quote]
Good point. I love Third World and much of their tunes are feelgood grooves with no political message.
The guy said he was into Marley and I just wanted to keep with that time. Recommending those other people to him was like recommending Nirvana or the Metallica to some guy wanting to know more about rock’n’roll because he’s been listening to the Beatles. You’d be skipping a few steps.
I was trying to give him some logical steps from A to B to C — not jumping from A straight to M or further.
Thanks for the suggestions
you should definitely check out some foundation tunes, if you look for the “trojan” label, they were responsible for putting out a ton of reggae (usually licensed form jamaica) but literally theres plenty of reggae compilations to keep you going for life.
for the newer stuff (past 15 years or so) i’d check people like sizzla, cutty ranks, junior timba, barrington levy, diamian marley, garnett silk, anthony B, ninja man
and if your looking some dub i’d go for augustus pabloa, king tubby, lee scratch perry
lastlty listen to everything bob marley ever did.
I don?t see why people hate on sean paul either? It is pretty much pop music but the guy talks about girls, cars and drinking champagne. That?s the lifestyle he grew up in, his folks are rich, at least hes not singing about being from the ghetto.
If you want stuff in the vein of Bob Marley, then I would suggest:
Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Black Uhuru, Jimmy Cliff. I Wayne,Junior Reid, Buju Banton and Jah Cure
A MUST HAVE REGGAE ALBUM IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO THE MOVIE “HARDER THEY COME” Yeah it sounds like a porno but it is one of the best movie soundtracks I’ve heard and has some great classic reggae tunes.
Reggae just like any other genre has its different subdivisions. You might also want to look into an artist called Beres Hammond, he has been the soundtrack to many of my bedroom hookups for some time now.
Peter Tosh, “Legalize It”.
The Toys, “Smoke Two Joints”
Of course, these are both old school. I dont know much of the newer stuff, but Sean Paul annoys the hell out of me.
Of course, that’s just my opinion. Obviously a lot of people like him.
[quote]PGA wrote:
Off the top of my head and what I can find in my iTunes…
Shabba Ranks
Super Cat
Buju Banton
Cutty Ranks
Elephant Man
Beanie Man
Capelton
Born Jamericans
Mad Cobra
Shaggy
Barrington Levy
Mad Lion[/quote]
That is a damn rock solid list.
Augustus Pablo is still the money, way out! For shame he’s not on here.
Oh, and to expand your horizons, try some Dub too. Say, King Tubby!
I got what you need brutha~
Start off with the legend- Peter Tosh
Then make sure you get your “Steel Pulse” for summertime chillin…all of their stuff!
Add in some “Yellowman” & Barrington Levy and u are set.
Peace!
Chaka demus & Pliers… Check them out.