reggae
A Jamaican music genre with offbeat rhythms, heavy bass, and roots in ska and rocksteady.
In Depth
Reggae emerged in Jamaica in the late 1960s, evolving from earlier Jamaican genres including ska and rocksteady. Its signature features include the offbeat rhythmic pattern (the skank), heavy bass lines, and drum patterns emphasizing the third beat. The music often carries messages of social justice, spirituality, and resistance.
Bob Marley brought reggae to worldwide attention in the 1970s, and his music remains globally iconic. Reggae's influence extends far beyond Jamaica — it shaped punk (through The Clash and others), hip-hop (through dub and dancehall), and electronic music (through dub's pioneering use of studio effects). The genre was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
Bob Marley's funeral in 1981 was attended by over 40,000 people and was given full state honours by the Jamaican government — the first such recognition for a musician.