THE HISTORY OF JAMAICAN MUSIC

 

Mento 

Mento developed during the period of slavery, and it was formed out of a fusion of African and British influnces. Mento features acoustic instruments such as acoustic guitars, banjos, hand drums and the Rhumba Box. Lord Flea and Lord Fly were regarded as two of the most popular mento artists. Popular songs included “Peel Head John Crow”, “Day-O” and “Linstead Market. “

 

Ska 

Known to many as the Jamaican version of Rhythm and Blues (R&B), Ska was popularized by the late Don Drummond and The Skatallites during the early 1960’s. Ska music usually features a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the upbeat. Many popular Reggae artists such as Bob Marley & Toots Hibbert got their start in the arena of ska.

 

Rocksteady 

Rocksteady emerged in the 1960’s as a precursor to Reggae music. Rocksteady slowed down the Jamaican sound and it featured a heavier and more relaxed tempo. Groups such as The Wailers and The Clarendonians dominated the genre and artists such as Desmond Dekler brought international attention to the genre. These songs were riddled with issues about the socio-economic conditions such as crime, poverty and other issues faced by those who lived in lower socio-economic issues. The Rocksteady era was short-lived. 

 

Reggae 

Jamaica and Reggae are synonymous with each other. It grew out of Ska and Rocksteady during the 1960’s. It became internationally popular through acts such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailers emerging from the slums of Trench Town. Reggae is a slower version of Rocksteady and often features a heavy repeated beat. The lyrics often contain messages about political, religious and social issues. Rastafarianism is also a crucial element of Reggae music and is intertwined within the music. In 1993 a new dimension of conscious Reggae emerged that addressed social and spiritual issues. 

 

Dancehall

Dancehall emerged as a space where individuals would converge to have parties, dance and have fun. However, the space grew into a genre of the music itself. Dancehall lyrics are often criticized to be raunchy, violent and explicit. Dancehall replaces the rhythms of Reggae with live musicians, pre-recorded or digitally composed tracks. The genre celebrates earthly pleasures and has grown outside the borders of Jamaica. The Dancehall genre is filled with many internationally recognized and prominent artists such as Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Shabba Ranks, Ninja Man, Vybz Kartel, Lady Saw among many others. 

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Jamaica

https://jis.gov.jm/information/jamaicas-heritage-dance-music/jamaicas-heritage-music/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/dancehall-music#what-is-dancehall