Reggae Paper

     James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in South Carolina. He lived a life without parental guidance. His mother left him with his father when he was only 4 years old. James was often left alone while his father traveled to turpentine camps selling tar for a living. James recalls the times he spent alone walking around in the woods looking for doodlebugs, and playing

Bob Marley is a name most people know but his accomplishments and dedication to music is often overlooked. Bob was more than just a reggae artist, he was an inspiration to the country of Jamaica. He was a role model to the poverty stricken island and gave hope to many people. Bob was born on February 6, 1945 in his grandfather's house. He was the son of a poor farm girl and a British naval Captain. Soon after his birth Bob's father, Norval Marley, left his mother. He remained responsible and provided financial support and occasionally came back to see them. In the 50's a depression hit Jamaica and Bob followed his mother to West Kingston also known as Trenchtown. It was in Trenchtown were Bob's love for music began.

This paper is an analysis of the political and social aspects of hip-hop and reggae, as well as, addressing the commonalities of the music itself as they have developed and changed over time. This analysis produces the holistic view reflecting the interconnectedness of these two genres of music.

In the late 1950’s Marley’s family moved from St. Ann’s to Kingston, Jamaica. Before he moved Marley befriended Neville O'Riley Livingston or as he was called by his friends “Bunny.” Both had a passion for music and thanks to Bunny, Marley was inspired to learn how play his first instrument, the guitar. After moving to Kingston Marley, listened vastly to artist such as The Drifters, Ray Charles and Elvis Presley. In the 1950’s Bob Marley was living in one of the poorest towns which were referred to as “Trench Towns.” Marley chose to spend most of his time there studying and playing music along with Bunny Livingston under the mentorship of Joe Higgs. While in Kingston Bob Marley recorded his first single “Judge Not” recorded by Reggae producer Leslie Kong. During this time Bob Marley met, Peter Tosh who he eventually alongside Bunny formed a band and kick started Marley’s career as a singer and musician. In the late 1960’s Marley marries a women by the name of Rita Anderson, whom was also a

Bob Marley was born in 1945 in Rhoden Hall of Jamaica, after his parent separation he moved to West Kingston with his mother. West Kingston is where the story begins for his love of music, which would have implications all around the world.

James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in South Carolina. He lived a life without parental guidance. His mother left him with his father when he was only 4 years old. James was often left alone while his father traveled to turpentine camps selling tar for a living. James recalls the times he spent alone walking around in the woods looking for doodlebugs, and playing a harmonic his father gave him.

While many artists can reach the level of musical icons during their recording time, a few continue to remain relevant after they have died, and even fewer can touch peoples hearts and souls with as much power today as when they were alive, Bob Marley is one such artist. As Robert Palmer wrote for Marley’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “ No one in rock and roll has left a musical legacy that matters more or one that matters in such fundamental ways.” A few years ago while I was at a fast food restaurant, there were two women behind the counter, one younger and one older. While waiting for my order I overheard the younger woman confiding in the older woman about some life issues that she was going through at the time.

to hate blacks, but the worst thing was that she was 18 when he was

In the article “Rock and Roll Unplugged”, the author talks about the significance and influence that African music and culture has on American and European culture. It opens with the origin of rock and roll coming from the African blues and explains how rock and roll is very popular in mainstream America. But many people are unaware that rock and roll and many other popular genres of music such as soul, funk, punk, disco, rap and hip hop are all an extension of African culture. The modification of Christian music that is present in African American churches is a result of the African slaves incorporating African culture, dance, and music into the traditional Christian music. It was documented that Africans had

Bob Marley was born February 6, 1945 in St Ann Parish, Jamaica. Throughout his early years Marley had lived in some of the poorest and impoverished areas in Jamaica. Even in poverty Marley found an escape and had a passion for music. In Jamaica Bob Marley was a supporter of the People’s National Party. His major influence on the people was an extreme threat to the power of the PNP’s rival parties. December 3, 1976 there was an assassination attempt on Marley. This assassination attempt allegedly was for political reasons. A few years later Marley was diagnosed with cancer that had spread and he died in Miami, Florida, on May 11, 1981. The song “Get Up Stand Up” was the last song Bob Marley performed live on stage. It was performed in September of 1980 less than a year before he died in May of 1981

In this essay, I will be examining the musical genre of Afrobeat which was created by Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Afrobeat first came to be in the late 1960’s during the Civil Rights Movement in America. Fela Kuti a Nigerian, was able to create a genre that has change the way we view music today. Afrobeat is made up of two different words, “Afro” and “Beat”. “Afro” correlates with “African organized sound while beat is a rhythmic counting pattern in relation to such music” (Oikelome, 2013). Therefore, the meaning of Afrobeat is the unique African rhythmic patterns of such music. The coming of this genre is very interesting since the man behind it has quite a story.

Never the less, reggae music first rose to international acclaim in the 1970s following the release of the movie, The Harder They Came, a story of a young man traveling through urban Jamaica. The movie’s soundtrack was comprised entirely of reggae music, skyrocketing the genre into the mainstream. Despite the movie’s success in

When thinking of Reggae, it’s commonly known that it is a genre of music considered an “indigenous Jamaican music”. But, what isn’t as obvious is that its roots are deeply African American (Anderson 2004) . Reggae evolved from several other prominent genres native to Jamaica, particularly from Ska and Rocksteady.

　　Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was born on February 6th, 1945 in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica. He was born to Norval Marley and his 18 year old wife Cedella Booker. Norval was a European-Jamaican of British heritage who claimed to have been a captain in the Royal Marines. (Bob Marley) His father provided financial support for his he and his mother, but seldom saw Novel as he was often away. In 1955, when Bob Marley was 10 years old, his father died of a heart attack at the age of 70. ("MacDonald, Marley 2012") His Mother decides to move her and Bob