Essay on The Evolution of Reggae Music

In a large city, full of diverse people, finding a musical performance is not hard to come by. Luckily, as I was searching online for different performances I ran across The Flex Crew performing at Skully’s music diner. I have been to Skully’s once before to watch a folk band perform. The atmosphere was a lot different than when we saw The Flex Crew. Obviously, the genre of music was a lot different, along with the atmosphere of the crowd. I was very surprised by the number of people in the bar that evening. Mostly, because the performance started at 11PM and the world series was on. On top of this, online their website said the show began at 10PM, but like a very great band they came out at their own pace. In the meantime, there was a DJ performing to keep the crowd alive. The Flex Crew is a reggae band from the Columbus area. After doing a little research I learned they are known as “the best reggae band in the Midwest.”

Harmonically, the music is essentially the same as any modern popular genre with a tendency to make use of simple modal chord progressions. For example: I - bVII7 and I - ii - iii - ii are both common progressions in reggae and both examples of the kind of chord structures used in modal jazz.

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.

Music is an art form and source of power. Many forms of music reflect culture and society, as well as, containing political content and social message. Music as social change has been highlighted throughout the 20th century. In the 1960s the United States saw political and socially oriented folk music discussing the Vietnam War and other social issues. In Jamaica during the 1970s and 1980s reggae developed out of the Ghetto’s of Trench town and expressed the social unrest of the poor and the need to over-through the oppressors. The 1980’s brought the newest development in social and political music, the emergence of hip-hop and rap. This urban musical art form that was developed in New

Ziggy Marley sings a different tune, this is due to the era he was brought up in and how he was raised. With his father’s royalties, Ziggy had a different upbringing than Bob did. He didn’t grow up

Bambaataa used Hip-Hop to positively influence gang life. Bambaataa believed the values of Hip-Hop were “peace, unity, love, and having fun” (hiphop.sh). The creation of Zulu Nation was a product of Bambaataa's quest to turn gang life into a positive aspect of the community. Zulu nation encompassed a group of “socially and politically aware rappers, B-boys (break dancers), Graffiti artists, and other people involved in the Hip-Hop culture” (hiphop.sh). Through DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa Hip-Hop culture became defined as Deejaying, Emceeing, Graffiti, and Break dancing.

The poverty and hardship of West Kingston was the core influence for his music and the similarities of trials West Kingston had linked the message to many people across the world. Bob Marley spoke on the socioeconomic differences along with the influence of different ethnic backgrounds.

Reggae is a genre of music that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. It is known for the heavy and strong emphasis on the bass within the background beat. Reggae was perceived as a kind of music used to express feelings about the social, political, and economic hardships in Jamaica during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was performed by musicians from black ghettos who used unhurried beats to make a style of music of their own. Reggae became an important part of the lifestyle of many Caribbean islanders; expressing a sense of pride of their Caribbean culture.

Considering the origin of Son was in the black streets, the African culture has strong ties with the music. Son embraces various parts of African traditions, including the instruments, beats, and words. The main African cultures that contributed to the genre was Santeria and Abakúa ceremonies; both of these ceremonies contain sacred drumming and songs to their religions (Moore 91). The music in these sacred ceremonies was incorporated into Son. This allowed the African traditional music to spread as Son grew in popularity. Whether they loved the music

Music derived from the African Diaspora evolved mainly during the time of slavery. Most Africans who migrated from their homeland and were brought into slavery used singing as inspiration, motivation, and communication to get through the harsh times. These songs were known as spirituals. Spirituals were described as songs of sorrow, jubilee, and cult. For example, “Wade in the Water,” “Steal away,” and “Sweet Chariot” were songs sung by many slaves to communicate to one another. In modern time you can still see these songs still being sung by people of different

Rhythm and blues, also known today as “R & B”, has been one of the most influential genres of music within the African American Culture, and has evolved over many decades in style and sound. Emerging in the late 1940's rhythm and blues, sometimes called jump blues, became dominant black popular music during and after WWII. Rhythm and blues artists often sung about love, relationships, life troubles, and sometimes focused on segregation and race struggles. Rhythm and blues helped embody what was unique about black American culture and validate it as something distinctive and valuable.

The off-beat sequences of the electric guitar create a reggae feel for the song endorsing it to be mellow. Throughout the song, the electric guitar does not have any solos but variations of its sequence are repeated throughout the structure of the song. Doing so gives the lead singers’ message more priority. The domination of the classic drum kit creates a ‘head-bobbing’ motion for some when listening to this song, helping it become more popular and an easily enjoyable song.

The early vernacular traditions didn’t only consist of religious, spiritual, and sacred practices, but there were secular forms of acts that existed in their lives. The early African Americans composed many superb narrative rhymes that really influenced the culture today. They could also be known as poets, and these writers created a foundation for the modern day artists. The different stories and tales that these passages were describing, had a strong impact on the blues, which is a part of the secular songs. Rap, a modern day form of rhyming music, has been influence greatly by the earlier secular songs and stories that the African Americans practiced. These songs started out as humor for the African Americans, and then sporadically evolved into sex, violence, and drugs over the past century. The children’s games song also has special meaning to them when they are used. The little messages that are implanted in these songs really try to impact a message to the listener. The different songs also portrayed the ongoing violence and abuse that is present in the American society. The hardworking slaves also had a series of songs that they sang, in order to express their hardships and perseverance in the work

Fela Kuti’s family background plays an interesting role in the making of Afrobeat. Fela’s father was a pastor and his mother was feminist activist active in the anti-colonial and anti- military movements in Nigeria. “So at an early age, Fela experienced politics and music in a seamless combination” (Dougan). Yet, he was sent to London for an education in medicine, however Fela registered at Trinity College’s school of music. Which led to the beginning of the creation of Afrobeat. Afrobeat became a popular genre, due to its diverse Beliefs, Culture significance, and its Composition in the late 1900’s.

In Jamaica at the time Bob was viewed as a mystic and prophet, and was