» Reggae

All In One: Reggae As Popular Music From Bob Marley to Sean Paul

musiqology — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:07:27 +0000

Bob Marley

Reggae music developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s with stylistic origins in rocksteady and ska. When reggae music started in the 1960s, it was mostly thought of as folk music. This formed a strong sense of community based on common ethnic backgrounds and life experiences.

Toots & the Maytals – Funky Kingston

Some early reggae musicians or bands are Toots & the Maytals, Clancy Eccles, The Pioneers, and Larry Marshall. In the 1970s, reggae music made the transition to being considered a popular music around the world. This was due in large part to Bob Marley, who is probably the most recognizable reggae artist of all time.

Bob Marley – No Woman No Cry

His albums have sold millions of copies worldwide and are still largely popular today. Although Bob Marley is a perfect example of reggae as popular music, Marley’s music has also made its way into that of the “art music” discourse as it has been taken seriously by music critics and in their criticism. In fact, Time Magazine recognized Marley’s 1977 “Exodus” album as the “Album of the 20^th Century”.

Bob Marley – One Love (The song was featured on Marley’s Exodus album)

Bob Marley – All In One

Today, Marley is considered a music legend, as during his lifetime he was able to use his music to connect to millions of people around the world.

Morgan Heritage – Nothing to Smile About

In addition to Bob Marley, the music of more recent reggae artists and bands, such as Morgan Heritage, Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, Beenie Man, and Sean Paul, have also been considered popular music and thereby continuing the reggae tradition for a new generation of listeners.

Beres Hammond – Tempted to Touch

Sean Paul – Gimme The Light

CHERRIE BUCKNOR

Pon De Replay to Disturbia – Rihanna: The Transformation of An Artist

musiqology — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:28:32 +0000

Rihanna

The castle- ready sand, the pleasurably warm temperature and the pure infinite blue oceans forging a stunning view of the horizon can only be a prototype for the Caribbean. With breath taking natural beauty of the land can only have inhabitants who are equally as breath-taking, with cool brown skin and long exotic hair, bikini- ready body and a Caribbean accent to match. This description can- could have described Barbadian songstress Rhianna. When she first emerged into the American music scene in 2005, her style and voice was the exact stereotype of an Island girl.

Her baggy jeans and red, green colored accessories and her hard coming dance anthem “Pon de Replay” solidified her as a reggaeton artist, even calling her music style reggae and Caribbean.

Rihanna – Pon de Replay

Rihanna – If It’s Lovin’ That You Want

This “native” looks changed immensely with her 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad was released. With a new edgier haircut and color, and more revealing and dark outfits, her look morphed from a cute Caribbean teenage artist to a sexy young lady. Her music genre has changed as well. No longer does it boast of song themes suggesting the “Music of the Sun”, but is considered more mainstream pop and R&B music. Rhianna is now an artist who is known more for her evolving style and music than her origin.

Rhianna initially used her origin and heritage as her leading image. Her song titles and style suggested strong ties to the stereotypes of her homeland in the Caribbean. She served as a representation of the culture and the lifestyle of people from the area. With her short hair and bodily accessories to match her new image, Rihanna has distanced herself from the cookie cutter look of a woman from the Carribean. She says that her look today is more of an accurate representation of her personal style.

Rihanna – Disturbia

Ashley Copeland

Matisyahu – Rapper, Reggae Singer, Hasidic Jew

musiqology — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:06:08 +0000

Matisyahu

What do you think of when you hear the words “Hasidic Jew?” Probably the last thing to come to mind would be rapper. But that is exactly what Matthew Paul Miller, better known as Matisyahu, epitomizes. By blending traditional Jewish themes with reggae, rock, beat box, and hip-hop, Matisyahu defies most racial boundaries as an unexpected but talented artist. His race and religion is not a detriment, but a blessing and he treats it as such. Singing of self-proclaimed “songs of love and healing,” he effectively spreads the messages of his religion and beliefs.

Dressed in traditional Hasidic Jew attire complete with a black fedora and long beard, Matisyahu is constantly surprising audiences with his music. His major hit song, “King without a Crown” was a Top 40 hit and was plastered all over MTV and the radio. He was even named as the Top Reggae artist of 2006 by Billboard. Matisyahu appeals to both young and old audiences as he delivers messages of Bible stories accompanied with a hip, catchy reggae beat. His vocal style mixes traditional Rasta Roots with a dub sound. His lyrics can be deeply spiritual at times, while other tracks are lighter in tone. Some of his musical inspirations include Bob Marley, Phish, and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. Most of his songs are completely in English although he does occasionally use some Yiddish and Hebrew terms.

Matisyahu – King Without A Crown

Although he may not look like the stereotypical rapper, Matisyahu performs with “crooning, spell-binding vocals” (Meadows) that create a unique and refreshing sound. Equally impressive is his ability to take a genre such as rap and use it in an atypical way to spread positive messages instead of the hate and degradation that is common in many rap songs. Matisyahu uses his race and religion to separate him from other similar artists. His culture makes him so dissimilar from the rest of the rap artists that people really pay attention when they hear his music in combination with his exterior presence. In essence, he stands out. The intrigue surrounding Matisyahu negotiates the two different representations of self and industry stunningly.

He stays true to himself, his religion, and his music without conforming to the standard message, style, stereotype, and influence that comes with traditional rap music. In Matisyahu’s case, his race and unique representation of himself is a tremendous benefit because he is so distinctive. Most are pleasantly surprised when they hear his music after previously judging him based on looks alone. In a genre primarily dominated by African Americans, Matisyahu successfully differentiates himself from the rest of the pack not only with his looks, but also and most importantly with his unique and refreshing musical styles. Disregarding industry pressures, Matisyahu delivers inspirational music without compromising who he is.

Matisyahu – Jerusalem

Ali Armour