World of Reggae Music Collection–Roots and Culture: Political Reggae

The World of Reggae Music Collection: Roots and Cultrue Political Reggae Often reggae carries a strong political message wrapped inside its intoxicating vibes. Reggae superstars Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, and Bob Marley and The Wailers have a broad knowledge of the plight of the poor people around the world. In turn these reggae artists have fashioned brilliant protest songs that bring attention to international social injustice. From Jimmy Cliff’s “Vietnam” to Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makersperforming “Namibia” decades of reggae artists have expressed their political viewpoints through music. One of my favorite American musicians that often drenches his original music in reggae sounds, Michael Franti, leads the California-based band Spearhead with hard-hitting lyrics. His message of love trumps the political message, but his songs are filled with deep knowledge of social, economic, and political issues. Micheal Franti & Spearhead are a must in this edition of Roots and Culture. From modern dancehall artists like Busy Signal, Mavado, I-Wayne, Perfect, Sizzla, and Alborosie to the classic reggae bands like the The Mighty Diamonds, Steel Pulse, and Black Uhuruthe mainstream political worldview often comes into question in these great reggae tracks. And there were strong positive-minded individuals from Jamaica like Hugh Mundell and Jacob Miller that pointed out the of the hypocrisies of these bad-minded politicians. Some reggae artists even called for social revolution in their music. Peter Tosh said it best in his song “Equal Rights” “I don’t want no peace. I want equal rights and justice. Gotta to get it. Equal rights and justice.”

Jimmy Cliff – Vietnam

Yellowman – Leave Iraq Alone

Bob Marley and the Wailers – Zimbabwe

Peter Tosh – Equal Rights

Michael Franti and Spearhead – Crime To Be Broke In America

Dennis Brown – Revolution, Pt. 1

Gregory Isaacs & the Upsetters – Mr. Cop

Eek-A-Mouse – Politics

Bob Marley & the Wailers – I Shot The Sheriff

Horace Andy – Materialist

Horace Andy – Poor Man Style

Cocoa Tea – Barack Obama

Tony Rebel – I Can’t Recall

Yellowman – CNN News

Gregory Isaacs, Soul Syndicate, & the Heptones – Black a Kill Black

Burro Banton & Cornell Campbell – Pressure

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Time To Go Home

Black Uhuru – Youth Of Eglington

Black Uhuru – Youth (Dub)

Steel Pulse – No Justice No Peace

Cutty Ranks – New World Order

Brooklyn Jungle Soundsystem – Kulture (Dubmatix Rub-A-Dub Revival Remix)

Jacob Miller – Roman Soldiers Of Babylon

Steel Pulse – Taxi Driver

Alborosie – America

Desmond Dekker – Problems

Horace Andy – Leave Rasta

Black Uhuru – General Penitentiary

Busy Signal – Running From The Law

Snoop Lion & Akon – Tired of Running

Esco Levi – Bleaching Shop

Cocoa Tea – Oil Ting

Alborosie – Tax War

Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – We Propose

Lucky Dube – Soldier

Manu Chao –  Politick Kills

Steel Pulse – Global Warning

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Yell Fire!

Alpha Blondy – Apartheid Is Nazism

Barrington Levy – Mandela Free

Alborosie – Police

Snoop Lion & Cori B – No Guns Allowed

Raging Fyah – World Crisis

Cocoa Tea – Mr. Neck Tie Man

Lucky Dube – Victims

Gentleman – It No Pretty

Steel Pulse – Tribute to the Martyrs

Alborosie – Global War

Cocoa Tea – Moving On

Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – Namibia

Jimmy Cliff – Children’s Bread

J Boog – Change Up Your Evil Ways

Steel Pulse – Earth Crisis

Alborosie – What If Jamaica

Cocoa Tea – Zeeks

Steel Pulse – Black and Proud

Marshel – New World Order

Alborosie – Games

Joe Higgs – Wave Of War

NEED

Papa Levi – Bush & Blair

I-Wayne – Politics And Religion

Yellowman – Aids

Mavado – We Need Barack

Hugh Mundell – Africa Must Be Free By 1983

Big Youth – Political Confusion

Busy Signal – Politics

Black Uhuru – Solidarity

Ranking Trevor & Wailing Souls – War

Perfect – Hanging Day

Bushman – World State

Admiral Bailey – Politician

Hugh Mundell – Run Revolution A Come

Junior Delgado – Hypo

Buju Banton – Immigration Law

No 1 Station – Bush War

Sugar Minott – Nah Go To South Africa

Bushman – World Crisis

Israel Vibration – Racial Discrimination

Sizzla – Black Man In The White House

Israel Vibration – Natty Dread

Jacob Miller – Jolly Joseph

The Mighty Diamonds, Suga Roy, & Conrad Crystal – Police And Bad Boy Strap

Sizzla – The Solution

Sugar Minott – Nah Follow Fashion

Buju Banton – Politics Time Again

Cocoa Tea – Buju

Horace Andy – No Love in the City

Horace Andy – Problems

Peter Tosh – Fire Fire Babylon Burning

The Royals – Sufferer of the Ghetto

Jah Lion – Soldier and Police War

Barry Brown – Politician

Cultural Roots – Thieves, Liars, and Criminals

The Valentines – Stop the Violence

Gregory Isaacs – Lonely Soldier

Joe Gibbs & the Professionals – State of Emergency

Garnett Silk – Cry of my People

Jah Lloyd – Soldier Round the Corner

Max Romeo – Public Enemy Number One

Ranking Joe – Back Wey You Vulutres

Welton Irie – Ghettoman Corner

John Wayne – Call the Police

Scientist – Mass Murder and Corruption

Romain Virgo – Ghetto

Lorenzo – Gun Play

Konshens – War Straight

Perfect – Amerimaka

Dillinger – Buckingham Palace

Peter Metro – Police in England

Lucky Dube – Political Games

Barrington Levy – Soldier

Culture – World Peace

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World of Reggae Music: Third Wave Ska

Third Wave Ska

The Jam-Tex selector presents a new chapter in the “World of Reggae Music Collection” called “Third Wave Ska.”

The Jam-Tex selector has been working on a study and organization of the essential tracks of reggae music called “The World of Reggae Music Collection.” The selector invites others to comment on the selected tracks and to join in on the conversation about the history of reggae music.  This collection of singles began with the greatest roots reggae hits in categories entitled: “Reggae’s Superstars: The Lions of Jah”and “Reggae’s Superstars: The Lion Youth.”

Now the selector moves back in time to the roots of reggae, exploring the greatest singles from the ska tradition. Please feel free to suggest your favorite singles. The examination of the ska genre included a focused study on the founders of ska music from the late 1950s to the 1960s called: “The Ska Originals.” The next post explored the “Two-Tone Ska” movement of the 1970s and 1980s often called the second wave of ska music. This post focuses on “Third Wave Ska” music that fused ska and elements of punk.

In the 1990s the revival of ska music, known as the third wave, came in a raw form with strong ties to the punk rock music scene. It’s no surprise since ska music comes with a fast-paced rollicking energy that appealed to young working-class youths. British and American punks ate up reggae and ska, and the sound fused well with rip-roaring punk rock. My favorites from this genre include Operation Ivy, Fishbone, Rancid, and Sublime. Brad Nowell of Sublime had a knack for making great third-wave ska punk rock.

The Aggrolites have mad a distinct impression on the third-wave ska movement, bringing their California soul-drenched sound to the mix. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are symbolic of this genre, laying grimy vocals over ska horns and rock guitars. Some of the great punk bands have made their own ska-infused tracks, including NOFX, Goldfinger, the Offspring, and even the hardcore punk group Propagandhi.

Propagandhi’s track “Ska Sucks” is really a critique of the ska revival. As a representative of the punk intelligentsia, Propagandhi questions everyone and everything, including authority, religion, and the quality of the ska revival.  The song makes a captivating argument why the ska revival “sucks,” singing the message over a wonderful third wave ska sound.

Third Wave Ska…

Operation Ivy – Sound System

Fishbone – Party At Ground Zero

Rancid – Time Bomb

Sublime – Date Rape

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – Strawberry Fields Forever

Hepcat – Marcus Garvey

Slightly Stoopid & Angelo Moore – Ska Diddy

The Slackers – Wasted Days

Manu Chao – Machine Gun (Live)

311 – Grassroots

Rancid & Dr. Israel – Coppers

The Aggrolites – Countryman Fiddle

NOFX – Bob

Manu Chao – Machine Gun

Alborosie – Patricia

Seeed – Goosebumps

Sublime – Jailhouse

Jimmy Cliff – World Upside Down

Fishbone – Cheyenne Star Forever Moore

Rancid – Fall Back Down

No Doubt, Toots & The Maytals – Monkey Man

311 – Welcome

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Simmer Down

Sublime – Wrong Way

The Slackers – I Shall Be Released

No Doubt – Spiderwebs

Rancid – Brad Logan (California Sun)

La Vela Puerca – Llenos De Magia

Reel Big Fish– Take On Me

Sublime – All You Need

Gwen Stefani – All of the DJs

The Offspring– Why Don’t You Get A Job?

La Vela Puerca – Gente

Goldfinger – I Love You More Today

Rancid & Buju Banton – Life Won’t Wait

The Slackers – Married Girl

Propagandhi – Ska Sucks

Sublime & Gwen Stefani – Saw Red

Rancid – Ruby Soho

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Rascal King

Skalariak – El Tiempo Tuyo

Fishbone – Skankin’ to the Beat

The Aggrolites – Hot Stop

Manu Chao – Mr. Bobby (Live)

Suicide Machines – I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Rancid & Skinhead Rob – Red Hot Moon

Sublime – Same in the End

King Chango – Sin Ti

Jimmy Cliff – Blessed Love

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Rudie Can’t Fail

Rancid – Cocktails

Sublime – Chica Me Tipo

Panteon Rococo – Asesinos

Seeed – Eminem Ska

Manu Chao – King Kong Five (Live)

La Vela Puerca – Pedro

311 – Reggae Got Soul

Reel Big Fish – Monkey Man

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Where’d You Go?

Rancid – Hooligans

Reel Big Fish – Walkin’ On Sunshine

Rancid – Wrongful Suspicion

Fishbone – Date Rape

Skalariak – La Solucion

Reel Big Fish – Keep A Cool Head

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Why Can’t We Be Friends

La Vela Puerca – Alta Magia

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – What’s New Pussycat

Skalariak – En Mi Nombre

King Chango – Full Time Business

 

NEED

Reel Big Fish – Sellout

Skavoovie & The Epitones – One Mint Julep

The Aggrolites – Ghost Town

The Stingers ATX – Painting Portraits

Supervillians – Resin

Buck-O-Nine – Irish Drinking Song

Dance Hall Crashers – Lost Again

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Someday I Suppose

Sektacore – Cool Cat

The Insteps – The Insteps

Mu330 – Hoosier Love

The Scofflaws – Grazin’ in the Grass

Westbound Train – Check Your Time

Hub City Stompers – Leave Me the Fuck Alone

The Pietasters – Out All Night

Deal’s Gone Bad – Movin’ On

The Aquabats – Pool Party

Stingers ATX – Let’s Be In Love

Less Than Jake – We Go Together

Mustard Plug – Mr. Smiley

Skavoovie & the Epitones – She Sure Can Cook

Streetlight Manifesto – Keasbey Nights

Mad Caddies – Drinking for 11

Soweto – Blue Ska

No 1 Station – Last Train

Skapone – Guns and Steeples

Soulsteppers – Warhead

Deal’s Gone Bad – Messin’ Around

Soweto – Honey Rider

Stan or Itchy – Feelin’ Good

The New York Jazz Ensemble – Haitian Fight Song

The Pietasters – Maggie May

Buck-O-Nine – My Town

Dancehall Crashers – Don’t Wanna Behave

MU330 – KKK Hiway

Deal’s Gone Bad – Be Mine Tonight

The Scofflaws – Ska-La-Carte

The Hub City Stompers – I’ve Got A Boot

The Stingers ATX – Rock and Ska

Mustard Plug – Brain on Ska

Skavoovie & the Epitones – Parakeet

Westbound Train – Why You Cry