Laid-Back, Royalty Free Reggae

Reggae music is a popular style of music that emerged from the Caribbean community in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term “reggae” comes from the Jamaican English word “rege-rege,” which can mean either “protest” or “ragged clothes.” In the musical context, reggae refers to the genre’s emphasis on the dragged beats of a song. In its early days, reggae was thought of as a blend of other musical styles, mainly Jamaican Mento and Jamaican Ska, as well as New Orleans jazz and rhythm and blues. The Jamaican music style of ska uses a heavy four-beat rhythm and tends to utilize the drums, bass guitar, electric guitar, and scraper, which is a corrugated stick rubbed by a plain stick.

In 1980, The Dictionary of Jamaican English stated that the chunking sound of the guitar that came at the end of each measure acted as an “accompaniment to emotional songs often expressing rejection of established ‘white-man’ culture.” It is thus not surprising that black communities embraced this music for having a sound that captured the difficult realities they faced. Reggae began to be respected as its own unique genre when the band Toots and the Maytals came about and shared music that established reggae as a new style of music. While early reggae lyrics focused largely on romantic love, the focus shifted to Rastafarian ideals in the 1970s. At that time, lyrics began to speak of spiritual love and love of one’s fellow man, as well as revolution against forces that impede love, such as extreme violence or government oppression.

Reggae music originated in Jamaica. Because Jamaica is part of the Caribbean, reggae can also be considered a popular style of Caribbean music. While reggae owes its rich cultural heritage to Jamaica, there are a number of countries and cultures around the world that have developed their own subgenres.

Hispanic reggae is one such form of reggae that originated in Panama in the 1970s. It is recorded in Spanish by Latin American artists.

Australian reggae is often played by Aboriginal Australians, as the Jamaican reggae ethos of resistance strongly resonated with that community. Cali reggae was born in the 1990s thanks to the band Sublime. This group combined old-school reggae with punk instrumentals and turned Long Beach, California into a Cali reggae haven. Hawaiian reggae grew in Hawaii in the 1970s and ‘80s. It played a key role in the Hawaiian Renaissance movement at that time, as the struggles Hawaiians faced were similar to those faced by Jamaicans.

There is no one clear founder of reggae. It emerged from Jamaican ska and rocksteady music. Several Jamaican artists contributed to the creation of the genre. The word “reggae” first appeared in 1968 in a Toots and the Maytals song entitled “Do the Reggay.” This was also the year that the first reggae records were released: “Nanny Goat” by Larry Marshall and “No More Heartaches” by the Beltones. The Wailers, a group started in 1963 by Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, and the now world-famous Bob Marley, also played a vital role in the proliferation of reggae around the world. This group transitioned through all three stages of early popular Jamaican music, from ska to rocksteady to reggae. Jamaican producers were also important in this musical evolution. Lee “Scratch” Perry, Joe Gibbs, and King Tubby are just a few key players in the development of reggae. In 1972, singer Jimmy Cliff played the lead in a Jamaican-made film called “The Harder They Come,” which featured a strong reggae soundtrack. This soundtrack is largely believed to have brought reggae to the world.

If you are looking for music online, a quick internet search will reveal various libraries that offer reggae. For high-quality downloads created by professional musicians, however, look no further than PremiumBeat. To check out our carefully curated collection, head to the PremiumBeat search engine. Look to the filters on the left. Select “Genres” and scroll down to “Reggae.” Utilize the other filters to further specify the sort of reggae track you want to hear. Select your ideal “Mood,” “BPM,” “Instruments,” and more. Our unlimited streaming means you can listen to these songs on repeat until you land on the ones you want to purchase for your project. When you are ready to download your music, add your chosen reggae tracks to your cart and head to checkout. Pay a one-time fee for one of our affordable license options and download your laidback new beats in moments.

Reggae music is versatile. Its sound can imbue a project with a carefree and relaxed vibe, while its often political lyrics can emphasize revolution and people coming together for a common cause. Consider the lyrics of famous reggae artists such as Bob Marley in his songs, “Get Up, Stand Up,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” and “One Love / People Get Ready.” If you have a video project that features a fun beach scene, consider playing reggae as background music.

The worldwide popularity of reggae music means that most listeners will instantly recognize the familiar reggae beat. This recognition allows you to instantly transport your audience to the Caribbean. Your video scene does not need to take place on a beach for reggae to be an asset. Summer scenes that feature people outside having a good time can also benefit from the fun-time vibes of reggae. If you have a podcast that focuses on topics related to the Rastafarian movement or has a relaxed poolside chat tone to it, reggae music may work well as an opening sound clip or audio logo.