I’m a music-lover and I’ve been listening to reggae since I was about 12 years old (I’m now 27). And I mean really listening to it. In fact, at certain periods of my life, I’ve gone months listening to nothing but reggae. Which is strange since I’m white. In the middle-class area of New Jersey where I grew up even the black kids didn’t listen to reggae. Nonetheless, I love it. I still listen to it several times per day. And, really, I have to admit that the fact that the average American knows almost nothing about reggae music makes it even more appealing to me now.
But occasionally I get asked by a friend to recommend a good reggae album or two. Since everyone has different musical tastes I’m never really sure what to suggest. So I usually just give them my list of the top reggae artists ever. And, in case you’re wondering, these really are the best. Don’t even bother looking elsewhere…
1. Buju Banton - The chosen one. The only truly great reggae artist living today.
2. Beres Hammond - One of the great singers of “lover’s rock” reggae.
3. Sanchez - The only singer in the world who’s song covers are almost always better than the original.
4. Junior Kelly
5. Anthony B.
6. Garnett Silk - Maybe the sweetest reggae voice ever.
7. Freddie McGregor - The godfather.
8. Sizzla - When he’s bad he’s really bad but when he’s good he’s the best… so it evens out.
9. Warrior King - The future…
10. I-Wayne - The future part II…
11. Bob Marley - Yes, he’s great, but please don’t buy any more copies of Legend!
Wanna add something to this list of reggae greats? Just leave a comment below.
Also, in case you want to sample lots of good new reggae, I suggest picking up copies of the most recent Strictly the Best albums (33 & 34).
#1 I Wayne is pop pure and simple.
#2 Bob at number 11 are you high.
#3 Buju and Beres in front of Isreal Vibrations, Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff
#4 Gentleman is the best contemperary reggae around.
peace
and where is burning spears, please??
peace
how can you have a list of the greatest reggae artists without Peter Tosh?
and Marley at #11, seriously?
- tribal seeds
- ooklah the moc
:]]]]]]]]
Damn solid list. I was just discussing with a friend how Bob Marley isn’t the only good reggae artist.
Download some black uhuru theyre pretty ill
i like Joseph Israel,Matisyahu, kymani marley, and turbulence more than anyone on that list, so its all subjective…
Agustus pablo, Hugh mudell, Prince Fari, Mikey Dread,Bunny Wailer
The list goes on and on. Just keep the meter at 1985 and below. There are some exceptions but not many…
Pease and Love
I am the greatest rastra ever and I smoke more pot than anyone i’m hardcore. Sizzla is the greatest reggae artist ever and Bob can suck on my balls
Isn’t reggae supposed to be about peace and love?
How can you put a hate-inspired homophobe as #1 on your list? It is disgusting!
No Barrington Levy? and no black uhuru? they gotta be on there….I would add pato banton(love his message) and toots and the maytals, but that’s just me…
man, the fact is bob marley will always be the first then peter tosh. and don’t forget south african legend luck dube
i think damian marley is better then bob… I mean maybe you dont think so but damian should still be on the top lol
Hay mate… thanks …. but no thanks.. ive got into reggae recently, and how can u possibly put b,marley #11…. he may be the most known reggae artsit in the world,…….. 4 a reason! thanks for the comments…. looked up those artists insted lol! i love MATISYAHU!
Im a white guy but love roots music and have been listening to great reggae music since the 70’s and for me the heavyweights without a doubt are: Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Jacob Miller, Culture, Burning Spear, Wailing Souls, Black Uhuru, Buju, Sizzla, Don Carlos, Third World, Misty in Roots and Steele Pulse and i have thousands of tunes.
The best reggae artists ever:
Lucky Dube
Peter Tosh
Bob Marley
there are many more but those are the very best.
I think Gyptian should be in the list as well.
Just recently started to listen to him and hes great
You guys are seriously overlooking someone who isnt always considered reggae but classified by many is hip-hop, but i still love Sean Paul. There’s no doubt he adds a certain mainstream influence in his musice, but nonetheless he is still amazing.
king yellowman, charlie chaplain, josey wales, brigadier jerry, papa levi, them are the hottest djs of old times, for culture music i say joseph hill, wailing souls, meditations, gladiators, black uhuru.
love to all lovers of rockers music!
Here are my favorites.
1. Morgan Heritage - some of the 29 children of Denroy Morgan formed a group long ago. Listen to “Inna Dem Ting Deh” (using superior riddim) & “Brooklyn and Jamaica” first, or their live sets. Great production technique.
2. Bob Marley (obvious, but people begin to take his music for granted over time). “Exodus”, “Crazy Baldheads”, “Concrete Jungle”, Natty Dread”, c’mon….
3. Ernest Ranglin. His CD, “Below the Bassline”, is now a classic and gets frequent play.
4. Groundation.
5. Fat Freddy’s Drop. N-i-i-i-ce stuff. Check out their CD “Based on a True Story”.
6-tie. John Brown’s Body and Soldiers of Jah Army and Slightly Stoopid.
9-tie. Joe Higgs and Toots & The Maytals.
11-tie. Abyssinians, Alpha Blondy, Black Uhuru, The Congos, Easy Star All-Stars (Dub Side of the Moon), Gondwana, Israel Vibration, Jah Cure, Joseph Israel, Luciano, Midnite, Misty In Roots, Rebelution, Steel Pulse, The Tamlins, Tribal Seeds, Turbulence, Twinkle Brothers, Wailing Souls.
Sorry, Peter Tosh had a couple of good songs but always disappointed his fans in concert (I saw a 25 minute set, complete with a 15-minute bass solo. Sheesh. It’s likely a disgruntled ticketholder killed him.)
And that’s right, no Third World. No Barry Manilow either…
Aigth Rasta’s
The 20 best reggae artists ever!
#1. Alpha Blondy
#2. Bob Marley
#3. Morgan Heritage
#4. Peter Tosh
#5. IJahman Levi
#6. Israel Vibrations
#7. Gentleman
#8. Sean Paul
#9. Buju Banton
#10. Burining Spear
#11. Eeka Mouse
#12. Culture
#13. Stephen Marley
#14. Damian Marley
#15. Matisyahu
#16. Natural Vibrations
#17. Ziggy Marley
#18. Fantan Mojah
#19. Jah Cure
#20. Gyptian
isn’t it nice?
Greetz from holland!
well..those are all pretty straight bands…I love most of them..
But I have to say that you have hit up some Owl City and The Expendables, they’re pretty good.
CALI P
listen to this.