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.
Come on what about UB40? Katchafire out of New Zealand are also awesome!
im from san diego and i promise we have the best reggae scene in the U.S. there are shows everday from major artist and local talent as far as major artist u can never go wrong with,
bob marley
peter tosh
blach uhuru
don carlos
alpha blondy
eek a mouse
barrington levy
gentlemen
gregory isaacs
johnny osburne
jimmy cliff
(not in order)
for local talent check them out on myspace u wont be able to find them anywhere else…
roots covenant
river bottom rockers (my band)
tribal seeds
rebelution
stranger
mystic tree
jah hi fi roots
kush blood fiyah and angels
No doubt the best by far was Lucky Dube. The very best live Reggae performer. Check out his concerts on youtube. RIP Lucky we miss you.
Well, the best - that’s a question….
The very best (only time will tell…)
But for me, for now, in this time..
Bob(always) - Has the right blend of ‘word, sound, power) his rhetorical ressonance is undeniably timeless! His stance was (is) truly inspiring & everliving. Never stop listen to Bob.
Burning Spear (true rastaman)
Sizzla (take the music forward)
Capleton (Keeps it burning)
Richie Spice (got the voice, the message, the love)
Lutan Fyah (rides a rythm like no other)
I-wayne (wow! modern roots)
Thanks so much for this!!! (the comments also) It helped alot! Just downloaded a shitload of music.
Well reggae is life:
1. Bob Marley (remember he’s NOT the only BEST artist it has out there)
2. Richie Spice.
3. Natural Black (Guyanese youth)
4. Sizzla
5. wayne wonder
6. Sanchez
7. Buju Banton
8. Morgan Heritage
9. Jah Cure
10.Lukcy Dube
there is a lot lot lot more….check these out..peace!
top eight regaee artist.
1.bob marley
2.lucky dube
3.peter tosh
4.burning spears
5.culture
6.jimmy cliff
7.erick donaldson
im starting to download this stuff and its so awesome, thanks for the artists! but SOJA is not known and very good, check um out.
bob marley is the greatest he is the fucking artist of the mileinium. i think lucky dube has the sweetest voice ever
I read all those replies… and saw only one person mention the one band who i think is and has been creating some of the tightest and deepest roots reggae ever… and that is MIDNITE… Go out and buy Unpolished by Midnite, or d/l it, watever u gotta do…They have soooo many songs and albums too. You will be hooked from then on out… Pure beauty… Love the life you life
oh really? cmon
no jah roots?
and marley at 11? hes the perfect introduction to reggae for most people and for good reason enthusiast and noob alike marley will always have a tune for whatever you’re doing and whatever you’re feeling.
anyway heres mine
joseph israel
jah roots
bob marley
ziggy marley
jah cure
burning spears
matisyahu
FIRST OF ALL YOU CAN NOT… AND I MEAN CAN NOT POST THE BEST REGGAE ARTIST OF ALL TIME WITHOUT PUTTING ROBERT NESTA MARLEY AS #1!!!
ITs JUSt A CRYing SHAMe TO PLACe HIm @ #11… LIKe HOw THa HeLL YOu GONNa PUt HIm DOWn AS NUMERo 11 WHEn IT WAs HIm WHo CREAT’d REGGAe??? DAMn PEOPLe IF ANyONe IS GONNa GEt INTo A CERTAIn GENRe OF MUSIc ANd POSt OUt A LISt OF THe GREATESt ARTISt WITHin THAt CERTAIn GENRe… DEn HELLer!!! YOu HAVE TO RESPECt THE BIRTh OF THIs GENRe… HOw IT CAMe TO BE… THa HISTORy!!! WHICh MEANs BOb MARLEy SHOULd FOREVEr BE #1 WHEn IT COMEs TO A TOp LISt…
DONt MATTer IF YOUr SICk ANd TIREd OF HEARing HIs MUSIc ANd BLAh, BLAh, BLAh… BUt YOu STiLL HAVe TO RESPECt THE MUSICs “COMin TO BE”… AS FOr THa LISt, FOr SOME1 WHOs LISTEN’d TO REGGAe FOr OVEr A DECADe YOu REALLy GOt YOUr ARTISTs HELLah MIX’d…
BUt DATs MY OPINIOn… NEWAYz, REAd aLL THa COMMENTs ANd LOVe THa FACt THAt aLL DEEz OLd SKOo ARTISTs WERe BROUGHt UP… TRUe THERe ARe SOMe NEW ARTISTs DAt ARe REALLy GOOd… BUt YOu CAn NEVer REALLy REPLACe A NEw SKOo ARTISt WIf A OLd SKOo ARTISt… ITs ALWAYz ABOUt THa OLd SKOo… AS THa SAYing GOEs: ANyTHing OLd SKOo WiLL BECOMe NEw SKOo…
A LiiL THANKs…
TO CHRIs FOr MENTIONing KATCHAFIRE FROm NZ…
TO ROBo FOr DAt F’n GREAt LISt OF ARTISTs…
TO CHARLIe FOr BASICALLy SAYing DAt DAMIANz MIXTURe OF REGGAe Nd HIpHOp IS BETTER THAn PURe AUTHENTIc REGGAe mUSIc…
TO TAYLOr FOr NOt UNDErSTANDing THAt REGGAe IS ABOUt MESSAGEs OF LIFe HAPPENing AT THAt MOMENt- THAt REGGAe WAs USEd FOr SENDing OUt GOOD OR BAD MSGs OF HOw IT WAs BACk THEn- SO ITs NOt DISGUSTing…
TO DAN ANDERSON FOr FINALLy REALIZing DAt WHEn IT COMEs TO REGGAe ITs NOt JUSt BOb, THEREs MORe…
TO “THe GREATESt RASTa EVEr BORn, BETTEr THAn SELASIE” FOr BEing THa BIGGest DUMb @ss EVEr-FIRSt OF aLL, ITs SPELL’d SELASSIe-2Nd BEing A GREAt RASTa DOESNt MEAn DAt U HAVe TO SMOKe THa MOSt POt U F’n ILLITERATe BIATCh-BEing A RASTa IS NOt A JOb POSITIOn OR HOBBy, ITs A RELIGIOn, Nd IF U F’N UNDERSTOOd DAt DEn U’d KNOw HOw F’n STUPId U SOUNd-SIZZLa CANt EVEn TOUCH BOb, LEt ALONe BE A GREAT RASTAMAN LIKe BOb, ITs BECAUSe OF BOb DAt SIZZLa EVEn GOt TO DO REGGAe-ANd FYI U WORTHLESs PIECe OF SHIEt BOb WOULDNt WANt TO SUCk ON UR BALLs BC DEy HARdBOILEd Nd CRACKEd, SO WHy DONt U BENd OVEr UR SEAt ND SUCk DEm URSELf…
SO LIKe YEAh, IT DOESNt MATTer IF UR BLACk, WHITe, JAMAICAn, ETc. TO LOVe REGGAe… SO DAt WHOLe “I LOVe REGGAe ANd IM WHITe” IS REALLy GARBAGe… I MEAn LOOk @ ME… IM A SOUTH.PACIFIC ISLANDer (AKa TONGAn) ANd I LOVe REGGAe- ESp OUr ISLANd REGGAe… BUt NEWAYz, LOVe THa COMMENTs/POSTs!!! YAHz TAKe CARe Nd JAh BLESs!!!
TOOTLEz&&SMOOCHEz
dude you are missing so many good artists like peter tosh toots and the maytals the ethiopians black uhuru burning spear. you dont know reggae at all you need to look up sum more you poser
Um… I’m sure no one here has heard of them but theres this amazing band I love called SOJA and you should listen to them cuse theyre amazin
Lets stop chatin rubish,all reggae artist who preach love n peace are fine.
HEY NUM NUTS!!!! FIRST OF U WILL NEVER KNOW ABOUT REGGAE WITH OUT THE LEGENDARY BOB MARLY!!!!! SECOND WHAT WIZ I AM “WHITE BUT LISTEN TO REGGAE”…REGGAE IS FOR ALL LIVING SOULS!! DEEP SHIT….AND ALL THINGS GOES WRONG WHEN U MAKE ALIST….NO LIST ……..JUST DONT GIVE RANKS….
GREGORY ISSACS IS #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The first “top 10 list” is bull and shit. (marley 11# -.-). I think Devil!!!’s “top 10 list” was very close to perfect.
One more thing:
why the fuck all you people put marley family so high on the list (damien, stephen, ziggy,…), their music is far away from top 10. they are famous just becouse of Bob (he’s a true legend, i think he should be #1). so stop puttin those people on top ten just becouse their father was Bob. I like bob marley, i like richie spice, natural black, macka b,…but i can’t listen to ziggy for more then 2 minutes.
Point: if you like ziggy, it’s ok, listen to ziggy. point is that you have to be critical to things around you (reggae, news on tv, the whole world), don’t just take anything you get. and don’t belive in things just becouse everybody else do. Don’t be afraid to be an individual. Stand Strong (- mike v).
Gimko
jah bless
to KAyREn.LU2ii and E-TOPIAN,
I understand and to an extent agree with what your sayin. but take this into consideration. I love raggae music and the message behind it, but from this one guy making a list I have compiled a list of over some 50 artists I haven’t heard of and can now broaden my musical horizons. So thanks to all of you who have passionately stated your favorites.. I have hours of listening ahead of me.
well the best reggae artists in my eyes are barrington levy deff. king yellowman bob of course peter tosh, born jamericans, dennis brown,gregory isaac, half pint,soja,steel pulse,slightly stoopid,sublime(there not that reggae but than again they are) and of course ub40.
Ja Bless
all of you have no idea of reall reggae music
bob marley
peter tosh
the ethiopians
the gladiators
burning spear
alpha blondy
lee scratch king tubby
alborosie
anthony b
augustus pablo
barrington levy
capleton
chaka demus and the pillers
dennis brown
barry brown
10 ft ganja plant
the upsetters
junior kelly
fully fullwood
mikey spice
sugar minott
jacob miller
the israel vibration, if you want to know more email me at keorose2000@yahoo.com
alla u bomboclats!!! which reggae generation are you living in? how can you leave capleton from yo lists? here is the real list,..
1.bob marley
2.capleton
3.buju banton
4.sizzla kalonji
5.anthony b
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well i agree with everything you said in that paragraph. but some reggae artists i love are Barrington levy, born jamericans(reggae and hip-hop),buju banton, cant hang, carlton livingston,clement irie,dennis brown,don carlos,gregory isaacs,half pint,long beach dub-allstars,peter tosh,pincers(very good!),slightly stoopid(mixed genres),SOJA,steel pulse,sublime(mixed genres)tenor saw, U-roy,UB40,wailing souls, and yellowman! all great artists check them all out!
u have a good list just add: gregory isaac,glen washinton,luciano,and morgan heritage.fyi
spragga benz is proforming live at ST ANTHONY HALL, 310 WEST WHEAT ROAD.IN VINELAND NJ 08360.
Try to listen to Alboroisie.
Sicilian fellow living in Kingston very respected on the reggae scene nowadays called the godfather of reggae!!!
Mean I saw the guy in concert this summer on the beach in Spain and he really Rulez!!!
the twinkle brothers are great
and many more but yeah i like dem alot!