Reggae is undoubtedly the most popular form of Jamaican music world-wide, but these three styles of music are have experienced much success as well. While each can be traced back to reggae, dub, dancehall, and roots reggae music are very different in both sound and lyrical content.
What is Dub?
The name "dub" is derived from the musical recording terms "dubbing" or "overdubbing." Dubbing is the process of transferring audio content from one medium to another, like cassette to CD. Overdubbing is a recording process that involves layering tracks one on top of the other; for example, adding a track of vocal harmonies to an existing track with the vocal melody.
Dub music involves taking existing reggae recordings and creating new remixes. Typically, the song is stripped down to the "riddim", a Jamaican Patois word taken from the word rhythm. Riddim is essentially the drum beat and bass line of a song.
Pieces of the original tune, like lyrics or melodic lines, can be dubbed back into the new version. Dub music usually includes many effects, like reverb, echo, and extra processed effects.
What is Dancehall?
Unsurprisingly, dancehall music takes its name from the dance venues that hosted live performances featuring deejays with large sound systems. Dancehall is perhaps the only genre of music in Jamaica as popular as reggae, if not more so.
In essence, a dancehall song consists of a riddim- drum beat and bass line of an existing song- with a deejay "toasting" or rapping along with it.
Rather than focusing on social injustice and political themes, like reggae, lyrics to dancehall tunes are typically about dancing, and can often be violent and/or highly sexual in nature.
What is Roots Reggae?
Roots reggae, which grew in popularity in the late 1970's, is the most well-known subgenre of reggae around the world. Roots reggae lyrics are usually focused on social and political issues, the plight of the lower class ("ghetto"), and are often spiritual and religious in nature.
The sound of roots reggae is no different from what most people know as reggae; a groove-oriented, laid back beat, bass line, and harmonized vocal lines. What defines roots reggae as a subgenre are the words, which call attention to poverty and government oppression, and are often associated with the Rastafari movement.
The artist most often associated with roots reggae is Bob Marley. Even though they are both highly popular in Jamaica, roots reggae and dancehall music are often seen as the antithesis of one another, mostly due to the lyrics.
More on Different Types of Reggae Music
To learn more about dancehall, check out Dancehall Reggae Music. The Rasta Movement and Reggae Music better explains the relationship between this genre and the Rastafarian movement.
For those interested in starting a reggae CD collection, try these Bob Marley Albums for Beginners.
 |
 |
