From Ska , Rock Steady to Reggae: The Evolution.

Reggae is one of the genres of music that has received world wide acclamation for a variety of reasons. One journalist once described Bob Marley as ...a stoned Jamaican artist who worships a dead Ethiopian Dictator…this perhaps gives an insight into the good and bad vibes that people world wide have ascribed to this type of music. But how was reggae born, how did it evolve? In this blog I’ll try to give a glimpse into the beginnings of reggae and how it was influenced by American Rhythm and Blues and how it gave birth to Hip Hop. When analyzing Jamaica music many people think of only reggae, but there are many styles of music which come from Jamaica and all are still played today.

In the 1950's Sound Systems sprung up everywhere in Jamaica. Sound systems were night clubs where people would spin records and dance, most of the music back then was American R& B, the earliest of which had rhythm and blue influence, which comprised of a shuffle beat to the drum, heavy piano and sort of left hand base lines on the piano. Tom"The Great" Sebastian was the first significant operator followed by the contentious Duke Reid "The Trojan" famous for his gunslinging tactics for dealing with opposing sound systems. Clement Seymour Dodd and his "Sir Coxsone Downbeat" sound system used DJ Prince Buster who by 1958 had his own system. These three innovators started to record sound purely for their own dances. Other influencial operators were the likes of Fats Domino. In these sounds the piano triplets would play on a continuous staccato rhythm…one, two, three, one, two ,three, one, two ,three … with time Jamaican players sort of started putting in their own variation , where they would only accent the third of each triplet, so in this blue beat as they called it, they started having this “ska” rhythm, that is unique to Jamaican music. The word used to describe this early sound is onomatopoeia. It’s been said that its called “ska” because the piano and guitars seem to be making that sound…ska, ska, ska, ska….with each accent. In this ska music the drums are also hit differently, the snare drum is not played open, it’s played with the back of the stick on the rim, which is also referred to as a side stick or a rim shot. The Skatalites were mostly an instrumental band and one of the pioneers of ska, their style involved each player soloing over the chord changes. The band is still around and still performing and a few of the original members still with them 45 years after it was formed.

The evolution of Ska can be traced to the huge number of youths who were filling up the ghettos from the country side looking for work that did not exist. They felt excluded and did not share in the optimism of early ska, thus they grew up with the identity of "rude Boys" Being Rude was a means of being somebody when society was telling you were nobody. Its from this point that Ska developed two fork. one branch went on to combine the ska rythm with punk rock music energy of the 70's, the combination was called 2Tone, it incorporated both blacks and whites in the Music and the fan base with unity as the message. In the later years the 2Tone developed into punk rock. The second fork slowed down the ska tempo.

There soon came a slower more love song based style they called “Rock Steady”. During those years they say it got really hot in Jamaica (the summer of 66) and that the upbeat tempo of the ska became to fast to dance to all night, in the short era of about 66 to 68 what they did is they just slowed the tempo down, every thing was more easy, rock steady could be sort of mirrored with the early soul era, the music of the Impressions and the temptations with vocal driven, harmonies and love songs. The guitar would double up what the base was doing. The muted sounds were created by resting ones hand on the bridge of the guitar, producing the “skank” an upbeat rhythm. In the 69 period the rhythm evolved towards early reggae. The guitar upbeats that were done on the rock steady beat became more sharp and divided, they would do an up stoke followed by a down stroke followed by an up stroke, making a kind of an up down up, up down up, up down up type of rhythm. The organ also became a more prominent rhythmic instrument. This music continued to evolve and change and by the mid seventies, 1975 or so Roots reggae developed, which was more political in nature.

By 1968, Rocksteady was giving way to Reggae, but pinpointing the first Roots Reggae record is no easier than pinpointing the first Ska or Rocksteady record. Unlike its predeces­sors, Reggae owed little to Fats Domino, the Impressions, or any American music. It was the heartbeat of an island just seventeen degrees from the equator, and it was the sound of country come to town. "Ivan Martin," played by Jimmy Cliff in the film The Harder They Come, was. the quintessential country boy adrift in Kingston 's mean streets. "Until Reggae," said producer lee Perry, who was himself from the country, "it was all Kingston , Kingston , Kingston . Then the country people come to town and they bring the earth, the trees, the mountains. That's when Reggae music come back to the earth."

During this early years Jamaica was going through turmoil and changing of prime ministers and as time went on the atmosphere became more violent and the social issues at hand became more and more frequently addressed in the music as opposed to the early 60’s where ska was more of a party rhythm and in the late to early 70’s where Rock steady was more associated with love songs. As the 70’s moved on, the evolution in music corresponded with the Black Panther movement and a lot of other social things going on. Reggae music played out against a disinte­grating social backdrop. Jamaica had become independent from Great Britain in 1962, but, as the promise of Independence faded, Reggae became politicized and angry. By the time this set closes in 1975, the music was past making compromises with the tourist trade and long past hoping to get on American radio. A lot of modern reggae has turned on that tradition where it’s more focused on social-political issues, spiritual issues and poverty issues, Reggae became the people’s news and it would explain a lot of the social situations. As roots Reggae became more politicized more minor keys were heard and slower tempos. Bob Marley was the leader of that movement, others like Dennis Brown and Freddie Mc Gregor were also coming up at that time. Reggae was also influenced by rock and roll at around this time and more effects of the “waa waa” pedals were put in the guitar work and the bubble rhythm on the organ where every 16^th note except for the number down beat gets played. In roots reggae there came also the idea of versions.

There was the main version where the people are singing and there may be the instrumental version where a horn line is playing the melody and a version where some one may be talking over it. In American music that person is called an MC, back in Jamaica they call that person a DJ or a Disc Jockey. The word disc Jockey actually means ridding the disc. It’s not really the person who is spinning the disc that’s ridding it, but it’s the voice that was sitting on top of the rhythm that sounds like the disc jockey. So this DJ who would talk or toast on Jamaican records in the late seventies, guys like Daddy Uroy, Iroy and Denis Alcapone were very influential in the development of American Hip Hop, which involved more toasting or rapping as it is known nowadays. This was innovative and it was the first time any body had made multiple mixes of the same songs. Another type of version was the Dub Version, which took a pre-recorded reggae rhythm of some kind and grafted it on another song. Some of the artists in this style like the Dub Scientist and Lee Perry would use the mixing console of the time, drop some of the other instruments in and out, and they would crank up the bass levels and drums. They would also put these effects on the drums, like the spring reverbs which was an echo sound created by the use of actual springs inside the reverb unit. Another common dub effect was the tape echo or the tape delay. The early tape units would physically record the actual sound that was coming into them on a tape and rip them back through the tape head so they’d be heard again giving the sound a really interesting decay. There were also over dubbed sounds and afro sounds effects. Legend has it that lee Perry actually brought cows into the studios so one would hear cow sounds and bells, sounds of birds chirping, thunder…often they would take recording equipment and use those sounds such as console beeping sounds and fast forwarding and rewinding sounds from the actual tape.

Those sounds went on to develop into early hip hop and electronica. In dub a lot of what was happening was because of the low quality equipment and so the sound the Jamaicans were getting was uniquely Jamaican partly due the poverty that existed there and the ironic part is that the modern digital technology can’t quite emulate what was heard back then and people are spending hundreds of dollars on those old effects. An analogue tape delay would cost about 500 $ today.

Reggae is truly one of the unique genres of music that has developed out of unique situations, and despite being loved and hated at the same time, what is clear is that it will be around for a long while and will continue to elicit the same feelings it did back in the early days of its formation.

Posted by Protest.

Read More

African Reggae Legend at Ease; Lucky Dube's demise

18^th Oct 2007. Thursday 9:00 pm. Johannesburg, South Africa.

Africa’s leading Reggae icon Lucky Dube has been shot dead. The renowned reggae artist was shot in Rosettenville, one of the suburbs of the bustling South African city, considered to have one of the highest crime rates in the world. Lucky Dube 43, driving a blue polo, had just dropped of his son, when he was accosted by a gun man who shot him in what is believed to be a carjacking incident. His whom he had just dropped of witnessed the entire incident. Lucky Dube is one of Africa’s leading reggae superstars, and indeed a major reggae phenomenon the world over. Other African reggae bigwigs in Africa include Alpha Blondy, the group Ayaba and Usizi also from S.A among others.
Born Philip Dube, Lucky Dube has been instrumental in championing the reggae genre across the continent with massive album sales; His first two albums, “Slave” (about alcoholism) and “Prisoner”, both sold over 500,000 copies. He scored a major success when he performed at the annual Reggae Sunsplash in front of the world's most decisive reggae audiences, and was rated highly. His music speaks about love, social challenges, liberation and black consciousness. He played a pivotal in the fight against apartheid in the 80’s with his music, singing against the system. The role saw him achieve massive following amongst south Africans and Africans in general. His music had a soulful rhythm, with his powerful voice swinging across a defined back up of drum, bass and keyboards, highlighted by firm brass and guitar rhythms, accompanied by the electric voices of three African female voices of Marilyn, Deborah and Felicia, made it unique in the reggae genre.
Born of a single mother who thought she was barren, he was christened Lucky, with his second name Dube "Dobe" being the name of a town in the Johannesburg area. Lucky Dube grew up in the rough side of Johannesburg with his mother and later with his grand mother and an Uncle. His musical genius began early in life when he teamed up with other youngsters to try their luck in the industry; they bought their first guitar from sales of a performance of a song written by Dube, this perhaps highlighted the event full journey he was to take as a musician. Despite not having any proper training in music he went on to become an accomplished musician and song writer. From his first band the Skyward to Love Brothers lucky Dube had experience with the "Mbaqanqa" rhythm; a blend of traditional Zulu rhythms, before turning to Reggae in the early 1980’s. His music had the ability to transcend race lines as he got accolade for being the first black South African to be featured in a white radio station in a country which had a major challenge with race relations with the Song “Together As One”. His reggae influence came from the likes of great Legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh; Peter Tosh also met his death in the hands of a gun man in a robbery drama, while Bob Marley considered to be the King of Reggae died form cancer in his mid 30’s.

…Little boy before he lays down to sleep he prays, tonight as I lay down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep and if I die before I wake I pray the lord my soul to take…
...Lucky Dube ,Crazy World.

Posted by Protest.

Read More

Ethnicity; The Reality check.

.... "until the philosophy which hold one race/tribe superior, and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, every where is war...until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation,...until the tribe or color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes,...war...until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race/tribe ,....war..until that day the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a pleasing illusion to be perused but never attained,...now every where is war"... from Bob Marley "War".

When I lived in Kibera, I shared my modest crib with Onyango, Kimani,Kipng'eno, Mutisya and Abdi. Abdi and Kimani shared a bed because Abdi was new to the city. The only thing that separated our "bedrooms" was a "leso", an old dirty bed sheet and a black polythene sheet that Mutisya had picked on his way from Industrial area.

We shared everything and we showered in shifts and on alternate Sundays.Life was hard but we were happy. Kimani pushed mkokoteni at Marigiti andin the evening he will come home with a mixture of almost everythingthat was sold at the market. From it, we made a stew. Everyday it tasted distinctly different and authentic even though the ingredients remained the same, the quantity varied. Sometimes the pilipili or dania will be in plenty hence the taste of the day. We listened to Kameme together and KBC salamu za hodi hodi together and shared ushindi bar soap for washing and geisha Kubwa for bathing. Played draught at weekends, in short we were more than brothers, and we remained so for 5 years - until theelections were called. It was time to part ways. We got new identities jaluo, mkamba, kaleo, Borana, walalo and Kikuyu. Identifying ourselves with the rich politicians we shared a language with was the thing, not the poor we had been with for years.

The wealthy man from my tribe won the election and I headed to the same room I had shared for five years with people of my class, albeit with some election posters to deco our crib. Mheshimiwa headed for Grand Regency to celebrate. That night we slept without food.

After a while things came back to normal we were back to sharing everything with Abdi, Musyoka, Onyango etc. Whenever there was

bereavement amongst us, we all attended. Just the poor people. Mheshimiwa was busy on the beach. But when Mheshimiwa got bereaved I mourned for him for weeks, even though I won't be let to go past his gate. When he engaged in corruption, I defended him fiercely just because he spoke my Language; to cut short...I voted for mheshimiwa, he lives big. But life for me, Onyango, Kimani, and Abdi is still the same.

What if we had voted for one of us regardless of his tribe, could life be different??????? Identify with your own true tribe. RICH or POOR are the real tribes of Kenya. However the latter are the Majority and are ruled by the minority. Poor people rise up and fight for your rights. Did you know the only common thing between you and your much cherished Mheshimiwa is the language? Nothing else NOTHING!!!!!!!!! But the list of common things you share with Musyoka, Onyango, Abdi and Wanjiku is endless. Think and educate others. We are all Kenyans, Irrespective of Ethnicity, creed or Religion!!!!!!!

Posted by Protest.

Read More

xenophobic politics killing our country

well i entirely agree that the culture of impunity that has permeated in our country for quite a while has eroded the very fabric of our beloved country,what and really do for example our leaders stand for?Do changing parties like clothes convince me that this leaders are principled?its time for some of us youth stand on matters of principle and not elect this wolves back in parliament,what do you guys think out there?

Posted by Mshefur Jeff.

Read More

Xenophobic Parochial Nationalism

October 15th, 2007 A.D, Riverside Drive, Nairobi Kenya, 1305 hrs.

Its that time of the year again when political temperatures reach boiling point, even busting the pipes at times, it seems like newly born moles we are still struggling to accommodate the democratic illumination that we have been offered of late. Our politics seems even more bizarre by the day as we form all kinds of political hybrids in the name of change…but what is increasingly clear is that the desperation of the masses after years of the so called dark days is amazing, people will put their faith on anything that seems to speak of change, especially so if its from their native background…this proliferation of xenophobic parochial nationalism is sickening,

I hear its even found in London…A guy tells of this time he was invited to a Kenyan get together in the heart of London, so he turned up all lively with hopes of experiencing a little home away from home, but to his dismay it was more o f a native Kenyan gathering, with all ingredients that come with it, the food, the kind of laughter, the jokes, the smiles…but the worst part for him was being out of place due to language and tribe difference. Apart from the host the rest ignored him and he couldn’t understand a word of what was being said, the guy left the place frustrated, he couldn’t understand how a bunch of well educated Kenyans in the Diaspora would exhibit such intolerance…

so like I said the political elite have done a brilliant analysis of our psyches and have come up with a catalyst for driving our desperations to fever pitch then take advantage and ride on the resulting waves of euphoria as the promise miracles in our social and governance systems. Very few see through the lies and propaganda, the rest seem to have taken sides, based on ethnic aspirations, urging their kinsmen on, giving them wings to fly on the four winds of the earth to the house on the hill, where they will at last be shielded from the disgruntling masses with their improbable expectations of change…what say ye, oh tribal masses?

…there are three sides to every lion story, your side, my side and the truth…Winston Rodney, a.k.a Burning Spear.

Read More

Blogsay @ DialogueKenya

.. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers ... Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19

Read More