Best Reggae Songs of All Time

Reggae is a genre of music that largely originated in Jamaica, and was exported to the rest of the world from the Caribbean Islands. Like the Rap and Hip Hop styles of music, reggae, too, had localized beginnings, but its influence and popularity spread all over the world.

So, if you're a newbie to it, here's some songs that everyone enjoys. Get started with this playlist, and you're sure to get hooked!

First, a little something to help you understand this popular genre better. As was originally intended in its home island, reggae was supposed to be a genre of music based on what is known as the skank. It has supposedly been formed by combining R&B, Jazz, and a bit of Blues.

This genre basically follows an offbeat sort of music, with a high accent on the second and fourth beat in a 4-beat rhythm. There is also a sort of emphasis and a carryover on the second beat, where the second rhythm guitar strums over the 3rd beat and goes straight to the fourth.

The most famous exponents of reggae music in the world are undoubtedly Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Shaggy, and, to some extent, Sean Paul.

Not many have been able to truly master the art of reggae music. Bob Marley was undoubtedly the greatest of them all.

• Here Comes the Hotstepper - Ini Kamoze
• Wonderful World Beautiful People - Jimmy Cliff
• Small Axe - Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Too Much Too Young - The Specials
• I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
• Amigo - Black Slate

• Jamaican in New York - Shinehead
• Redemption Song - Bob Marley & The Wailers
• No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley and the Wailers
• I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna
• Lively Up Yourself - Bob Marley & The Wailers
• The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
• Hello Sunshine - Jimmy Cliff

• Vietnam - Jimmy Cliff
• Rat In Mi Kitchen - UB40
• I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
• It Wasn't Me - Shaggy
• Angel - Shaggy
• Temperature - Sean Paul
• Get Busy- Sean Paul
• Beautiful Girls- Sean Kingston
• 007 (Shanty Town) - Desmond Dekker & The Aces

• Sean Paul & Major Lazer – Tip Pon It
• New Town Kings – Borderline
• Rudimental & Shungudzo & Protoje & Hak Baker – Toast To Our Differences
• Shenseea & Shatta Wale – The Way I Move
• Soothsayers – Natural Mystic 7” Edit
• Slowly & Courtney John – The Rightway
• Richie Loop & Tribal Kush – Way Up
• Alaine – Lucky You (Destiny)

• Keida – So Much More (Gems)
• Micah Shemaiah – Vibes Town (Good Balance)
• Protoje & Chronixx – No Guarantee
• Nico D – Money Come My Way (April)
• Naomi Cowan – Paradise Plum
• Alborosie & Chronixx – Contradiction
• Ginjah – Bring Heaven Down (Twilight)
• Jahbar I – Friendly Foes (Pon Di Grind)
• Jada Kingdom – Best You Ever Had

That concludes most of the famous hits to date. Get started with these mega-hits; you will surely love this captivating genre!