Reggae Revival
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The 2010s Jamaican roots-reggae renaissance: young artists reviving one-drop grooves, Rastafari and conscious themes and vintage analog warmth, updated with hip-hop, neo-soul and modern studio polish. Tempos and arrangements honor classic roots (deep bass, skank, live horns and percussion) while incorporating contemporary songwriting, live-band dynamics and crisp production. Vocals blend sung melody and sing-jay chanting, with introspective, socially aware and spiritual lyrics. The mood is earthy, hopeful and forward-looking—old-soul reggae for a new generation.
History
Around 2011-2013 a cohort of Kingston artists—Chronixx, Protoje, Kabaka Pyramid, Jesse Royal, Jah9 and later Koffee, Lila Iké and Sevana—consciously revived roots reggae after years of dancehall dominance, a movement the media dubbed the 'Reggae Revival.' Producers like Winta James (Overstand) and Protoje's In.Digg.Nation collective built its sound, and international touring, festival slots and Chronixx's 2017 album Chronology brought it global attention. Koffee's 2019 Rapture won the first Grammy for Best Reggae Album by a female artist, cementing the revival's worldwide impact and reasserting roots reggae's contemporary relevance.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- The Recording Academy / GRAMMY.com modern-reggae features
- The Jamaica Gleaner entertainment archive
- DancehallMag artist features (2020-2024)
- The Jamaica Gleaner entertainment archive