The Song Planner

Reggae / Caribbean

Dancehall, roots reggae, reggaeton/dembow, reggae fusion/pop, soca/carnival, ska/2-tone/ska-punk, dub, lovers rock, rocksteady, calypso/kaiso, ragga, Caribbean pop, kompa/zouk, merengue/bachata, salsa/son/mambo, mento, sound-system culture, dub poetry, reggae rock, gospel Caribbean, reggae soul, reggae rap/toasting, electronic Caribbean, chutney, steelpan, bouyon/dennery, Afro-Caribbean. (tree: MUS-128)

32 families481 sub-genres
Click a family to fan out its sub-genres · dashed = cross-listed
DancehallModern DancehallJamaican DancehallBashmentDancehall PopDancehall RapDancehall R&BDancehall TrapAfro-DancehallDancehall GospelStreet DancehallParty DancehallFemale DancehallSound System DancehallTikTok Dancehall1Roots ReggaeClassic ReggaeOne-Drop ReggaeRastafari ReggaeConscious ReggaePolitical ReggaeSpiritual ReggaeRebel ReggaeMessage ReggaeNyabinghi-Influenced ReggaeReggae BalladReggae RevivalJamaican Classic ReggaePan-African ReggaeRoots Rock Reggae2ReggaetonDembowReggaeton PopLatin DancehallReggae en EspañolPanamanian Reggae en EspañolPuerto Rican UndergroundPerreoUrbano-CaribbeanLatin Trap-ReggaetonReggaeton R&BReggaeton GospelReggaeton Pop BalladDembow PopCaribbean Urbano Fusion3Reggae FusionReggae PopPop ReggaeTropical Pop-ReggaeIsland PopReggae R&BReggae SoulReggae RockReggae RapReggae EDMReggae HouseReggae CountryReggae GospelGlobal Reggae Fusion4SocaPower SocaGroovy SocaRagga SocaChutney SocaAfro SocaBouyon SocaDennery SocaGospel SocaSoca Monarch / Competition SocaRoad March SocaFete SocaBrass SocaSoca PopSoca EDM5SkaJamaican SkaFirst Wave Ska2-Tone SkaSka RevivalThird Wave SkaSka-PunkSka RockSka JazzSka SoulSka ReggaeSka PopChristian SkaBrass SkaSurf Ska6DubDub ReggaeDubwiseVersionDub MixRoots DubSteppers DubHeavy DubPsychedelic DubAmbient DubDub TechnoDub HouseDubstep-Influenced DubInstrumental DubSound System Dub7Lovers RockRomantic ReggaeUK Lovers RockSmooth ReggaeReggae Love SongReggae BalladSoulful ReggaeR&B ReggaeQuiet Storm ReggaeFemale Vocal Lovers RockWedding ReggaeSoft Roots ReggaeLovers DancehallLovers Rock RevivalBedroom Reggae8RocksteadyJamaican RocksteadyVocal Group RocksteadySoul RocksteadyRomantic RocksteadyRude Boy RocksteadySka-to-RocksteadyEarly Reggae RocksteadyRocksteady BalladRocksteady RevivalUK RocksteadyRocksteady SoulSmooth RocksteadyRocksteady LoversStudio One-Lane Rocksteady9CalypsoKaisoTraditional CalypsoPolitical CalypsoSocial Commentary CalypsoSatirical CalypsoHumor CalypsoRoad March CalypsoTent CalypsoCarnival CalypsoCalypso BalladCalypso JazzCalypso PopCalypso GospelSteelpan Calypso10RaggaRaggamuffinDigital DancehallDigital ReggaeRagga DancehallRagga PopRagga Hip-HopRagga JungleRagga DnBRagga SocaDigital DubDigital RootsComputerized RiddimSleng Teng-Lane Dancehall80s Digital Dancehall11Caribbean PopTropical PopIsland PopBeach PopSummer Caribbean PopReggae PopSoca PopLatin Caribbean PopAfro-Caribbean PopKompa PopDancehall PopCalypso PopTropical House PopCaribbean R&B Pop12Kompa / CompasKonpa DirèkModern KompaHaitian KompaKompa LoveKompa GospelZoukZouk LoveZouk PopFrench Caribbean PopCadence-LypsoCadence RampaMini-Jazz HaitianCreole Dance PopKompa-Zouk Fusion13MerengueMerengue TípicoModern MerengueMerengue UrbanoBachataModern BachataPop BachataBachata UrbanaDominican DembowDominican PopDominican RapCaribbean Latin BalladMerengue HouseTropical Latin Dance14SalsaSalsa DuraSalsa RománticaSon CubanoMamboCha-Cha-CháGuaguancóTimbaCuban PopPuerto Rican SalsaLatin Jazz CaribbeanSalsa GospelSalsa PopAfro-Cuban Fusion15MentoJamaican FolkJamaican Country FolkPre-Reggae Jamaican MusicAcoustic MentoRural MentoMento-CalypsoJamaican Work SongJamaican Gospel FolkNyabinghi DrummingFolk ReggaeIsland FolkJamaican Banjo MusicTraditional Jamaican VocalRevival Mento16Sound System CultureRiddim CultureRiddim VersionDubplateSelector CultureDeejay ToastingSound ClashDancehall RiddimReggae RiddimOne-Riddim AlbumRub-a-Dub RiddimDigital RiddimDub RiddimCarnival RiddimBashment Riddim17Dub PoetrySpoken ReggaeConscious Spoken ReggaePolitical Dub PoetryRastafari PoetryReggae Spoken WordPan-African Dub PoetryProtest ReggaeRevolutionary ReggaeSocial Commentary ReggaeRoots PoetryChant PoetryReggae SermonSpoken Word DubPoet-Deejay Reggae18Reggae RockIsland RockSka RockSka-PunkReggae PunkSurf ReggaeBeach Reggae RockJam Reggae RockDub RockReggae MetalReggae Pop RockReggae AlternativeChristian Reggae RockCollege Reggae Rock19Gospel ReggaeChristian ReggaeWorship ReggaeGospel DancehallChristian DancehallGospel SocaChristian SocaGospel CalypsoGospel KompaCaribbean Worship PopReggae HymnIsland Gospel BalladTestimony ReggaeSpiritual Roots Reggae20Reggae SoulCaribbean R&BIsland R&BDancehall R&BLovers Rock R&BSoulful ReggaeReggae Slow JamCaribbean Quiet StormReggae Neo-SoulKompa R&BAfro-Caribbean R&BIsland Soul BalladGospel Soul ReggaeTropical R&B21Reggae RapRagga RapDancehall RapToastingDeejay RapRub-a-Dub DeejayReggae Hip-HopCaribbean Hip-HopReggae Boom-BapReggae TrapDancehall DrillIsland RapReggae Conscious RapReggae Rap Gospel22Caribbean ElectronicDancehall EDMReggae HouseDancehall HouseSoca EDMDub TechnoRagga JungleRagga DnBDancehall DnBDubstep ReggaeTropical HouseDembow ClubCaribbean BassBashment ClubRiddim EDM23ChutneyChutney SocaChutney PopChutney DanceIndo-Caribbean PopIndo-Caribbean FolkChutney GospelTassa-Influenced ChutneyBollywood Caribbean FusionChutney ReggaeChutney CalypsoChutney Road MarchIndian-Caribbean Dance PopGuyanese ChutneyTrinidadian Chutney24SteelpanSteel Drum MusicPan MusicSteel OrchestraPanorama SteelpanCalypso SteelpanSoca SteelpanSteelpan JazzSteelpan PopSteelpan GospelIsland InstrumentalCaribbean InstrumentalPan Jazz FusionPan BalladCarnival Pan25BouyonBouyon SocaDennery SegmentDennery SocaJab Jab MusicVincy SocaLucian DenneryDominican BouyonBouyon DancehallBouyon EDMBouyon PopEastern Caribbean BassCarnival BassRoad March BassJump-Up Caribbean26Afro-Caribbean FusionAfrobeats DancehallAfro-ReggaeAfro-SocaAfro-Caribbean PopAfro-DancehallAmapiano DancehallAfro House CaribbeanAfro-ZoukAfro-KompaAfro-CalypsoAfro-Gospel CaribbeanAfro-Caribbean R&BGlobal Island Fusion27Caribbean FolkIsland FolkJamaican FolkTrinidadian FolkHaitian FolkCuban FolkPuerto Rican FolkBombaPlenaGarifuna MusicPuntaBele / BèlèQuadrille CaribbeanWork Song CaribbeanSpiritual Folk Caribbean28Conscious ReggaePolitical ReggaeProtest ReggaePan-African ReggaeLiberation ReggaeRastafari ReggaeRevolutionary ReggaeAnti-Colonial CalypsoPolitical CalypsoDub PoetrySocial Commentary DancehallConscious DancehallWorkers' CalypsoDiaspora ReggaeFreedom Song Caribbean29Comedy CalypsoNovelty CalypsoParody ReggaeComedy DancehallCharacter DancehallCarnival Character SongMasquerade SongJab Character SongChildren's ReggaeChildren's SocaKids DancehallParty Novelty SocaHoliday Island SongCruise Ship CalypsoTourist Calypso30UK ReggaeUK DancehallUK Lovers RockToronto DancehallNew York CaribbeanMiami CaribbeanLondon Sound SystemFrench Caribbean PopDutch Caribbean MusicCaribbean CanadaCaribbean UK PopCaribbean Latin CrossoverCaribbean Afro-FusionDiaspora ReggaeGlobal Island Pop31Mento EraSka EraRocksteady EraEarly Reggae EraRoots Reggae EraDub EraLovers Rock EraRub-a-Dub EraDigital Dancehall Era90s Dancehall EraModern Dancehall EraReggae Revival EraReggaeton Explosion EraDembow EraCarnival SeasonRoad March SeasonSoca Monarch EraCalypso Tent EraSound Clash EraDubplate EraUK Lovers Rock Scene2-Tone Ska SceneThird Wave Ska SceneStreaming Dancehall EraTikTok Dancehall Era32ReggaeCaribbean

1Dancehall / Modern Jamaican Pop

The most current, globally recognizable Jamaican lane: riddims, deejay vocals, toasting, party hooks, street commentary, dance moves, and digital production.

Dancehall / Modern Jamaican Pop

The most current, globally recognizable Jamaican lane: riddims, deejay vocals, toasting, party hooks, street commentary, dance moves, and digital production.

Roots Reggae / Classic Reggae

The central classic reggae family: one-drop drums, deep bass, skank guitar, spiritual/political lyrics, Rastafari themes, and social consciousness.

Reggaeton / Dembow / Urbano-Caribbean

Spanish-language Caribbean club music shaped by dancehall, reggae en español, hip-hop, dembow rhythm, Puerto Rican underground, and Latin pop crossover.

Reggae Fusion / Reggae Pop

Reggae's broad crossover lane: pop hooks, reggae rhythm, tropical warmth, clean choruses, radio polish, and global collaboration energy.

Soca / Carnival Dance

Trinidadian Carnival energy: fast rhythms, jump-and-wave hooks, big crowd responses, road march energy, electronic drums, brass, whistles, and celebration.

Ska / 2-Tone / Ska-Punk

Fast offbeat guitar, walking bass, horns, upbeat energy, and the major bridge between Jamaican music, punk, new wave, and rock.

Dub / Dubwise / Version Culture

Producer-centered reggae: bass, drums, echo, reverb, stripped mixes, studio-as-instrument thinking, and the foundation for much electronic bass music.

Lovers Rock / Romantic Reggae

Smooth, romantic reggae: soft vocals, R&B influence, warm bass, intimate lyrics, and polished UK/Jamaican soul-reggae feeling.

Rocksteady

The slower, soulful Jamaican bridge between ska and reggae: relaxed groove, vocal groups, bass-forward rhythm, romantic lyrics, and R&B influence.

Calypso / Kaiso

Trinidadian storytelling, satire, politics, humor, double entendre, social commentary, and Carnival performance.

Ragga / Digital Dancehall

Digital, drum-machine-centered Jamaican music: programmed riddims, sharper deejay vocals, rougher edge, and the bridge from classic dancehall into modern digital Jamaican pop.

Caribbean Pop / Tropical Pop

Broad pop-facing Caribbean music: island hooks, warm percussion, tropical guitar, reggae/dancehall/soca color, and crossover-friendly choruses.

Kompa / Zouk / French Caribbean

Haitian and French Caribbean dance music: flowing rhythm guitar, smooth grooves, romantic vocals, Creole lyrics, elegant dance feel, and diaspora ballroom energy.

Merengue / Bachata / Dominican Caribbean

Dominican Caribbean dance lanes. These primarily live under Latin / Música Latina, but also belong in a broad Caribbean tree.

Salsa / Son / Mambo / Latin Caribbean

Cuban, Puerto Rican, and wider Latin Caribbean dance music: clave, horns, percussion, call-and-response, son roots, mambo energy, and salsa dura.

Mento / Jamaican Folk / Pre-Reggae Roots

Jamaican folk and pre-reggae roots: acoustic instruments, rural songs, calypso-adjacent humor, banjo/guitar, hand percussion, and early island storytelling.

Sound System / Riddim Culture

Not one single sound, but essential to how reggae and dancehall are organized: riddims, versions, selectors, deejays, dubplates, clashes, and shared instrumental tracks.

Dub Poetry / Conscious Spoken Reggae

Spoken-word, poetry, politics, reggae backing tracks, anti-colonial critique, Pan-African identity, and literary performance.

Reggae Rock / Island Rock / Ska Rock

Guitar-band Caribbean crossover: reggae grooves with rock guitars, ska-punk energy, beach-rock hooks, and jam-band festival appeal.

Gospel / Christian / Spiritual Caribbean

Faith-centered Caribbean music: reggae worship, gospel dancehall, Christian soca, gospel calypso, and spiritual island ballads.

Reggae Soul / Caribbean R&B

Caribbean rhythm with R&B/soul vocals: smooth harmony, romantic leads, slow jams, dancehall/R&B hybrids, and island soul arrangements.

Reggae Rap / Ragga Rap / Toasting

Caribbean vocal performance that overlaps with rap: toasting, deejay chatting, rhythmic spoken delivery, riddim freestyling, and reggae/rap fusion.

Electronic Caribbean / Bass / Club Fusion

Caribbean rhythms inside electronic club music: dub bass, dembow edits, dancehall samples, soca drops, jungle, drum & bass, house, and remix culture.

Chutney / Indo-Caribbean

Indo-Caribbean musical fusion: Indian folk/classical influence, Caribbean rhythm, Hindi/Bhojpuri/English lyrics, Carnival energy, and Trinidad/Guyana diaspora identity.

Steelpan / Pan / Instrumental Caribbean

Instrumental and ensemble Caribbean music: steelpan, pan orchestras, Carnival arrangements, calypso repertoire, jazz harmony, and festival performance.

Bouyon / Dennery / Eastern Caribbean Bass

Eastern Caribbean high-energy bass music: Dominica, Saint Lucia, rapid drums, chant hooks, Carnival edits, and intense party momentum.

Afro-Caribbean / Afrobeats Fusion

Diaspora fusion between Caribbean rhythms and African pop/dance: Afrobeats, amapiano, Afro house, dancehall, soca, reggae, and Afro-fusion pop.

Caribbean Folk / Traditional / Regional Roots

Traditional and regional Caribbean forms outside the main commercial families: folk songs, ritual music, island storytelling, work songs, and local dance traditions.

Political / Conscious / Rastafari / Pan-African Caribbean

Theme layer for reggae and Caribbean music centered on liberation, anti-colonial critique, Rastafari spirituality, Black identity, labor, diaspora, and resistance.

Novelty / Comedy / Carnival Character Caribbean

Character, humor, parody, satire, carnival masquerade, and novelty party records. Usually a theme/persona tag rather than a primary sound-home.

Global / Regional Caribbean Diaspora

A cross-regional family for Caribbean-influenced scenes outside the islands: UK, Canada, U.S., Africa, Europe, Latin America, and diaspora fusion.

Era / Scene Labels

Use these as filters, not usually as primary sound-homes.