GLOBAL STYLE

Reggae drum patterns.

The one drop leaves beat one empty and lands kick and rim together on three, with the bass carrying the melody.

116 grooves
1964–2018
5 landmarks

The Reggae timeline

19 of 19 grooves

1964
My Boy Lollipop Open My Boy Lollipop in a new tab
Millie Small
Ska's first worldwide hit; its skipping off-beat shuffle introduced the Jamaican rhythm to international pop charts
1965
Landmark
Guns of Navarone Open Guns of Navarone in a new tab
The Skatalites
Skatalites ska with Lloyd Knibb on drums: the fast shuffle and off-beat accents that every later Jamaican groove slowed down
1967
Landmark
Rock Steady Open Rock Steady in a new tab
Alton Ellis
The song that named rocksteady: ska cut to a slower, heavier pulse that gives the bass and the off-beat room to breathe
1968
Israelites Open Israelites in a new tab
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
First reggae UK No. 1; the brisk early-reggae shuffle with a choppy off-beat skank reached a global audience
1969
Pressure Drop Open Pressure Drop in a new tab
Toots & The Maytals
Early reggae at full tilt: busy shuffle drums and gospel call-and-response, later spread worldwide by The Harder They Come
1969
Return of Django Open Return of Django in a new tab
The Upsetters
Lee Perry's sax-led instrumental; a clean example of the bouncy late-60s early-reggae beat before roots slowed it down
1973
Landmark
Stir It Up Open Stir It Up in a new tab
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Catch a Fire re-recording; Carlton Barrett's laid-back one-drop feel took the Wailers' groove to an international audience
1975
Marcus Garvey Open Marcus Garvey in a new tab
Burning Spear
Roots-era landmark: slow, hypnotic drums and bass carrying Winston Rodney's Garveyite chant
1976
Landmark
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown Open King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown in a new tab
Augustus Pablo & King Tubby
Dub touchstone: King Tubby strips Carlton Barrett's drums and the bass to the bone, using echo and drop-outs as rhythm
1976
Police and Thieves Open Police and Thieves in a new tab
Junior Murvin
Lee Perry's Black Ark sound: hazy, phased percussion over a loping roots groove; covered by The Clash a year later
1977
Two Sevens Clash Open Two Sevens Clash in a new tab
Culture
Joe Gibbs-produced roots anthem whose urgent, driving rhythm caught the 1977 doomsday buzz in Kingston
1978
Ku Klux Klan Open Ku Klux Klan in a new tab
Steel Pulse
Birmingham roots from Handsworth Revolution; proof that UK bands could play heavyweight militant reggae
1979
Silly Games Open Silly Games in a new tab
Janet Kay
Dennis Bovell-produced lovers rock: a gentle, sweet reggae groove under a soul vocal that reached UK No. 2
1981
Landmark
Sponji Reggae Open Sponji Reggae in a new tab
Black Uhuru
Sly & Robbie's Taxi sound: Sly Dunbar's crisp, militant rockers drumming pushed roots toward the tighter 80s style
1982
Night Nurse Open Night Nurse in a new tab
Gregory Isaacs
Unhurried, spacious early-80s groove under Isaacs' cool vocal; the slow-burn style that bridged roots and dancehall
1995
Untold Stories Open Untold Stories in a new tab
Buju Banton
From 'Til Shiloh, Buju's turn from dancehall to Rasta roots; a stripped, acoustic-led one drop
2005
Road to Zion Open Road to Zion in a new tab
Damian Marley & Nas
Welcome to Jamrock cut where a slow reggae pulse carries a hip hop verse; roots and rap sharing one groove
2013
Here Comes Trouble Open Here Comes Trouble in a new tab
Chronixx
Reggae Revival single that put live-band one drop back at the centre of Jamaican music
2018
Toast Open Toast in a new tab
Koffee
Bright, bouncy modern reggae from the Revival generation; its EP Rapture won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album