Rocksteady

Rocksteady is a music genre that originated in Jamaica around the mid-1960s, characterized by a slow tempo and a heavy bassline, acting as a bridge between the ska and reggae genres. The rhythm of rocksteady is smoother and more relaxed compared to the upbeat tempo of ska, with a focus on the off-beat or backbeat rhythm, usually played by the guitar or piano. The bass and drums take a more prominent role, carrying the melody and providing a solid groove. Rocksteady also incorporated more complex vocal harmonies, with lyrics often addressing love, social issues, and the Rastafarian movement. This genre laid the groundwork for the evolution of reggae, with artists and groups like The Heptones and The Skatalites at the forefront, infusing their music with the essence of the cultural and political landscape of Jamaica at the time.

Latest Rocksteady Release
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Single - Released February 6, 2026

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Al Campbell
Alpha Blondy
Alton Ellis
Augustus Pablo
Barrington Levy
Big Youth
Bluekilla
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bradamon Band
Bulby York
Carroll Thompson
Chaka Demus & Pliers
Collie Herb
Culture
David Marley
Delroy Wilson
Dennis Bovell
Dennis Brown
Dennis Walks
Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Don Carlos
Dr. Ring Ding
Dubmatix
Eek-A-Mouse
Ernest Ranglin
Flying Vipers
Frankie Paul
Glen Ricks
Gregory Isaacs
Hollie Cook
Hugo Lobo
Hussla D
I-Roy
Israel Vibration
Jackie Mittoo
Jah Thomas
Jamaican Reggae Cuts
Joe Yorke
John Holt
Johnny Clarke
Johnny Reggae Rub Foundation
Jr. Thomas
Junior Daniel
Keeling Beckford
Ken Boothe
King Mar
King Tubby
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Leroy Sibbles
Leroy Smart
Linval Thompson
Los Chickléts
Lukie Fwd
Lymie Murray
Marcia Griffiths
Max Romeo
Melchizedek Freeman
Mr. Freak Ska
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble
Open Season
Oso Fyah
Prince Fatty
RASTA DINE
Rasta Dno
Reggae Revolution
Roger Rivas
Rootikal Foundation
Roots Radics
Roy Panton
Royal Messenjah
Soulcraft
Spicy Roots
Stranger Cole
Tafarri
The Autocratics
The Bandulus
The Beat
The Busters
The Dualers
The Ethiopians
The Kingston Lions
The Maytals
The Mercurials
The Slackers
The Utopians
The Wailers
Tinga Stewart
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Toots & The Maytals
Tosh
Triston Palma
U Brown
U-Roy
Victor Rice
Westbound Train
Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra
Winston Francis
Young Israelites
aDUBta
Bob Marley & The Wailers
YG Marley
Alpha Blondy
Johnny Nash
Barrington Levy
The Specials
David Marley
Toots & The Maytals
Gregory Isaacs
Peter Tosh
Groundation
Don Carlos
Dennis Brown
Dawn Penn
Chaka Demus & Pliers
Israel Vibration
The Upsetters
Eek-A-Mouse
Culture
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
The Wailers
Max Romeo
Bob Marley
Hollie Cook
John Holt
The Jets
The Skatalites
U-Roy
Marcia Griffiths
Bunny Wailer
Black Uhuru
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Dezarie
The Frightnrs
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Alton Ellis
King Tubby
The Congos
Monkey Boots
Linval Thompson
Prince Buster
Bob Andy
The Beat
Ken Boothe
U Brown
Sejedewe
Augustus Pablo
Leroy Sibbles
Jamaican Reggae Cuts
Eric Donaldson
Clinton Fearon
Frankie Paul
Dandy Livingstone
Prince Fatty
Giuliano Palma
Ernest Ranglin
Tenor Saw
Junior Byles
Derrick Harriott
Desmond Dekker
The Heptones
Jackie Mittoo
Joe Yorke
Tim Armstrong
The Skints
Tommy McCook
Rasta Lloyd
Pablo Moses
The Aggrovators
The Ethiopians
Juantxo Skalari & La Rude Band
Triston Palma
The Twinkle Brothers
The Dualers
Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Taxi Gang
The Slackers
Tapper Zukie
Delroy Wilson
Roots Radics
The Maytals
Cornell Campbell
Millie Small
Courtney John
Symarip
Prince Far I
Rico Rodriguez
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals
Denny Frust
Derrick Morgan
Big Youth
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
The Supersonics
Don Drummond
Laurel Aitken
Yabby You
Iba Mahr
Prince Jammy
Mortimer
Johnny Clarke