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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The Young Lions (Remastered 2026)
Ep - 5 Tracks - Released April 24, 2026

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Al Campbell
Alton Ellis
Augustus Pablo
Barrington Levy
Bim Sherman
Bluekilla
Bradamon Band
Bulby York
Carroll Thompson
Collie Herb
Culture
David Hillyard & The Rocksteady Seven
David Marley
Delroy Wilson
Dennis Bovell
Dennis Brown
Dennis Walks
Desmond Dekker
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Dillinger
Don Carlos
Dr. Ring Ding
Dubmatix
Earl Sixteen
Eek-A-Mouse
Ernest Ranglin
Frankie Paul
Glen
Glen Ricks
Gregory Isaacs
Hollie Cook
Horace Andy
Hugo Lobo
I-Roy
Israel Vibration
Jackie Mittoo
Jah Thomas
Jamaican Reggae Cuts
Joe Yorke
John Holt
Johnny Clarke
Jr. Thomas
Ken Boothe
King Mar
King Tubby
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Leroy Sibbles
Leroy Smart
Les Testarudes
Linval Thompson
Lollypop Lorry
Los Chickléts
Lukie Fwd
Lymie Murray
Marcia Griffiths
Marcus I
Max Romeo
Mr. Freak Ska
Open Season
Oso Fyah
Owen Gray
Pat Kelly
Prince Fatty
R.W.W.
Rasta Dno
Rootikal Foundation
Roots Radics
Royal Messenjah
Sister Nancy
Soop Dread
Soulcraft
Stranger Cole
Tenor Saw
The Autocratics
The Bandulus
The Beat
The Busters
The Congos
The Dualers
The Ethiopians
The Maytals
The Mercurials
The Revolutionaries
The Skatalites
The Slackers
The Utopians
The Wailers
The Young Lions
Tinga Stewart
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Toots & The Maytals
Tosh
Triston Palma
U-Roy
Westbound Train
Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra
YG Marley
Young Israelites
aDUBta
moskovskaya
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Horace Andy
Alpha Blondy
Johnny Nash
Peter Tosh
Barrington Levy
The Specials
Gregory Isaacs
YG Marley
Toots & The Maytals
David Marley
Don Carlos
Sister Nancy
Groundation
Dennis Brown
Dawn Penn
Chaka Demus & Pliers
Culture
Israel Vibration
Eek-A-Mouse
The Upsetters
The Wailers
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Max Romeo
Bob Marley
John Holt
Hollie Cook
The Jets
The Skatalites
U-Roy
Marcia Griffiths
Bunny Wailer
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Black Uhuru
Dezarie
The Frightnrs
Alton Ellis
King Tubby
The Congos
Monkey Boots
Prince Buster
The Beat
Linval Thompson
Bob Andy
Ken Boothe
Sejedewe
Jamaican Reggae Cuts
Leroy Sibbles
Eric Donaldson
Augustus Pablo
Giuliano Palma
Prince Fatty
Dandy Livingstone
Clinton Fearon
Frankie Paul
Ernest Ranglin
Jackie Mittoo
Junior Byles
Derrick Harriott
Desmond Dekker
The Heptones
Tommy McCook
Rasta Lloyd
Tim Armstrong
The Skints
Joe Yorke
Pablo Moses
Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Taxi Gang
The Ethiopians
Hugh Mundell
The Dualers
The Aggrovators
Juantxo Skalari & La Rude Band
Triston Palma
The Twinkle Brothers
The Slackers
Tenor Saw
Cornell Campbell
Tapper Zukie
Delroy Wilson
The Maytals
Roots Radics
Millie Small
The Expanders
Courtney John
Rico Rodriguez
Symarip
Prince Far I
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
Derrick Morgan
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals
Denny Frust
Big Youth
Lollypop Lorry
The Supersonics
Laurel Aitken
Don Drummond
Yabby You