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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Jah Love
Single - Released December 19, 2025

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Al Campbell
Alpha Blondy
Alton Ellis
Artificial Life
Augustus Pablo
Barrington Levy
Big Youth
Bluekilla
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bradamon Band
Brixton Sounds
Bulby York
Carroll Thompson
Chaka Demus & Pliers
Collie Herb
David Marley
Delroy Wilson
Dennis Bovell
Dennis Walks
Don Carlos
Dr. Ring Ding
Dr. Woggle & The Radio
Eek-A-Mouse
Ernest Ranglin
Flying Vipers
Frankie Paul
Glen Ricks
Gregory Isaacs
Haile Celestial
Hollie Cook
Hugo Lobo
Hussla D
I-Roy
Israel Vibration
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
Lone Ranger
Los Chickléts
Lukie Fwd
Lymie Murray
Marcia Griffiths
Max Romeo
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
Melchizedek Freeman
New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble
Open Season
Oso Fyah
Prince Fatty
RASTA DINE
Rasta Dno
Reggae Revolution
Roger Rivas
Roots Radics
Roy Panton
Skaldik
Sly Dunbar
Spicy Roots
Stranger Cole
Tafarri
The Autocratics
The Bakesys
The Bandulus
The Beat
The Busters
The Dualers
The Jets
The Kingston Lions
The Maytals
The Skatalites
The Slackers
The Utopians
The Wailers
Tinga Stewart
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Toots & The Maytals
Tosh
Travelers All Stars
Triston Palma
U-Roy
Victor Rice
Vieja Skina
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
Don Carlos
Peter Tosh
Groundation
Chaka Demus & Pliers
Dawn Penn
Eek-A-Mouse
Israel Vibration
The Upsetters
The Wailers
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Max Romeo
Marcia Griffiths
Bob Marley
Hollie Cook
The Jets
John Holt
The Skatalites
U-Roy
Bunny Wailer
Black Uhuru
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Dezarie
The Frightnrs
Alton Ellis
King Tubby
Momonon
The Congos
Linval Thompson
Prince Buster
Monkey Boots
Ken Boothe
Lee "Scratch" Perry
The Beat
Bob Andy
Sejedewe
U Brown
Leroy Sibbles
Eric Donaldson
Augustus Pablo
Jamaican Reggae Cuts
Clinton Fearon
Dandy Livingstone
Prince Fatty
Giuliano Palma
The Ethiopians
Desmond Dekker
Frankie Paul
Ernest Ranglin
Junior Byles
Derrick Harriott
Jackie Mittoo
Tenor Saw
The Heptones
Tim Armstrong
The Skints
Joe Yorke
Tommy McCook
Rasta Lloyd
Pablo Moses
The Dualers
Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Aggrovators
The Taxi Gang
Juantxo Skalari & La Rude Band
Triston Palma
The Twinkle Brothers
Cornell Campbell
Roots Radics
Millie Small
Tapper Zukie
The Slackers
The Maytals
Delroy Wilson
Rico Rodriguez
Courtney John
Symarip
Prince Far I
Big Youth
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals
Derrick Morgan
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
Denny Frust
Don Drummond
The Supersonics
Laurel Aitken
Prince Jammy
Johnny Clarke
Mortimer
Susan Cadogan
Yabby You
The Techniques