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
undefined album image
MYGYAL
Single - Released January 30, 2026

RecentMusic users are tracking 743 Rocksteady artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 10,735 releases

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Rocksteady artists you love!

Get Started Browse Releases
Al Campbell
Alpha Blondy
Alton Ellis
Artificial Life
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 Walks
Desmond Dekker
Don Carlos
Dr. Ring Ding
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
Lone Ranger
Los Chickléts
Lukie Fwd
Lymie Murray
Marcia Griffiths
Max Romeo
Melchizedek Freeman
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
Sly Dunbar
Soulcraft
Spicy Roots
Stranger Cole
Tafarri
The Autocratics
The Bakesys
The Bandulus
The Beat
The Busters
The Dualers
The Kingston Lions
The Maytals
The Mercurials
The Skatalites
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
Gregory Isaacs
David Marley
Toots & The Maytals
Peter Tosh
Dawn Penn
Chaka Demus & Pliers
Don Carlos
Groundation
Culture
The Upsetters
Eek-A-Mouse
Israel Vibration
The Wailers
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Bob Marley
Max Romeo
Hollie Cook
John Holt
The Jets
The Skatalites
U-Roy
Bunny Wailer
Marcia Griffiths
Dezarie
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Black Uhuru
The Frightnrs
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Alton Ellis
King Tubby
The Congos
Bob Andy
Monkey Boots
Ken Boothe
The Beat
Prince Buster
Linval Thompson
Augustus Pablo
Leroy Sibbles
Sejedewe
U Brown
Jamaican Reggae Cuts
Eric Donaldson
Ernest Ranglin
Giuliano Palma
Prince Fatty
Dandy Livingstone
Clinton Fearon
Frankie Paul
Tenor Saw
Desmond Dekker
The Heptones
Jackie Mittoo
Derrick Harriott
Junior Byles
Rasta Lloyd
Tommy McCook
Tim Armstrong
Joe Yorke
The Skints
Pablo Moses
Triston Palma
The Dualers
Juantxo Skalari & La Rude Band
The Taxi Gang
The Twinkle Brothers
Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Aggrovators
The Ethiopians
The Maytals
Cornell Campbell
Millie Small
Tapper Zukie
The Slackers
Delroy Wilson
Roots Radics
Symarip
Rico Rodriguez
Courtney John
Prince Far I
Big Youth
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals
Derrick Morgan
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
Denny Frust
Laurel Aitken
The Supersonics
Don Drummond
Susan Cadogan
Mortimer
Prince Jammy
Johnny Clarke
Yabby You
Vieja Skina