About Us

   Reggae Endz is an alternative medium for both established, as well as up & coming reggae, roots & dance hall artists, providing a global reach that would not otherwise be available. We are also disposed to providing visitors with an eclectic mix of Jamaica best export, by artists hailing from place such as England, Germany, Italy and France.

   The term Reggae Endz is synonymous with "Reggae Corner.' Accordingly, we are please to welcome all Reggae Music lovers to our little "corner" of the Reggae world. Where, we intend to present a new generation of talents. 

   It is Reggae Endz’s desire to bring something new and fresh to aid the proliferation of “Reggae Music.” We also recognize that with the globalization and continued evolution of the music, as a relevant art form, an ear must be lent to the little known, the unknown and the veteran artists, not just a "few" established or mainstreamed artists.

   Reggae Endz feels that we have a responsibility to provide an avenue for those artists that do not have the luxury of having their music brought to a global audience, via the traditional route. So, it was towards this end that this website was conceptualized and created. Our collaboration with several of Jamaica’s small Independent labels, such as A-Town Records (ATR) Got It’s Records and Truckback Records will ensure us of a steady stream of some of Jamaica’s best up & coming performers.

   As we are not limit by any affiliations, Reggae Endz, welcome music from any and all source, as long as it is not of a discriminatory nature or is not unfit to display, content wise.

   Finally, Reggae Endz’s goal is, also to be the alternative source for other aspects of Jamaican & Caribbean culture, delivery timely information of an “Entertaining and Informative” nature.

Welcome to the Endz!

MUSIC HISTORY - REGGAE

The origins of Reggae can be traced back to the many forms of folk music that were popular in Jamaica in the 1950's. The first recorded Jamaican music was Mento which drew heavily from all the forms of folk music. It was often referred to as Jamaican Calypso, however only some of the more uptempo. Mento tunes sounded similar to Calypso. Mento music had begun in the 1940's and by the time it reached the first Jamaican recording studio in the winter of 1951-52; it was well-established and very popular. Jamaican music comes from an African foundation, influenced by the music of Europe, especially England & France.

Ska remained popular throughout the 60's, however from 1965 to 1967; the ghetto youth of West Kingston were developing their own version of Ska which was referred to as 'Rude-Boy' music. It was a more dynamic version of Ska and its lyrics addressed their ghetto lifestyle. Cluet Johnson AKA "Clue J" was important to the development of Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's desire in the late 50s to establish a distinctive Jamaican musical sound. Clue J's distinctive stage greeting - skavoovie, lead some to define this as the root of the term Ska. 

In the early 1970's, Reggae produced yet another offshoot in the form of Dub. Dub, which is now used throughout the world of dance music to describe a remix, originated in Jamaica in 1967, initially in the quest for sound-system exclusivity. Dub, in the now familiar form of radically remixed versions of tunes with the lyrics stripped down or removed, arrived in 1972, and was largely due to the contribution of King Tubby, boss of the leading sound-system in Kingston and a superb engineer. Reggae is closer to the chanting, meditative Nyabinghi sound, and lends itself to musical meditation.

Jamaican music itself has changed considerably over the past 35 or so years. Dub music is the result of the engineer restructuring the sound on the mixing board. Lover’s rock, deejays, dubs poetry all come from the root. Dancehall and Jungle music are the latest trends in this ever-changing Jamaican sound. The emigration of Jamaicans and other West Indies to Europe and North America has both spread the vibe and blended other musical ideas to Reggae. All in all, Reggae has exerted an international impact remarkable for such a small nation - the loudest island in the world.