RE: Where is the Reggae ? - Why Reggae isn’t as prominent as it used to be.
Look for MAJOR LAZER lol, they get more views/spins than most artists by far.
Reggarding Alkaline and etc, all the hardcore dancehall artists rarely leave the island with the amount of negativity (albiet reality) in their music. Sad, but most take years before they mature and start performing reggae music that the rest of the world can appreciate.
The artists that are hot here can be considered 'local acts'
Jamaican artists that 'make it' internationally are predominantly positive, most cultural artists much closer to true reggae music like Koffee or perform most over seas (Sean Paul, Shaggy). The youths here don't get that message until they grow older imo and see that the shoot-em-up-gang music (similar to hardcore rap) just will never sell as much as pop. Which leads me back to Major Lazer and similar groups that are now holding the torch.
To me, reggae is everywhere. Especially in North America and Europe. 50yrs later The Marley's are still outselling everybody (and taking crazy residuals) as some of the highest paid artist of any genre. Getting crazy awards every couple yrs. Every new rapper (still) needs a Reggae/Dancehall collab on their album, which is usually a single. Reggae music is still killing the Billboard charts directly or indirectly through influence.
Take the post by @slobberchops for example, which highlights how reggae music influence has seeped into almost every genre: https://www.reggaesteem.io/music/@slobberchops/reggae-or-not
The highest selling reggae artists (in this short moment of time) are no longer from Jamaica, that inself is an issue but not necessarily a problem. The lady artist (Koffee, Lila Ike, Ishawna, I forgot to mention Shensea) are doing their thing as well. Shensea's hit blessed is annoying AF, but it plays heavy internationally.
It's a new day indeed since we can help the future artists and very bright in my eyes.
Bless bredda
You the thing about hardcore lyrics why many do it is because it’s the fastest route to buss in Jamaica, many really don’t know how to make anything else as that is what their reality is. I remember when I went to a studio where @dinearp was working ,when popcaan and Tommy Lee were just about to buss, and all the new Gaza acts were their in a freestyle session, every tune was shottarefic. It is a part of the culture. Now granted the vibes did up nuh rass , the rest of the world just not gonna get it.
Major lazor started the whole tropical house vibes fir the world to follow . Gotta respect then.
Alkaline and the others leave the island but mainly to the US and the Caribbean. Koffee is all bout , Europe, Africa, Asia.
Ah yes , I took een that post by @slobberchops yesterday, very interesting to see the influence of reggae even back in the days till now.
Yeah man the ladies doing them ting. Lila Ike only have 4 singles and way ahead of the hardcore acts that have trailer load of tunes 😄
Is joy to see various countries having their own reggae scene and their own artistes but indeed the originators need to be more out there , we haffi play our role with ReggaeSteem.