Finna bump during that special time of the day between 4:19 and 4:21? Well, some reggae vibes are sure to get you in the mood, jah know?
“Natural Mystic”: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley is the king of reggae. Hands down. If I made a playlist of my all-time favorite reggae songs, all 10 would be from Exodus, his dub-style album. This song’s lyrical, melodic, and instrumental content come together in perfect synergy.
“Any Colour You Like”: Easy Star All-Stars
Damn. Bufford O’Sullivan’s trombone solo is crazy.
“Respectness”: Seeed
Hip hop and reggae… a match made in heaven.
“Guiltiness”: Bob Marley and the Wailers
…Why is Bob so good?!?!?
“Badman”: John Brown’s Body
Dan Africano’s bass line in “Badman” is truly amazing. It carries its own melody the entire song, and it ends up being all that I listen to. Elliot Martin’s vocals also contrast perfectly with Jay Sparker’s rap lyrics. The icing on the cake? The band is Ithaca-based!
“Tribute to Gadman”: Israel Vibration
Dub has never been done like Israel Vibration does it. The melodies of these songs are almost entirely centered around the groove that the drummer and the bassist create, with little interjections from the vocalists and some keyboardists. The vibe of the song is out of this world.
“Warrior”: Arise Roots
Arise Roots’ liberal use of the II chord transitioning into the I chord creates a harmonic dichotomy that transcends other grooves, and it’s timeless. That in combination with Rodolfo Covarrubias’ deep bass lines really resonate with the soul. This song is perfect to bump to while driving.
“Vibes Alive”: Groundation
Groundation generally produces some of the most jazz-rooted reggae ever. There are plenty of improvised solos, and even more 9 chords. This is my favorite of theirs, and it is probably the highest energy song on this list.
“Don’t Look Back”: Peter Tosh
You can’t have a reggae playlist without Peter Tosh. He created the reggae guitar, and this is his best song.
“Shakes Up The Place”: 10 Ft. Ganja Plant
Did you know that 10 Ft. Ganja Plant started in Ithaca? Well, now you do. And they’re great.