Dancehall & Reggae: Then & Now

Umma Radio
Aug 4
3 min read

From Roots to Riddims, The Sound of a Movement

From the sun-drenched hills of Jamaica to global airwaves, Reggae and Dancehall have shaped not just music—but culture, identity, and resistance.

They’re more than genres. They’re voices of a people. But as the world and music evolve, fans are asking: Has something changed?

Has something been lost—or just transformed?

Let’s explore where Dancehall and Reggae started, and where they are now.

🌱 THE ROOTS: CONSCIOUSNESS, COMMUNITY, & CULTURE

Reggae (Then):

Emerging in the late 1960s, reggae was born from ska and rocksteady, but it was always deeper than rhythm.

Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals—these weren’t just musicians; they were revolutionaries.
Themes: love, resistance, spirituality, Pan-Africanism, unity.
Reggae was soul music for the oppressed. The heartbeat of the streets, the prayer of the people.
Rooted in Rastafarianism, it offered spiritual upliftment, political commentary, and raw honesty.

Dancehall (Then):

In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, a new sound emerged—more stripped down, more raw: Dancehall.

Think Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, Super Cat, Shabba Ranks.
Dancehall took the mic from the rootsman and handed it to the ghetto storyteller.
It was streetwise, bold, and unapologetically real—covering sex, politics, poverty, and hustle life.
Early dancehall still had live bands and deep lyrics, but the energy was faster, the riddims tighter, and the focus more on the present.

🔊 THE SHIFT: DIGITALIZATION & GLOBALIZATION

By the 1990s and early 2000s, both genres underwent major shifts.

Reggae (Now):

Today’s reggae includes a wide mix—roots revival artists (like Chronixx, Protoje, Jah9), reggae fusion, and reggaeton influences.
Positives: New voices still push social consciousness, mixing tradition with freshness.
Concerns: Some say reggae lost its urgency—many commercial acts smooth over the revolutionary tone.
Reggae’s mainstream success came at a cost—often sanitizing the political edge.

Dancehall (Now):

Digital riddims dominate, and auto-tune, trap, and Afrobeats have left their mark.
Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Shenseea, Skeng, and others redefined the sound: less storytelling, more vibes.
Today’s dancehall is hyper-sexualized, trap-infused, and party-focused—which brings both criticism and celebration.
It’s global now: Jamaica’s influence can be heard in Drake, Rihanna, Burna Boy, and Latinx artists.

But the big question: Is it still dancehall—or just dancehall-flavored pop?

WHAT WAS LOST... AND WHAT’S STILL HERE

What’s Missing:

Live instrumentation and analog feel
Militant message of roots reggae
Deep, conscious lyricism
Authentic patois & cultural context (in mainstream samples)

What Remains:

Global influence is undeniable—Jamaican music laid the blueprint for hip-hop, reggaeton, Afrobeats, and pop.
Artists like Kabaka Pyramid, Lila Iké, Sevana, Masicka, and Koffee are blending modernity with roots.
Sound system culture, dance, and fashion continue to evolve with the streets.

🌍 THEN & NOW: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

Element Then Now Reggae Roots, spirituality, protest Fusion, revival, mellow vibes Dancehall Street, gritty, local storiesTrap-influenced, global sound Production Live bands, analog Digital, beat-driven, auto-tuned Message Consciousness & resistance Vibes, sex, braggadocio Reach Regional to international Global and cross-genre

🎤 FINAL WORD: THE MUSIC STILL SPEAKS

Reggae and Dancehall are not what they once were—but maybe that’s okay. Music evolves. People evolve. But what matters most is intention and authenticity.

We don’t need to go backwards—we need to move forward with foundation.

Let’s uplift the artists preserving the essence.Let’s challenge those diluting it for profit.Let’s teach the younger generation where the beat really comes from.

Because Reggae and Dancehall were never just about a rhythm—they were a revolution in sound.