Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King
A Deep Dive into Jamaica's Musical Revolution (Book Recommendation)
The Reggae Bible - My Take
I picked up a copy back in the early 2000s, one of those random finds that instantly builds anticipation for what lies beneath the cover.
From start to finish, this book is engaging and well-written, with an abundance of history, information, and details that I savored - like Sundays at Studio One, where singers would line up in the morning with two songs to showcase in hopes of getting a chance to record and release music. This was the dream and one of the few ways many people could escape economic devastation. It tells of singers coming in, auditioning, and being either told to return on a specific date for a recording or encouraged to continue working and try again soon.
This was Motown in Jamaica. Music was absorbed coming from the USA—country, Blues, Jazz—and added their own island rhythms and musical history to form Ska, Rocksteady, Roots, Rockers, Dancehall, and so on.
This is a book for anyone interested in the history, emergence, and evolution of each style, as well as the individuals who led the way throughout each evolution over the past few decades—from Mento to Ska, Roots to Digital Dancehall, and beyond. The depth, breadth, and storytelling make this a thoroughly enjoyable read.
WHAT’S INSIDE
Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King, by Lloyd Bradley, is often regarded as the definitive book on reggae music. It's more than a story about songs — it's the history of a culture, a people, and a sound that changed the world.
Bradley takes readers through the heartbeat of Jamaica, showing how reggae wasn’t just music but a voice for struggle, pride, hope, and revolution. From ska's roots to the rise of dub and dancehall, the book captures the raw energy and deep soul behind every bassline.
Highlights from Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King
A Complete History of Jamaican Music
Covers the birth of mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dub.
It illustrates how each style evolved from its predecessors, much like musical stepping stones.
Music Shaped by Society
Explains how Jamaica’s independence, political tensions, and economic hardships fueled the messages of resistance and unity in reggae.
Reggae wasn't just about dancing — it was about survival and rebellion.
Icons Who Built the Sound
In-depth profiles and stories about legends like Prince Buster, King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Bob Marley.
Their innovation transformed reggae into a global phenomenon.
The Power of Sound Systems
Explores how mobile "sound systems" (huge speaker setups) were the original way reggae spread across neighborhoods.
These street parties became battlegrounds where new styles and hits were put to the test.
Reggae's Global Explosion
Details how reggae leaped from Kingston yards to British clubs and eventually to every corner of the globe.
It shows how reggae-influenced punk, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Why Bass Culture is a Must-Read
It connects music to real-life struggles. You understand why reggae sounds the way it does — it's not just beats and riddims; it's pain, pride, and protest.
It celebrates the creativity of everyday Jamaicans who, with homemade equipment and endless spirit, created world-shaking sounds.
Link to Amazon
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It's been years since I read this. Time to dig it out again! Thanks Dubmatix