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STYLE CLASSIFICATIONS AND GENRES

ask.dubroom.org

The many different styles of Reggae have their own name. Not everyone considers the same name for the same style, though. To mash down confusion, on this page you can get the definitions by the Dubroom. So that you know what we talk about!

STYLE CLASSIFICATIONS AND GENRES

QUESTION
I see that sometimes music is being classified in different styles, for example on your reviews blog. Can you give me an explanation and examples of the different styles?
ANSWER
OK, here they come. Just click on "go" to see our most recently published review in the specific genre:
THE GENRES:

CONTEMPORARY ROOTS

DANCEHALL DJ/TOAST

DUB

DUB POETRY LIVE AND DIRECT

LOVERS' ROCK

POP REGGAE ROOTS, ROCKERS

RUB A DUB

SKA, ROCKSTEADY SUBDUB, DIGI DUB

UK DUB AND ROOTS

VARIOUS  
CONTEMPORARY ROOTS
Many people think that Roots Reggae is Reggae Music from the 1970's, which is only partly true. "Orthodox" Reggae, musically spoken, is of course being made until this very day. 

To help people making the distinction between Roots Music from the 1970's and that of roughly the mid to end 1980's until now, the Dubroom makes a distinction between Roots Rockers from the 1970's and "Contemporary" Roots, which is basically everything which fits the label of "Orthodox", "Original" Reggae. Not in a religious manner, but music-technically.

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SEE ALSO: ROOTS/ROCKERS

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DANCEHALL
Dancehall is not easily defined, as the music changes every year and 1980's Dancehall or Rub a Dub sounds very different from Ragga, which is more 1990's Dancehall Reggae. The Dubroom makes a distinction between Rub a Dub and Dancehall. On this site when music is classified as Dancehall, the music is Ragga and beyond.

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DJ/TOAST
Introduced by U Roy, at least according to many, comes toasting or DJ Style. Not singing, but rhythmically chanting over a rhythm. Many know this style as Hip-Hop or Rap, but originally it comes from Jamaica, where DJ's chanted over the B-Sides of Reggae 7" Singles. 

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SEE ALSO: DUB POETRY

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DUB
Remixed reggae, with the drum and the bass rolling, instruments fading in and out while all possible effects are applied over the mix. Sometimes Dub includes some vocal lines, but not always. 

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DUB POETRY
Ever since UK based poet Linton Kwesi Johnson recited his poems over heavy Dub riddims, DUB Poetry has been recognized as a separate discipline in Reggae than the DJ Tradition Dub Poetry obviously came out of.

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SEE ALSO: DJ/TOAST

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LIVE AND DIRECT
Since Reggae Music is predominantly a Studio Music, there is always that special vibe when artists perform Reggae Music live on stage. This is where you hear your favorite tune in a totally different way, this is where you hear how people who love Reggae respond to the music when they are together. Anyway, that's why: Live and Direct!

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LOVERS' ROCK
Sweet Love Songs over sweet Reggae Music. Gregory Isaacs has performed many Lover's Rock tunes.

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POP
Popular form of Reggae Music. This is the more lighter and easily accessible kind of reggae.

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ROOTS/ROCKERS
Roots Reggae is "Original", "Orthodox" Reggae in the musicological sense of the word. Unlike many people think, it is not just the Reggae Music that was played in the 1970's even though that music was indeed called Roots Music too.

The Roots Music from the 1970's and a bit beyond, was also often called "Rockers". A motion picture of that very same name was released in the time that Root Rock(ers) Reggae was at a peak. 

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SEE ALSO: CONTEMPORARY ROOTS

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RUB A DUB
Roughly spoken, this is Reggae, mainly from the late 1970's, early 1980's, where DJ's chanted and Singers sung over very tracks that were mixed in a dub style. Today, Rub a Dub files under Roots Reggae and the difference between Roots and Rub a Dub is not always that clear.

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SKA
There's two different kinds of ska. The first one is together with Rocksteady a sort of pre-reggae Jamaican Music. Ska is also a form of very fast music based on reggae and earlier ska. It was famous in the UK in the 1980's under the name "2 Tone". the Specials is an example of this style of music.

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SUB DUB, DIGIDUB, TRIP-HOP, ETC
This is a term to define electronic dubbish music that have many Dub sounds and techniques incorporated as crucial elements. In certain Electronic Music scenes, this style of music is labeled as "Dub". And sometimes, some electronic music would be labeled as "Dub" by those who know their Reggae. "Trip-Hop", for example. 

To wipe away alla dat confusion, the Dubroom chooses to use the term "Sub Dub" for this. It is NOT meant in any negative way whatsoever!

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UK DUB AND ROOTS
UK Roots, or UK Dub, obviously is Roots or Dub reggae that originates from the UK, or the United Kingdom. Especially London serves as a central point. The UK has always been, because of the colonial relations between Jamaica and the UK, an important country in Reggae Music. The style of Roots and Dub from the UK have their own distinctive elements and sounds.

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VARIOUS
Obviously, there is no such thing as a "various style". But still, there are things reviewed on the Dubroom that might not fall under any other category or genre. A band which uses Reggae as an inspiration, for example, and might still be relevant for some reason to be reviewed on the Dubroom.

We also use the word "various" when we would describe the whole oeuvre of an artist, or when we review a podcast or compilation album. 

Probably you'll have to browse though "various" to com[pletely get the point. 

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