This is A Public Service Announcement… With Jah Almighty, I and I, one and one.	«« back
	by T. ROPELATO (Copy Editor)	February 2010 | Read Full Paper Here »

Often, I propose a hypothetical scenario/ question to my friends and strangers alike when the topic of music comes up. The query for consideration is as follows:

“You are stranded on a deserted island with; plenty of food and fresh water, a solar powered CD player with headphones, and one album of your choice. What would be the one and only album you could listen to for the rest of your life?”

The answers always vary and often reflect the current mood of the questioned. Think about your own answer. Would it have been the same answer five years ago? Asking this question to so many people makes me ponder at it often and extensively, and I usually come to one conclusion, Kaya by Bob Marley.

It is a rare form when music can convey a message to people on a mass level. It is equally rare for music to bring communities together with a rally cry for peace and unity. Reggae has done exactly this since its conception in the Jamaican slums. One of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen is the crowd at a reggae show. Black, white, brown, young, old, beautiful and beastly, all bouncing together to the same downtempo beat, under the same delicious smelling cloud of cannabis bliss. I firmly believe the best step to world peace is for the planet to listen to Bob Marley while passing a giant spliff. Similar to that “hands across the world thing,” but with ganja.

So without further ado, I give you my list of good reggae, with the hopes that one day the world can see the vision of hope and harmony that was born in the hearts of downtrodden and hopeless of Jamaica’s shanty towns. Even if the world sees that vision through glazed, bloodshot eyes.

One Love!

~ Robert Nesta Marley - Without a doubt, Bob is the most influential reggae artist of all time. Marley’s musical message of peace and unity united his country during a time of intense political and racial stress. Look up the smile Jamaica concert for more info on how Bob played a free show with a fresh bullet hole.

~ Peter Tosh - After leaving Marley and the Wailers, Tosh punctuated his solo career with ideas of militant uprising. His AK-47 shaped guitar was a testament to his concept of armed rebellion against oppression.

~ Desmond Dekker - Growing up a teenage orphan in 1950’s Kingston is no easy task. Dekker overcame incredible odds with his amazing vocal talents, and paved the runway for future artists to launch Jamaican music around the world.

~ Toots and the Maytals - Not even an 18-month stretch in prison for ganja possession could break up the Maytals. Toots and the Maytals helped pioneer the type of reggae that would later evolve into Ska. 54-46 was his number, but now someone else has that number.

~ Burning Spear - Using a title formerly worn by a Kenyan King, the music of Burning Spear is rooted deep in Rastafarian Spiritual ideology.

~ Barrington Levy - An essential figure in the early Jamaican dancehall scene. Barrington started in the 1970’s and still plays music today with new artists such as Snoop Dogg and Long Beach Dub All-Stars.

~ Gregory Isaacs - It is estimated that Gregory Isaacs has released around 500 studio albums, more than most artists could do in ten lifetimes. With such a vast collection of sensual and passionate songs, Isaacs’ music is perfect to share behind closed doors, with that special someone, for a couple of days straight.

~ Beanie Man - One of the founders of modern Dancehall, Beanie helped infuse traditional Reggae with the hard beats and turntable styles of Hip-Hop.

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