Roots Archives Forum

Friends,
When I listen to tunes of artists like Jah Shaka,Pablo Gad,Prince far I and all dem roots masters i get to think of whether Marley deserves the kingship in reggae.What do you think folks?

Loveful Hieghts,
KAndi

Well Bob Marley and The Wailers have put out some outstanding music. There's no doubt about that. If you're put off the Island records sounds, check the early Wailers stuff...

Besides, even the mighty Prince Far I made a song that tributes Bob Marley, so that must mean something!

YES, he was, is and always be the KING. Even if other artists put out a lot of great music.

Marley was the guide and Winston Rodney is the king to me...

Prince fari and Gregory Isaacs have given us far, far better reggae than has bob marley. fari for his dubs and vocal roots, gregory for his unique vocals.

Bob Marley ha$ $old more record$ worldwide than all the other (JA) reggae artist$ combined. Hi$ "Legend" LP alone ha$ $hifted million$.

true about bob marley, being internationally known, but bob is just a legend, the music style he put out for others to play is what made him famous but each artist has their own skill to b better than like i personally like everyone elsse but him he has great music but all other artists have been putting it down more than he has. fr exp. ur telling me the wailers sound better than the roots radics ? i dont think so!

respect everyone elses opinion

NO . listening to his music now bores me . imo . but i mean ... didnt they call elvis " the king " too . and i never liked elvis . i never like kings.

I think he does... Because of his mythical figure, he goes far beyond every other artist, he paved the way for everyone of us to hear all this exceptional reggae music
Bless

As for myths and mythical images, the king of reggae can be no other than the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile I Selassie I.

For one, He is the king of all. Furthermore, He is the divine inspiration behind Marley's music, as He is the inspiration behind the sound of rastafarI - which, to me, equals the sound of reggae (one etymological suggestion for the meaning of the word is "music of the kings").

I am serious. This is how I really feel.

But partly I'm also joking.

My point is, that a lot of you seems to consider Bob a "king of reggae" because of his setting an example or selling the most or simply possessing a mythical, even legendary image. These are essential things, yet even more essential thing, when determining his right to this reggae throne, is the quality of his output. A king of a certain music genre would make a poor king if his songs in that genre were merely of mediocre quality.

Which is precisely how I feel about Marley's output. There, I said it. Men like Yabby You, Augustus Pablo, Scratch, Ijahman Levi, Burning Spear, the list goes on. These men have the kind of sound that makes I think of royalty.

In any case, I feel that the throne should belong to the real visionaries - those, who in addition to their own, personal output have been prolific producers and have had their hands on rhythm creation, for rhythms are the true foundation of reggae.

Still, save for H.I.M., I dare not choose a "king of reggae", for in the end it is only about personal preferences. And someone might truly prefer Bob over all the others, in fact, most people probably do anyway.

Just some thoughts.