Music Metrics Vault

Uk reggae

Most popular artists in Uk reggae

This chart is based on the monthly listeners metric for all artists tagged with the genre uk reggae by Spotify. It may contain some errors or some data may not be up to date. You can check the artist profile to update data if necessary.

# Artist Monthly Listeners Followers
1
7,860,102
2,463,689
2
1,414,962
91,749
3
Lila Iké
943,191
167,010
4
918,901
671,421
5
Eddy Grant
692,445
75,326
6
Pato Banton
675,950
74,207
7
Hollie Cook
670,468
102,769
8
Michie One
415,499
1,144
9
Mungo's Hi Fi
369,571
124,853
10
Aswad
350,846
182,527
11
General Levy
304,114
86,030
12
Bitty McLean
231,925
58,380
13
Macka B
158,602
45,305
14
Lion D
139,642
19,183
15
Gentleman's Dub Club
118,708
71,574
16
Janet Kay
110,219
20,442
17
Ali Campbell
100,674
53,325
18
UB40 featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey
96,167
66,790
19
Mafia & Fluxy
86,519
2,293
20
Kiko Bun
79,456
25,035
21
Shinehead
76,893
11,192
22
Symarip
75,524
28,972
23
The Skints
75,173
80,637
24
Kofi
74,992
7,272
25
Black Roots
74,946
45,550
26
Black Slate
63,157
5,401
27
The Hempolics
58,951
11,516
28
Natty
54,968
28,144
29
Vibronics
54,023
34,897
30
J.C. Lodge
53,276
6,055
31
Capital Letters
52,453
11,164
32
Bare Jams
48,306
11,642
33
Dennis Bovell
43,966
16,603
34
Peter Hunnigale
43,960
16,431
35
YT
43,105
2,593
36
Adrian Sherwood
39,783
20,010
37
Kofi
36,482
6,158
38
Benjamin Zephaniah
35,813
9,386
39
General Saint
35,365
775
40
C.J. Lewis
31,601
2,383
41
Ginger Williams
31,044
2,312
42
Laid Blak
30,122
9,761
43
Mikey General
28,667
14,328
44
Greyhound
26,693
1,821
45
Louisa Mark
24,893
7,713
46
Misty In Roots
23,507
54,267
47
Papa Levi
22,789
2,051
48
Jah Shaka
22,517
32,694
49
Danny Red
21,556
6,834
50
Matumbi
21,032
6,207
51
Chainska Brassika
20,444
8,787
52
Resonators
15,574
7,838
53
By The Rivers
15,423
6,432
54
China Black
15,217
1,321
55
Carroll Thompson
13,199
13,423
56
East Park Reggae Collective
9,164
4,667
57
The Cimarons
9,104
3,395
58
The Bush Chemists
8,650
7,745
59
Poet and The Roots
8,615
4,277
60
Levi Roots
8,224
1,173
61
Jeramiah Ferrari
7,755
7,225
62
Administrators
7,627
341
63
Reggae Regular
7,506
4,467
64
Twilight Circus Dub Sound System
7,065
8,540
65
New Town Kings
5,687
7,313
66
David Hinds
4,830
587
67
New Age Steppers
4,824
8,647
68
Pama International
4,175
2,941
69
Babyhead
4,138
5,305
70
Singers And Players
3,696
3,151
71
Chukki Starr
3,453
2,210
72
Starkey Banton
3,088
312
73
Stalawa
3,035
816
74
Aisha
2,953
1,261
75
Backbeat Soundsystem
2,940
9,363
76
General Roots
2,709
1,527
77
Tradition
2,670
1,105
78
Jamie Irie
2,230
307
79
Prince Malachi
2,140
5,732
80
Natural Touch
2,137
796
81
Hue B
1,785
397
82
Rasites
1,728
355
83
Captain Accident
1,725
3,243
84
Tree House Fire
1,646
3,478
85
The Blackstones
1,634
1,067
86
Phillip Leo
1,495
957
87
G.T. Moore
1,078
375
88
Nereus Joseph
1,072
871
89
TT Ross
918
168
90
Smiley & The Underclass
884
2,086
91
Beshara
379
653
92
Dee Sharp
323
353
93
Crinkle Cuts
263
1,277
94
Bunny Lye Lye
252
94
95
Messenger Douglas
205
45
96
RudeSix
203
682
97
Rudy Grant
137
58
98
Surj Sahota
131
115
99
Ben Russell & The Charmers
126
241

Some info about uk reggae

UK reggae emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a distinctive genre born from the unique cultural exchanges between the Caribbean migrant communities and the native population of the British Isles. The genre represents a unique fusion of traditional Jamaican reggae rhythms with the varied musical and social influences present in the United Kingdom, leading to a peculiar blend that resonates with themes of multiculturalism, social unity, and identity struggles.

During the 1970s, enclaves of Caribbean immigrants, primarily in London, Birmingham, and Bristol, brought with them a rich tapestry of musical traditions, of which reggae was a fundamental part. In the UK, reggae music found fertile ground to evolve, blending with British rock, pop, and the burgeoning punk scene. This resulted in a cross-cultural amalgam that carried the rebellious and emancipatory spirit of reggae while incorporating a broader array of lyrical themes and sonic elements relevant to the British experience.

One of the seminal moments for UK reggae was the rise of lover's rock, a subgenre that infused the typical reggae beats with smooth, romantic lyrics. It became particularly popular among the second-generation Caribbean Britons. The genre provided a voice to the black British experience, showcased brilliantly by artists like Janet Kay, whose 1979 hit "Silly Games" became an enduring symbol of the lover’s rock movement and UK reggae as a whole.

The 1980s and 1990s saw UK reggae diversify and solidify further with bands such as Aswad, Steel Pulse, and UB40 becoming household names. Aswad’s “Don’t Turn Around” and UB40's rendition of "Red Red Wine" charted globally, bringing unprecedented attention to UK reggae. Steel Pulse, hailing from Birmingham, became one of the first non-Jamaican bands to win a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, underscoring the genre's growing international stature.

UK reggae has also been pivotal in the growth of other music movements such as jungle, drum & bass, and UK dub, reflecting its ability to influence and incorporate contemporary musical trends. The genre has not been static, continuously evolving by interacting with the UK's myriad cultural currents and the ongoing innovations within the wider reggae scene.

Globally, UK reggae holds a revered place, especially in countries with significant Caribbean diasporas such as Canada, the United States, and many African nations. In these places, UK reggae is not only a representation of musical hybridity but also a narrative of migration, adaptation, and identity.

Key ambassadors like Smiley Culture and Maxi Priest have furthered the genre's appeal with their lyrical ingenuity and cross-genre collaborations, broadening its audience and reinforcing its thematic and musical richness. More recent artists like Hollie Cook continue to push the boundaries of the genre, incorporating modern influences and maintaining the vibrant, dynamic spirit of UK reggae.

In conclusion, UK reggae is a testament to the transformative power of migration and cultural synthesis. With its roots deeply embedded in both Jamaican and British soils, it continues to be a voice for multicultural narratives, social justice themes, and rhythmic innovation. As it evolves, UK reggae remains a vibrant, influential force in the global music scene, continually expanding its reach and resonance.