We are all a bit Rastafari at heart. We may not be Rastafarian to the point of doctrinal values but as far as the attitude and practices go, most of us adhere to their carefree ways of life. Reggae was born in the trenches of Jamaica. Jamaican musicians, many of them Rastas, soon blended traditional Jamaican folk music and drumming with American R&B, and jazz into ska, that later developed into reggae under the influence of soul. During the 60s and 70s, Reggae entered the mainstream music industry and flourished until pop and alternative rock took over in the 80s and the 90s.
While Reggae has never been at the helm of the music industry, nevertheless it has always had a presence through various forms. One such form is Reggae Fusion. Reggae Fusion is a fusion genre of Reggae that mixes Reggae or Dancehall with other genres, such as pop, rock, R&B, jazz & drum and bass. While Reggae Fusion was experimented in the 80s, it was in the 90s that the first wave of Reggae Fusion stormed the charts and this commenced in Europe. Eurodance fused with Reggae produced smash hits which became increasingly popular leading acts such as Mr.President, Dr. Alban, E-Rotic and Vengaboys to fuse their styles with Reggae as well.
Ace of Base takes the crown as well as second place because they were instrumental in laying the foundation for Reggae Fusion with their first global hit All That She Wants which was followed by the massive hit The sign. I believe the next wave of Reggae Fusion is upon us with the likes of OMI, MAGIC! and R.City gaining international success. So here are the 75 of the Greatest Reggae Fusion Hits of All Time:
- Ace of Base – All that she wants
- Ace of Base – The sign
- OMI – Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)
- MAGIC! – Rude
- Shaggy ft. Rikrok – It wasn’t me
- Sean Paul – Get busy
- Snow – Informer
- Jessie J ft. B.o.B. – Price tag
- Ini Kamoze – Here comes the hotstepper
- Sean Kingston – Beautiful girls
- Diana King – Shy guy
- No Doubt ft. Bounty Killer – Hey baby
- Shaggy ft. Rayvon – Angel
- Iyaz – Replay
- Akon – Don’t matter
- Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars – Billionaire
- Gwen Stefani – Rich girl
- R.City ft. Adam Levine – Locked away
- Lily Allen – Smile
- Alexandra Burke ft. Elephant Man – Start without you
- Vengaboys – We’re going to Ibiza
- No Doubt ft. Lady Saw – Underneath it all
- Nina Sky ft. Jabba – Move ya body
- Ace of Base – Don’t turn around
- Inner Circle – Sweat (A la, la, la, la long)
- Sugar Ray – Fly
- Shaggy ft. Rayvon – In the summertime
- Paris Hilton – Stars are blind
- K’Naan – Wavin’ flag
- Heavy D & the Boyz – Now that we found love
- Sean Paul – Gimme the light
- Mohombi – Bumpy ride
- Aswad – Shine
- Vitamin C ft. Lady Saw – Smile
- Mr. President – Coco jamboo
- Sean Kingston & Justin Bieber – Eenie meenie
- Dr. Alban – It’s my life
- Bridgit Mendler – Ready or not
- Wayne Wonder – No letting go
- Michael Franti & Spearhead ft. Cherine Anderson – Say hey (I love you)
- Sean Paul – She doesn’t mind
- All Saints – Rock steady
- T-Spoon – Sex on the beach
- Ace of Base – Living in danger
- Alexandra Stan – Lemonade
- Che’Nelle ft. Baby Cham – I fell in love with the DJ
- Gyptian – Hold you
- Sean Kingston – Take you there
- Cover Drive – Explode
- Iyaz – Solo
- Bob Sinclar & Cutee B ft. Gary Pine & Dollarman – Sound of freedom
- Santana ft. Sean Paul & Joss Stone – Cry baby cry
- Vengaboys – Uncle John from Jamaica
- Suggs ft. Louichie Lou & Michie One – Cecilia
- Bruno Mars – Count on me
- Diana King – I say a little prayer
- Sean Kingston – Me love
- Sean Paul – We be burnin’
- No Doubt – Settle down
- Rihanna – Man down
- Beenie Man ft. Mya – Girls dem sugar
- Sean Kingston – Letting go (Dutty love)
- Wayne Wonder – Bounce along
- Ace of Base – Happy nation
- Diana King – L-l-lies
- ENUR ft. Natasja – Calabria 2007
- Yasmin ft. Shy FX & Ms.Dynamite – Light up (the world)
- Shaggy ft. Eve – Girls just want to have fun
- Gwen Stefani – Baby don’t lie
- Bridgit Mendler – Hurricane
- Snoop Lion ft. Miley Cyrus – Ashtrays and heartbreaks
- 311 – Amber
- MAGIC! – Let your hair down
- Bruno Mars ft. Damian Marley – Liquor store blues
- Tami Chynn ft. Akon – Frozen
Till the next beat...
At Ease!!!
