Reggae Rocking in the USA! 25 Jamaican songs that impacted America

Today, the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary as an independent nation. Observer Online looks at 25 Jamaican songs that made an impact on pop culture in that country.

FILE – Actor and singer Harry Belafonte poses for a portrait at a New York recording studio, November 1, 2001. (AP Photo/Leslie Hassler, File)

Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)

Released in 1955 long before reggae was born, Harry Belafonte brought his parents’ Jamaican culture to the United States with this calypso gem.

Millie Small (Photo: Twitter @MikeReadUK)

My Boy Lollipop

Millie Small’s 1964 ska ditty was a revelation in the United Kingdom, where it appealed to a growing Jamaican community, and white youth. My Boy Lollipop peaked at number two in the United States.

This photo of Jimmy Cliff in his role as Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin from Perry Henzell’s 1972 cult classic The Harder They Come is one of the images most associated with the singer and actor who died on Monday. He was 81.

The Harder They Come

This 1972 song and movie of the same name helped introduce reggae to Americans, especially on the West Coast where it was embraced by the hippie movement.

(From left) The Wailers: Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, and Bunny Wailer in performance. (Photo: YouTube)

Concrete Jungle

From The Wailers’ Catch A Fire album, released in 1973 by Island Records. This stirring song featured Bob Marley on lead vocals and American guitarist Wayne Perkins, whose fiery solo helped make it an underground hit in the United States.

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Roots, Rock, Reggae

Bob Marley and The Wailers hit the Billboard pop chart in the US in the summer of 1976, with this stomper from the Rastaman Vibration album.

Bob Marley in<br />performance at the<br />Hammersmith Ddeon<br />in England in 1977.

Jammin’

Bob Marley and his Wailers rock the house with this cut from the Exodus album, released in 1977. Stevie Wonder references Jammin’ in his song, Master Blaster.

Third World, circa 1977. From left: Willie Stewart, Bunny Rugs, Carrot Jarret, Ibo Cooper, Richie Daley and Stephen “Cat” Coore.

Now That We Found Love

Third World hit the big time with this song, originally done by The O’Jays. In 1978, it became a favourite at hip spots in the US, such as Studio 54 in New York City. Remains the band’s biggest hits.

Marcia Griffiths.

Electric Boogie

Marcia Griffiths had fans in the US dancing to this Bunny Wailer-written song, released in 1982. It still has fans doing the Electric Slide at her shows.

Musical Youth with Fredrick Waite Jr far left at back. (Photo: Michael Putland)

Pass The Dutchie

This is Musical Youth’s 1982 take on The Mighty Diamonds’ Pass The Kutchie. Pass The Dutchie topped the British national chart, and entered the Top 10 of the Billboard pop table in early 1983.

Grace Jones

My Jamaican Guy

Grace Jones rocks on this Sly and Robie production, recorded at Compass Point in The Bahamas. From her 1983 album, Living My Life, it became a club favourite stateside. LL Cool J sampled My Jamaican Guy for his song Doin’ It.

Maxi Priest

Close to You

Maxi Priest was in his element in 1990, and this easy-listening track proved that. It was a global hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100. Co-produced by Geoffrey Chung, Sly Dunbar and Handel Tucker.

Shabba Ranks.

Housecall

Shabba Ranks and Maxi Priest collaborate on this sultry track, co-produced by Clifton “Specialist” Dillon and Mikey Bennett. Housecall solidified both artistes’ standing in the United States where it peaked at number 37 in 1991.

Super Cat

Dolly my Baby

Super Cat rocked the house on this 1992 song, from his Don Dada album. Dolly my Baby was one of the dancehall songs that won Jamaican artistes a hip hop following. It paved the way for Super Cat to work with acts like Sugar Ray and Kriss Kross.

Mad Cobra

Flex

It does not get more sensuous than this. Mad Cobra lets her know it is time to get busy on this funky jam, from his Hard to Wet, Easy to Dry album, released in 1992. Co-produced by Clifton “Specialist” Dillon and Sly Dunbar, Flex peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year.

Inner Circle

Bad Boys

This uptempo powerhouse by Inner Circle was a global hit in 1993, six years after it was first released. That year, Bad Boys peaked at number eight in the United States, and became the theme for the mega-successful movies of the same name, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

Shaggy

Boombastic

A massive hit for Shaggy in 1995. Driven by a sample from soul singer King Floyd’s Baby Let me Kiss You, Boombastic hears Shaggy at his bravado best. It stalled at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and confirmed the deejay’s emergence as a bona fide hitmaker.

Beenie Man

Who Am I

Recorded on producer Jeremy Harding’s Playground ‘riddim’, this is the song that gave Beenie Man his American breakthrough. Among Who Am I’s fans was Stevie Wonder. From the acclaimed Many Moods of Moses album, released in 1997.

Tanto Metro (left) and Devonte

Everyone Falls in Love

Tanto Metro & Devonte’s little song that did. Produced by Donovan Germain, it was released in 1998 and became a hit in Jamaica. Spurred by distribution from Sony Music, it did well in the United States, where it peaked at number 38 on Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 88 on the Hot 100 chart.

Shaggy

It Wasn’t Me

Shaggy’s comeback song from his Hot Shot album was a phenomenon. Featuring RikRok, the cheater’s anthem soared to number one in several countries including the United States in 2001.

Sean Paul

Gimme The Light

Sean Paul hit the big time with this smash from Dutty Rock, his hit-laden album, released in 2002 by VP Records and Atlantic Records. Gimme The Light went as far as number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Wayne Wonder

No Letting Go

Wayne Wonder recorded No Letting Go on producer Steven “Lenky” Marsden’s vaunted Diwali beat. It remains the singer’s biggest hit, going as high as number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. No Letting Go was certified gold for sales of over 500,000 in 2022.

Damian “Jr Gong” Marley.

Welcome to Jamrock

Damian Marley’s gritty salute to urban Jamaica was a hit with dancehall, hip hop and pop fans in Jamaica and the United States. From his album of the same name, which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2006.

Sean Paul

Temperature

Fitting title for a song by Sean Paul which sizzled throughout the United States in 2006. Produced by Rohan “Snowcone” Fuller, Temperature became another number one in that country for the deejay.

Omi

Cheerleader

Omi from Clarendon travelled the world on the strength of the remix to Cheerleader. It was a hit in multiple countries, peaking at number 13 in the United States in 2014. Earned him a spot as opening act for Taylor Swift.

Koffee

Toast

Koffee shook up the pop world with this 2019 dancehall track from her EP, Rapture. It gained her a diverse following in the American hip hop and R&B markets, and helped Rapture win Best Reggae Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards.