This February is Reggae Month and the 14th year of a month-long observance of the music that has placed the island on the global cultural map. Jamaica, despite its tiny size and population, punches significantly above its weight in this regard as it ranks among the top ten most culturally influential countries in the world. The truth be told, this stature was raised up by "salt of the earth" Jamaicans, people who when they started would hardly have been spared the time of day by those who controlled the purse-strings of the country. As a celebration of this music and the people who raised it up, I have put together 10 songs that I am currently listening to. These 10 songs not only capture the current Jamaican environment but also underscores the ethos of being Jamaican. Faith, tenacity, and self-belief.
1) Welcome to Jamrock- Damien "Junior Gong" Marley 2) Throw Down Your Arms and Come - Burning Spear 3) Pressure Drop- Toots & The Maytals 4) Deliverance Will come- Dennis Brown 5) Believe- Kabaka Pyramid 6) Who Knows- Protoje (Featuring Chronixx) 7) Thank You Lord- Bob Marley 8) Smile Jamaica- Chronixx 9) Jamaica Jamaica- Busy Signal 10) Lockdown- Koffee
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