While he may be better known as Snoop Dogg, the artist now called Snoop Lion has flipped the reggae world upside down with his new album, Reincarnated. Finding inspiration in classic reggae artists like Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs and Jimmy Cliff, Snoop has paired with producer Diplo to define his own take on the genre.
Reggae has had a strong influence on modern music since its rise from the streets of Kingston decades ago. From classic artists like The Clash and The Rolling Stones to newer pop stars like Bruno Mars and Rihanna, the music has maintained a hold on all kinds of artists. We’ve brought together some of the classic reggae artists that acted as inspiration for the Snoop Lion album. Check ‘em out below!
Bob Marley and The Wailers “Duppy Conqueror”
Aside from inspiring the name of our earbuds, the Conqueror in-ear headphones, Bob Marley’s classic reggae song features an uplifting take on living freely. Marley wrote “The bars could not hold me / Force could not control me / They tried to keep me down / But Jah put I around.”
Gregory Isaacs “Night Nurse”
The influence of the signature synthesizer sound on Gregory Isaacs’ “Night Nurse” is particularly apparent in Diplo’s production work for Reincarnated. As an early example of mixing electronic music and live instrumentation, “Night Nurse” set a precedent for the entire Snoop Lion project.
The Abyssians “Satta Massagana”
With “Satta Massagana,” The Abyssians went beyond creating a pop hit and wrote a classic hymnal. Widely sang during Rastafarian services in Jamaica, the song shows a connection between religion and reggae, which has been an inspiration for generations of artists.
Jimmy Cliff “You Can Get It If You Really Want”
In learning more about Jamaican culture, listeners will discover the uplifting spirit behind most reggae songs. While many artists have sung about making their lives better, no one has done it better than Jimmy Cliff.
Prince Far I “Survival”
Before producing Reincarnated, Diplo became known for making mix tapes featuring classic reggae artists. From his compilation for VP Records titled Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves, the world-famous producer selected Prince Far I’s classic “Survival” as his grand finale track.
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