38 Reggae Quotations

Reggae originated in the late '60s in Jamaica as a unique and unexplored genre of music.

Many great artists have previously released some of the most famous and unforgettable singles, including 'No More Heartaches', 'Nanny Goat', 'I Can See Clearly Now', and 'I Shot The Sheriff'. Reggae is known to be not just a genre but also a culture and has inspired numerous musicians.

Here is a list of quotes about reggae from the most influential singers about life, singing, and even politics.

Below is a list of the best reggae quotes of all time, which include quotes from Bob Marley, and his son, Ziggy Marley, among many others.

“Reggae is a culture. It's easy, laid-back.” - Shaggy.

“My earliest memories of rap music was mixed with my earliest memories of reggae music.” - Nas.

“A lot of my music is very reggae-driven. Half of my life.” - Bob Marley.

“Look, the Jamaican dancehall stuff, the reggae influences and the ska influence, are always going to be part of our DNA.” - Tony Kanal.

“I like listening to reggae, hip hop, ragga, and R&B when I am skipping.” - Miquita Oliver.

“It does not matter how sweet you can sing a song of love. You must know how to dance along with it. You can't dance "salsa dance" on a 'reggae song'.” - Israelmore Ayivor.

“Reggae is my heart since I was a kid. I love Reggae music.” - Eve.

“I got into Bob Marley, I got into reggae music. And that music just spoke to me and so it just became natural that when I started writing lyrics and started singing them, they came out in that way.” - Matisyahu Miller.

“I want to do more R&B, more reggae, everything.” - Statik Selektah.

(Learn more about the reggae genre from these popular quotations and sayings.)

The following quotes about the genre, reggae, are not only inspirational but also the most well-known sayings of famous singers from all over the globe.

“The really cool thing about reggae music is that I can get away with saying spiritual things as a reggae-influenced artist that I couldn't get away with saying as a rock artist.” - Dennis Brown.

“I feel positive about what I do. And, whoever is doing reggae, they have to have positive words and no negativity.” - Toots Hibbert.

“I am not reggae, I am me. I am bigger than the limits that are put on me. It all has to do with the individual journey.” - Ziggy Marley.

“This music is about struggle. Reggae is a vehicle to carry a message of freedom and peace.” - Bob Marley.

“Soon the earth will tilt on its axis and begin to dance to the reggae beat to the accompaniment of earthquake. And who can resist the dance of the earthquake, mon?” - Peter Tosh.

“There's no real music scene in Guyana, but there's a music space. So there's no scene because there's no economy for it, but there's a space because everything that spills over dancehall and reggae, spills over.” - SAINt JHN.

“One of my good friends said, in a reggae riddim, don't jump in the water if you can't swim.” - Bob Marley.

“I'm never proud of myself. No. People are always proud of me, but I think people can always be greater than me. People call me great; I don't think that I'm great. But they say, 'You are the inventor for the word reggae, you are great.' And I have to say, 'Okay, thank you.'” - Toots Hibbert.

“Reggae music doesn't really focus on one thing, you know. If reggae music is speaking about the struggle of people and the suffering, it doesn't mean black people. It means people in general.” - Burning Spear.

“Reggae music is not an easy music to like when it comes to the power in society. 'Cause it talks about changing society. You won't find it readily accepted.” - Ziggy Marley.

“Reggae is music of love. It has joy and pain, but it feels good.” - Snoop Dogg.

Check out the most famous and popular Reggae quotes through time from the most influential singers and artists.

“Reggae, oh man. It's the ultimate music. The positivity. The musicality. The whole cultural expressionism of it. The danceability. Just the cool factor. The melody factor. Some of it comes from a religious place.” - Lupe Fiasco.

“I don't watch TV. Only while I'm doing it do I see it, really. So I don't know anything. I only know old reggae artists. So that's my thing. Old reggae artists and martial arts.” - Greg Cipes.

“I have always been a huge fan of reggae music. I remember going to see Bob Marley And The Wailers at the Hammersmith Odeon when I was 13. I went with my big sister, Cordelia, and it remains the most wonderful concert I've ever been to.” - Amanda Donohoe.

“I got into dub a long time ago. I was into dub before I even had any interest in reggae or Jamaican songs, Bob Marley, or any of those established artists. I just thought it was such an unusual sound.” - Bill Laswell.

“I really like the reggae concepts like the culture vibe. They speak on everything that's going on, they don't have limits. They speak on politics, they speak on life, they speak on the troubles of poverty, everything.” - Sean Kingston.

“He will go down as a legend along with Elvis and the Beatles and Michael Jackson. Bob Marley is right up there. He was a leader for reggae music - he really made it appeal to a world audience.” - Kano.

“I'm a huge reggae fan. I want to go to Jamaica and make, like, Bob Marley 'One Love' positive songs. That's what the world needs.” - Jenny Lewis.

“Reggae music is simple music - but it's from the heart. Just as people need water to drink, people also need music. If it is true music, the people will be drawn to it.” - Ziggy Marley.

“Reggae is definitely a natural influence. Even living in Southern California, near the water, you get that reggae feel.” - Tori Kelly.

“One of the first places where I started to respond to song lyrics was in reggae music. A lot of what I was responding to were references to the Old Testament. It was not that I had to adapt the lyrics to the sound.” - Matisyahu Miller.

“I find reggae is really nice in the morning.” - Max Joseph.

Here are some inspiring quotes by popular Reggae artists.

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” - Bob Marley.

“Just can't live that negative way, make way for the positive day.” - Bob Marley.

“The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude.” - Dennis Brown.

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” - Bob Marley.

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” - Haile Selassie.

“When the sun shines, it shines for everyone.  God is for everyone.” - Ziggy Marley.

“The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” - Bob Marley.