While the forceful, take-no-prisoners protest songs of Bob Marley and the longing, romantic pleas of Gregory Isaacs seek truth through different means, these ear-catching roots-reggae classics all speak to the day-to-day personal and social issues of the African diaspora. Politics, pleasure and spirituality mingle throughout this decades-spanning survey of artists who embrace stripped-down aggression (Toots & The Maytals, Peter Tosh) and head-clearing indulgence (Rita Marley, The Mighty Diamonds) in equal measure. While many of these songs utilise similar constructions and rhythms—one-drop is the most instantly recognizable—they explore different headspaces, be it Bunny Wailer’s fantastical optimism or Burning Spear’s biting social critiques. Follow the evolution of roots music into the present day through the lens of modern torchbearers like Chronixx, whose reggae yields sharp pop hooks with conscious lyrics.