Massilia Sound System Essentials

Reggae band Massilia Sound System sashayed onto the music scene in Marseilles back in 1984, armed with quirky reggae and dancehall jams. The outfit proudly identified as Provençal in their lyrics and helped to reshape the image of Southern France—at least among their compatriots. While the Massilia sound is rooted in reggae, the group began exploring new territory as the decades wore on. A listen to these songs will reveal rock influences, bass-heavy hip-hop beats and exotic percussion, propelled by catchy hooks and hard rhymes.