Gospel Reggae is undoubtedly the fastest-growing segment of Reggae music today. Born in the 1990s, Gospel reggae is the art of applying Christian (gospel) music to reggae rhythms and beats. Lester Lewis, who has been credited as the pioneer of Gospel Reggae started the genre with the song ‘Every Time I Read My Bible’ which had a steady Reggae beat laced with gospel-themed lyrics. The song won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Gospel Song Competition in 1989.

Gospel Reggae picked up so much traction that one of Lewis’s songs, ‘Jesus Is The Winner Man’, was covered by international gospel artiste Ron Kenoly. By the 2000s, Gospel Reggae was now a staple in the industry that other Reggae artistes starting including this style of art into their own music creation. Artists such as Clive Tennors, Hopeton Lewis, Sanchez, Papa San, Carlene Davis, Richie Stephens, Judy Mowatt, Lt. Stitchie, Luciano, and Junior Tucker took on Gospel Reggae as their style of music.

Initially, Gospel Reggae was not welcomed or appreciated by the religious community in Jamaica. Many religious leaders saw the introduction of reggae music into the church as a dilution of the faith and the beginning of secularization. The younger generation of Christians however, were more drawn to the form of worship as it was more relatable to them.

Even with the push back from the church, Gospel Reggae artists stuck to their belief that Christianity is all about spreading the message of Jesus, and so is reggae gospel. In a 2003 interview, Joshua Tucker spoke about the hesitation of some church ministries to accept Gospel reggae as putting “…God in a box.” Tucker said “ The Word of God says, ‘Life and death are in the power of the tongue’, it didn’t say life and death is in the power of the rhythm.” He explained that Reggae music was a tool and using it in the church did not take anything away from the faith.

Over time, it became hugely popular and successful in Jamaica and even took roots in the U.K. Today, a large percentage of the Jamaican population has accepted the art form; and Gospel Reggae holds it’s own sector of the reggae industry.

Who are some of the Top Gospel Reggae Artists today?

Jermaine Edwards

Edwards entered the entertainment scene with his first cd ‘Island Worship’ which was the top 3 selling gospel cd’s in Jamaica at the time and one of the most played local gospel album. Today he has released six albums, the last one titled ‘I Will Follow’  was released in 2019. Some of his most popular hits are ‘Peace in My Soul’, ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘Lift Jesus Higher’.

Alaine

Alaine Laughton, who goes by her first name, is a Jamaican American reggae singer and songwriter. She was born in New Jersey but grew up in Jamaica from the early age of three. A record-breaking reggae singer with many secular hits like ‘Rise In Love’, ‘No Ordinary Love’ and ‘Favorite Boy’, Alaine changed her life path after being baptized a born-again Christian on Saturday, July 21, 2018, and in 2019 released a new single in the summer entitled ‘Boast inna God’. This single was well received and was followed by other Gospel Reggae hits including ‘You Give Me Hope’, and ‘Victory Rock’

George Nooks 

Known by many for his monster gospel hit ‘God Is Standing By’, George Nooks who started off singing in the church choir had a stint as a deejay under the name Prince Mohamed in the 1980s before returning to his gospel roots in 2001.

His 2016 album Ride Out Your Storm reached number 4 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, and number 22 on the Gospel chart. 

DJ Nicholas

Jamaican born Christian Reggae Artiste Nicholas Eccleston, more popularly known as DJ Nicholas can be considered as one of the leading Gospel artiste in the Caribbean. He has received many awards and recognition in the genre such as the YVA Awards Gospel Artiste Of The Year 2011 – 2013 consecutively, ‘The Atlanta Caribbean Gospel Awards 2012’ for ‘Album Of The Year’ among others. Some of his popular songs are ‘Holy Ghost Gym’, ‘Holy Ghost Church’, ‘Things Already Better’, ‘Naa Bow’, ‘Divine Mathematics and Cut It Off’.

 

Other Gospel artistes worth mentioning from the above ‘Reggae Gospel Various’ video are: Reubin Heights, Golda McFarlane, Joe Mettle, Joe Mettle, Sherwin Gardner, Joshua Drj, Omari, Shane Sylvester, and Dwayne Fyah

 

Hashtags #GospelReggae #Reggae #Gospel #Alaine #George Nooks #DJNicholas #JermaineEdwards

 

 

Links and references

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20190923/king-gospel-crown-lester-lewis-artiste-says-hes-shunned-jamaica

https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Junior_Tucker_Reggae_gospel_pioneer_speaks_about_his_change_of_direction/8499/p1/