The 100 best reggae songs of the 2010s

Top 100 songs of the decade. Again. I made the same journey in 2009 when Swedish music magazine Novell invited its readers to submit lists of their 100 best songs 2000–2009.

Another ten years have passed and it’s time again. This time I have been more prepared, but at the same time I’ve spent a lot more time. Maybe an unreasonable amount of time to create a list that shows the 100 best reggae songs of the decade, from my perspective. And that includes a lot of reggae. Or basically one hundred percent.

But this is not a list based on my most played songs during this period. When I did the research, some songs simply did not measure up anymore. For different reasons.

Therefore, some songs have failed to make the list, while others have been added. Songs that I may not have played much, but in retrospect have turned out to be brilliant. Others have turned up in the research phase.

This is a list that shows how multi-faceted reggae is. Included are most subgenres – roots, dancehall, lovers rock, dub, rocksteady, dubstep and ska. The sounds are dramatic, loving, passionate, political, rebellious and spiritual.

Hit songs with many millions of listens rub shoulders with underground classics that may have only a few thousand spins. And the list brings together artists and producers from the Caribbean, the United States, Europe and Australia. However, the vast majority of artists are from Jamaica.

The one with the most songs is Chronixx, who debuted around 2012. He has nine songs on the list, three of which are in the top 20. Then comes Tarrus Riley, Randy Valentine and Protoje with five songs each.

The best year was 2013 with a full 18 tracks followed by 2015 and 2017/2010 who share third place. 2016, on the other hand, was a rather bleak year with only one song, Damian Marley’s dramatic Caution.

The list includes just over six hours of music. How many hours I spent creating the list I don’t even want to think about. But it’s been a fantastic musical journey where I’ve collected a total of about 400 songs, but where only 100 made it. And two did not make it because they were simply not on Spotify – Stephen Marley’s Rockstone and Ondubgrounds War.

So – just over six hours of music. Listen below – or click here – and enjoy!

And please note that list in the player is reversed for some reason. Ikaya’s Worth His Weight in Gold is at number 100 and Contradiction with Alborosie & Chronixx is at 99, and so forth.

Artist – track (year)
100. Ikaya – Worth His Weight In Gold (2015)
99. Alborosie & Chronixx – Contradiction (2018)
98. L’Entourloop & Patrice & Guts & Troy Berkley – Want It Back (2017)
97. Agent Sasco & Bounty Killer – Ghetto State of Mind (2011)
96. Ginjah – Baby Girl (What Love Means) (2014)
95. Busy Signal – Government Gone Luuu (2010)
94. Danakil & Ondubground & Jamalski – Tell Dem (2017)
93. Jah9 – Steamers A Bubble (2013)
92. Cornell Campbell & Burro Banton – Pressure (2014)
91. Romain Virgo – Taking You Home (2010)
90. Eesah – Tell No Lie (2017)
89. Kranium & Ty Dolla Sign – Nobody Has To Know (Major Lazer & KickRaux Remix) (2015)
88. Johnny Clarke & Fantan Mojah – Rebel With A Cause (2010)
87. Stylo G – Soundbwoy (2013)
86. Damian Marley – Caution (2016)
85. Busy Signal & Christopher Martin – Lock Di Endz (2014)
84. Conkarah – No Barbershop (2012)
83. Alpheus – From Creation (2013)
82. Samory I – Rasta Nuh Gangsta (2017)
81. Queen Ifrica – Times Like These (2011)
80. Randy Valentine – Victory (2013)
79. J Boog – Coldest Zone (2010)
78. Tarrus Riley – Don’t Come Back (2017)
77. Xavier Rudd & The United Nations – Come People (2015)
76. Jesse Royal – Preying On the Weak (2013)
75. Gentleman & Shaggy – Warn Dem (2014)
74. Jah Sun & Chronixx – Top Ranking (2013)
73. Monkey Marc & Capleton & Fantan Mojah & Sizzla – No Surrender (2017)
72. Randy Valentine – Be A Rebel (2013)
71. Sean Paul & Major Lazer – Tip Pon It (2018)
70. King Mas – Zombie Apocalypse (2015)
69. Claye – Shadow After Dark (2014)
68. Koffee – Burning (2018)
67. Cadenza & Stylo G & Busy Signal – Foundation (2015)
66. Popcaan & Agent Sasco & Konshens & Kranium – I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times (Dre Skull Remix) (2015)
65. Micah Shemaiah & TJ Likkle Briggie & Infinite & Hempress Sativa & Jahkime – Dread At the Control (2015)
64. Spice – Jim Screechie (2011)
63. Beenie Man – Survivor (2014)
62. Brinsley Forde – Sodom and Gomorrah (2013)
61. Kabaka Pyramid – Well Done (2015)
60. Tara Harrison – PSA (2018)
59. Ras Demo – Sekkle Up the Score (2015)
58. Wiley & Stefflon Don & Sean Paul & Idris Elba – Boasty (2019)
57. Protoje & Chronixx – Who Knows (2014)
56. Spice – So Mi Like (2014)
55. Tarrus Riley – Gimme Likkle One Drop (2012)
54. Protoje – Kingston Be Wise (2012)
53. Jesse Royal & Jo Mersa Marley – Generation (2017)
52. Hollie Cook – Angel Fire (2017)
51. Tifa – Rock My Body (2015)
50. Tarrus Riley – We Run It (2012)
49. Lukie D – Share Him (2010)
48. Major Lazer & MO & DJ Snake – Lean On (2015)
47. Shenseea & Shatta Wale – The Way I Move (2018)
46. Runkus – Run (2015)
45. Chino – Larger Than Life (2013)
44. Chris Martin – Paper Loving (2010)
43. General Degree – Feeling Irie (2015)
42. Jimmy Riley & Fantan Mojah – Tell Me Your Name (2010)
41. Randy Valentine – Break the Chain (2014)
40. Major Lazer & Tove Lo – Blow That Smoke (2018)
39. Jah Sun – Every Day of The Week (2013)
38. Machel Montano – Go Down (2012)
37. Konshens & Romain Virgo – We No Worry Bout Them (2013)
36. Protoje – JA (2011)
35. Snoop Lion & Miley Cyrus – Ashtreys & Heartbreaks (2013)
34. Chronixx – Capture Land (2014)
33. Chronixx & Kabaka Pyramid & Protoje & Sizzla – Selassie Souljahz (2013)
32. Jah Sun & Kabaka Pyramid – Foundation (2013)
31. Macka B – Never Played A 45 (2015)
30. Shenseea – Beat Me Congo (2019)
29. Wayne Marshall & Tessanne Chin & Ryan Mark – Glory To God (2018)
28. Mista Savona & Randy Valentine & Solis – Carnival (2017)
27. Sigala & Fuse ODG & Sean Paul – Feels Like Home (2018)
26. Stick Figure & Collie Buddz – Smokin’ Love (2014)
25. Kabaka Pyramid & Chronixx & Dre Island – Rough Road Remix (2013)
24. Chezidek – Walk With Jah (2010)
23. Captain Sinbad – Capital Offence (2012)
22. Vybz Kartel & Popcaan & Gaza Slim – Clarks (2010)
21. Terry Linen – How Do You Like My Music (2012)
20. Protoje & Don Corleon – Our Time Come (2010)
19. Estelle & Tarrus Riley – Love Like Ours (2017)
18. Stephen Marley & Damian Marley & Buju Banton – Jah Army (2011)
17. Angela Hunte – Outta My Head (2017)
16. Lt. Stitchie – War Path (2013)
15. Alaine – Hello (2015)
14. Chronixx – Majesty (2017)
13. Ninjaman – Ninja Mi Ninja (2013)
12. Mr. Vegas & Shaggy & Josey Wales – Sweet Jamaica (2011)
11. Skrillex & Damian Marley – Make It Bun Dem (2012)
10. Randy Valentine – Happiness Station (2017)
9. Major Lazer & Busy Signal & FS Green & The Flexican – Watch Out For This (2014)
8. Chronixx – Start A Fyah (2012)
7. Gyptian – Hold Yuh (2010)
6. Chronixx – Here Comes Trouble (2013)
5. Nas & Damian Marley – As We Enter (2010)
4. Spice – Black Hypocrisy (2018)
3. Tarrus Riley – Wildfire (2010)
2. Pressure & Spectacular & Cali P & Don Pako & Keefaz – In The Clash Tonight (2010)
1. Michie One & Loouchie Lou & Ding Dong & Bravo – Priceless (2017)

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