Definition

A music genre originating in Jamaica in the late 1950s that blends Caribbean mento and calypso with R&B, characterized by a fast-paced rhythm and offbeat guitar strums, later popularized by British and American punk-influenced bands in the 1970s-1990s.

Example Usage

The Specials and Sublime brought ska to mainstream audiences with their upbeat, politically conscious anthems.

Origin

Derived from the Jamaican term for the offbeat guitar rhythm that defines the style; evolved from early Jamaican popular music.

Fun Fact

Ska experienced three distinct waves: the original Jamaican ska of the 1960s, the British 2 Tone movement of the 1970s-80s that mixed punk energy with anti-racism messaging, and the American third wave of the 1990s.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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