Artists have been mixing reggae with other genres from as early as the early 1970s, but initially they were described using terms that joined the various genres they performed (e.g. "reggae funk", "reggae pop", "reggae-disco"). It was not until the late 1990s that the term "reggae fusion" was coined.
[8]
The subgenre predominantly evolved from late 1980s and early 1990s dancehall music which instrumentals or "
riddims" contained elements from the R&B and hip hop genres. Due to this, some consider dancehall artists such as
Mad Cobra,
Shabba Ranks,
Super Cat,
Buju Banton and
Tony Rebel as pioneers of reggae fusion.
[9] For some of these artists, among them Buju Banton, reggae fusion became a staple throughout their careers. However, reggae fusion can be traced back to before the success of these artists, as far back as the late 1970s and early 1980s, with such songs as "
Pass the Dutchie", and the band
Third World blazed the trail, finding international success with songs such as "
Now That We Found Love" and "Try Jah Love".
[10] Therefore, Third World can be seen as arguably the original pioneers of reggae fusion leading the way for groups such as
UB40 and
Steel Pulse.
