Ska

Ska is a high-energy Jamaican genre originating in the late 1950s, blending mento, calypso, jazz, and R&B. It is defined by its signature offbeat guitar 'skank', syncopated walking basslines, and punchy horn sections that drive infectious, danceable rhythms.

Origin: Jamaica, Kingston; rooted in rude boy culture and local sound system traditions.

Era: Late 1950s-early 1960s (original Jamaican ska); 2 Tone revival (late 1970s UK); third wave (1990s).