Reggae classics and popular tracks you’ll want to play this summer — perfect for drives and BBQs

When you think of summer music, what genre comes to mind? Many people would probably answer “reggae,” without hesitation.

If you’re a fan, you might already have a personal playlist packed with classic tracks that are perfect for summer events or a drive.

In this article, though, we’ve put together a selection of recommended reggae songs for beginners too—from timeless classics to relatively recent hits.

We’re featuring both international and Japanese tracks, so if you’ve been thinking about getting into reggae, be sure to check these out!

Playlist

Reggae classics and popular tracks you’ll want to play this summer — perfect for drives and BBQs
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Is This LoveBob Marley & The Wailers		Introduction to Bob Marley's love songs
2	SEASON IN SUMMERKotobuki-kun & GUN HYPE & BAD JUSTICE		A classic Japanese reggae song for summer
3	Daylight saving time!!MINMI		MINMI’s signature summer song, the pleasant feel of soca beats
4	time a slow feat.CHEHONLIFESTYLE		Expressing everyday liberation through the slow rhythm of reggae
5	SummertimeVybz Kartel		Vybz Kartel’s popular dancehall song from the summer of 2011
6	Light It Up (feat. RUDEBWOY FACE & ¥ellow Bucks)BANTY FOOT		A reggae crew’s positive message song
7	BURNINGKoffee		A masterpiece that showcases Koffee’s talent and powerful message
8	Die For YouShenseea		Shenseea’s love-expression track nominated for a Grammy
9	STAY POSITIVE feat FIRE BALL,PAPA B,YOYO-C,RUDEBWOY FACEMIGHTY CROWN		A reggae song that pushes forward positively
10	JUMP UPRAY		Feel the summer vibes with RAY's reggae track
11	ShananaMINMI		Introducing the appeal of MINMI’s signature song “Shanana”
12	Love & ReggaeCollie Buddz		Expressing the appeal of Collie Buddz's reggae music
13	Fry Plantain (Ft. Joey Bada$$)Lila Ikè		Warm moments with a lover themed around Jamaican cuisine
14	MangoSevana		Sevana’s tropical summer staple song
15	Edge of the OceanStick Figure		A reggae track that brings hope and healing
16	tropical nightHome Grown		Introduction to the reggae band's summer song 'Nettaiya' (Tropical Night)
17	Paradise PlumNaomi Cowan		A reggae song by Naomi Cowan with the theme of love
18	Mysterious GirlPeter Andre		Introduction to a summery reggae-pop song
19	Praise Jah in the MoonlightYG Marley		YG Marley's debut song, a spiritual reggae
20	That Summer (feat. TAK-Z, Baby Kiy)SPICY CHOCOLATE		A soothing song that depicts summer love and memories
21	Reggae Bus (feat. PUSHIM, Papa-B, JUNIOR DEE, Douraku, RUEED, RYO the SKYWALKER, MIGHTY JAM ROCK, Jumbo Maatch & Takafi)Fire Ball		An all-star track by FIREBALL, a reggae group from Yokohama
22	BillionaireTravie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars		Collaboration song by Gym Class Heroes and Bruno Mars
23	Pon De River, Pon De BankElephant man		A song by the Jamaican reggae singer Elephant Man
24	Na,Na,Na,NaNG HEAD		A positive reggae song by NG HEAD
25	Midsummer OrionINFINITY16 welcomez MINMI,10-FEET		An emotional, reggae-style track that depicts a summer romance
26	One DayMatisyahu		A reggae song by Matisyahu
27	ForeverPUSHIM		Summer romance with Pushim's pure-love reggae
28	Rhyme Wave Phrase DisciplesCHEHON		Chehon's reggae song introduction
29	I love you more than three meals a day.TEE		TEE 2010 debut song love song
30	Lean On (feat. MØ)Major Lazer & DJ Snake		A song that conveys the importance of bonds with companions and mutual support
31	Paradise NowBES		Depicting happy moments with a lover in a BES summer song
32	STEP UP ~Swaying and Drifting~BOOGIE MAN		Boogeyman “StepUp” a stress-relief track
33	We a rockerJACOB MILLER		A soothing reggae song by Jacob Miller
34	Hanabi (Fireworks) MINMI × Miki Dōzan ver.MINMI		Introducing uplifting songs from any genre
35	Summer sparkleMOOMIN		MOOMIN's summer sparkle is a refreshing reggae song
36	Don’t Turn AroundAswad		Aswad's reggae version became a big hit in 1988
37	Light My Fire (ft. Gwen Stefani, Shenseea)sean paul		Sean Paul’s new song sets a romantic mood with an all-star collaboration
38	SmokeJUMBO MAATCH		A warm reggae message song
39	NO TESTRUEED&TONZILLA feat. MION		RUED and Tonzilla release a reggae album
40	From DistanceRYO the SKYWALKER		RYO the SKYWALKER's new song is heartwarming
41	MemoriesBuju Banton & John Legend		A classic by Buju Banton and John Legend
42	RudeMAGIC		A signature song by MAGIC! The story of a protagonist who stays true to their love even when the lover’s father opposes their marriage.
43	Get Busysean paul		Introduction to Sean Paul's global hit songs
44	Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze		A masterpiece depicting the growth of love by Shonan no Kaze
45	Ah, summer vacation.Kotobukikun		Kotokun covers a classic hit by TUBE
46	The Last One feat. J-REXXXJAPANĪZUMAGENĪZU		Music that advocates for world peace and a happy society
47	water lily blossomShonan no Kaze		Shonan no Kaze’s popular summer song
48	We Be Burningsean paul		Sean Paul's signature summer songs
49	Endless SummerKotobukikun		A summer song by Kotobuki-kun, a reggae singer from Nara
50	Twilight Summer feat. Scha Dara Parr & PUSHIMHASE-T		HASE-T announces 20th anniversary single
51	Don’t Worry Be HappyBobby McFerrin		Bobby creates sounds using only his body in a cappella.
52	Reggae VibesHAN-KUN		Release of a reggae-style summer song
53	Lay You Down EasyMAGIC! ft. Sean Paul		Magic! scores a huge hit featuring Sean Paul
54	MelosPUSHIM, THUNDER		A moving work by artists from Osaka and Hyogo
55	“D” Feat KiraRED SPIDER, APOLLO, KENTY GROSS & NATURAL WEAPON		A summer-friendly reggae track featuring multiple rappers
56	YOU & ISTEREON		A healing song for you who worry about others' eyes
57	KSWD775		775 sings about Kishiwada with a reggae vibe
58	absoluteBES		Reggae singer BES’s dream theme song
59	GIANT KILLINGCHEHON		CHEHON's Support Song Giant Killing
60	greenCHEHON		CHEHON’s smash-hit classic love song
61	One LinkFire Ball		Theme song of FIRE BALL's bond
62	The usual musicHAKAIHAYABUSA		Laid-back reggae music from a Kansai band
63	Beloved, This Life feat. Hayato Q & ZAROOHEMP ZION		A positive song by a reggae artist
64	Loud-Noise SyndromeMUNEHIRO		A reggae song to enjoy a summer night
65	At My Own Pace feat. EXPRESSRISKY DICE		Refreshing horn sounds of a reggae crew
66	MAGNUM BABYRUDEBWOY FACE		A love song that portrays the depth of love, for moments of happiness
67	The Sunlit HillRYO the SKYWALKER		RYO’s reggae song “Harewataru Oka” is suited for summer.
68	Bam BamSister Nancy		Sister Nancy’s signature reggae song
69	Kino MochiyōTAKAFIN		An uplifting, feel-good reggae pop
70	HUSTLETHUNDER		THUNDER's passion and belief in music
71	GROOVEThe Speakers		The Speakers' aggressive dancehall
72	Break Open the SkyTobyMac Feat. Israel Houghton		A song from TobyMac’s fourth album
73	Brand New DayYamashiRoll & KAJA		A song in reggae that celebrates the beginning of a new day
74	Lifetime RespectMiki Dōsan		Reggae songs by Miki Dōzan become popular in Japan
75	KEY MAKERmanji rain		A powerful, positive song blending reggae and dancehall
76	SAMURAImanji rain		Yosuke Kubozuka expresses Japanese pride through reggae
77	If I do itKotobukikun		Hisashi-kun’s upbeat reggae song
78	STILL IN LOVEdōraku		Douraku’s debut song is a bittersweet love song
79	cactusShonan no Kaze		A song by Shonan no Kaze that expresses hope for the future
80	Sun Is Shining (Bob Marley vs. Funkstar De Luxe Extended Club Mix)Bob Marley		Remix Bob Marley in a house style
81	Real No More (feat. Shy Fx & Kiko Bun)Chase & Status		A fusion track of reggae and drum and bass by Chase & Status
82	GasolinaDaddy Yankee		A global hit in reggaeton music
83	Hold You (Hold Yuh)Gyptian		Gyptian's 2010 hit song
84	LDNLily Allen		Lily Allen’s cheerful reggae-style song
85	Thinking of YouLord Echo		Lord Echo's tropical sound
86	Only Just Begun (feat. Joseph Cotton)Manudigital		A collaboration track by a French beatmaker and a Jamaican DJ
87	Say Hey (I Love You)Michael Franti & Spearhead		Fusion music themed on the journey of life
88	Love Ain’t Just A WordRudimental feat. Anne-Marie & Dizzee Rascal		Rudimental’s new reggae-style collaboration
89	Do The ReggayToots & The Maytals		Toots and the Maytals, the legendary Jamaican group
90	APOLLO STYLEAPOLLO		Fast rap song introduction by APOLLO
91	DON’T FEEL NO WAYBOY-KEN feat. PUSHIM		Feeling refreshed on a summer drive with a reggae tune
92	TOUCH THE SKYEXPRESS		A reggae tune that powerfully expresses hope and determination…
93	BIRDMANFire Ball		FIRE BALL “BIRDMAN” — reggae that gives you courage
94	Don’t Give Up YourselfHAN-KUN		HAN-KUN's reggae song
95	Are you serious? 2020KENTY GROSS		KENTY GROSS’s 2020 self-cover song
96	Dynamite out of nowhere!MIGHTY JAM ROCK		A hot reggae track by MIGHTY JAM ROCK
97	Hey BabyNo Doubt		No Doubt's reggae fusion song
98	PARK feat. ISSEIPUSHIM		A fusion song of reggae and basketball
99	While listening to reggaeTAKAFIN		Relax your body and mind with reggae
100	Bunshakarakamanji rain		Introducing Manji LINE’s summer-ready relaxing tracks
101	Come Original311		A reggae-influenced song by 311 released in 1999
102	Give It To YouEve ft. Sean Paul		Eve’s 2007 hit song. Reggae-style.
103	Turn Me OnKevin Lyttle featuring Spraga Benz		A world-hit song announced at a festival
104	Brotherhood of the brokenMarlon Roudette		Marlon Laudette’s reggae song
105	So Finesean paul		Sean Paul 2009 single
106	NEW DAY-ORANKIN TAXI		Introduction to Reggae Music that Heals Fatigue
107	Pretty Likkle BabeZendaMan		ZENDAMAN’s reggae song is making waves
108	Beautiful GirlsSean Kingston		A song expressing the feelings of a boy who was abandoned by his lover