A style of popular music with a strongly accented subsidiary beat, originating in Jamaica. Reggae evolved in the late 1960s from ska and other local variations on calypso and rhythm and blues, and became widely known in the 1970s through the work of Bob Marley. Characterized by its distinctive rhythms, bass-heavy beats, and emphasized off-beat syllables, Reggae often features socially conscious lyrics, soulful vocals, and incorporates elements of Rastafarian culture and politics while also giving voice to the struggles and hopes of marginalized communities.