The worlds of reggae and hip-hop have a long shared history, regularly intertwining via dynamic collaborations.
Jamaican dancehall rhythms heavily influenced the backbeats being sampled and remixed during rap’s formative years in New York. Later, reggae’s biggest stars would make guest appearances on singles from some of the world’s biggest MC’s further taking their sound to mainstream audiences.
Below, we’ve highlighted 12 iconic reggae hip-hop hybrids – legendary examples where these genres joined together to produce timeless tracks.
The Fat Boys – “Hard Core Reggae” (1985)
“Hard Core Reggae” doesn’t hit nearly as aggressively as the name suggests, but there’s no discounting the impact of this early rap/reggae crossovers. The playful tribute finds Brooklyn trio The Fat Boys rhyming over a bass-heavy rhythm while shouting out reggae legends like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. The video even featured cameos from New York reggae icons Denroy Morgan, Sammy Dread, Welton Irie and Mikey Jarrett.
Jay-Z feat. Damian Marley – “Bam” (2017)
We could have done an entire list made up of songs that utilize Sister Nancy’s timeless “Bam Bam,” but we limited ourselves to this one. On 4:44, Jay returned to raw, stripped-down bars with “Bam,” harnessing a “Bam Bam” sample and riding No I.D.’s dub-soaked production. Damian Marley’s feature ties it back to reggae tradition, weaving in Jacob Miller’s “Tenement Yard” as Jay drops vintage verses full of grit and gravitas.
KRS-One – “The Bridge Is Over” (1987)
A cornerstone of hip-hop’s early battles, this Boogie Down Productions classic doubles as a nod to dancehall. KRS-One delivers his scathing Bronx-versus-Queens diss in a thick Jamaican accent, interpolating the rhthym from Super Cat’s “Boops.” It’s raw, confrontational, and one of the first major rap records to openly showcase reggae’s influence.
Ini Kamoze – “Here Comes the Hotstepper” (1994)
This chart-topping hit was inescapable in 1994, proving reggae-hip-hop hybrids could reach mass appeal. Producer Salaam Remi’s fused hip-hop grooves with Kamoze’s distinctive delivery, sending the track to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Decades later, it remains a cultural touchstone, soundtracking millions of TikTok clips and proving the timelessness of reggae/rap fusion.
Damian Marley & Nas – “Strong Will Continue” (2010)
In 2010, two legends of their respective genres joined forces for the collaborative album Distant Relatives. Nas and Damian Marley fused their sizeable talents on the release, which melded reggae and hip hop while tackling such heavy subject matter as colonialism, poverty, and the universality of the human condition. While the whole album is worth a listen, our favorite track is “Strong Will Continue,” a motivational anthem that blends Damian’s urgent deejay chants with Nas’ razor-sharp verses.
French Montana feat. Nicki Minaj – “Freaks” (2013)
Built on Chaka Demus & Pliers’ immortal “Murder She Wrote” rhythm and nodding to Lil’ Vicious’ ‘90s jam of the same name, this radio hit updates a dancehall classic for mainstream consumption. Montana delivers his usual bravado, but Nicki steals the show, unleashing a fiery patois-laced verse that turns up the heat.
Shinehead – “Who the Cap Fit” (1986)
On this classic ‘80s track, Shinehead effortlessly switches between deejay chants and sharp rhymes. Borrowing Bob Marley’s classic hook from 1974’s song of the same name, Shinehead tackles social and political issues over a digital dancehall rhythm — proving few could blend the two styles with such ease.
Kendrick Lamar feat. Agent Sasco – “The Blacker the Berry” (2015)
On “The Blacker the Berry,” Kendrick Lamar’s searing critique of racism is anchored by Agent Sasco’s thunderous hook, delivered in raw Jamaican patois. The fusion is as much cultural as it is musical, tying hip-hop’s urgency to reggae’s historical consciousness.
Super Cat and Heavy D – “Dem No Worry We” (1992)
Heavy D’s Bronx flow meets Super Cat’s dancehall swagger on this early-‘90s party anthem. Trading verses in patois and English, the collaboration highlights the natural chemistry between reggae toasting and hip-hop rhyming during dancehall’s big breakthrough era.
Snoop Lion feat. Mavado & Popcaan – “Lighters Up” (2013)
Snoop Dogg’s 2012 reggae reinvention may have drawn skepticism, but there’s no denying the quality of this track. Featuring Jamaican singers Mavado and Popcaan — rivals at the time — “Lighters Up” layers brass and booming drums into a catchy anthem that represents both tension and unity in dancehall.
A$AP Ferg feat. A$AP Rocky – “Shabba” (2013)
A wild, bass-heavy banger that salutes dancehall legend Shabba Ranks, this track finds Ferg and Rocky flexing with gold-tooth bravado and oversized rings — channeling Shabba’s flashy swagger. Sprinkled with samples from Ranks’ “Ting a Ling,” it’s an homage and a hype anthem rolled into one.
Foxy Brown feat. Spragga Benz – “Oh Yeah” (2001)
On this 2001 hit, Foxy Brown flexes her dominance over a booming bassline, while Jamaican dancehall legend Spragga Benz punctuates the hook. Sampling Toots and Bob Marley, this track highlights the fearless swagger and cross-island chemistry of early-2000s rap-reggae collabs.
