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dub

what it is

Dub is a form of music which evolved out of reggae in the late 1960s, though the dub sound more commonly known today did not originate until the early to mid–1970s. The dub sound consists predominantly of instrumental remixes of existing recordings and is achieved by significantly manipulating and reshaping the recordings, usually by removing the vocals from an existing music piece, emphasizing the drum and bass frequencies or 'riddim', adding extensive echo and reverb effects, and dubbing occasional snippets of lyrics from the original version. It is widely accepted that Jamaican musicians Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock, and Lee "Scratch" Perry pioneered the style in the 1960s and early 1970s.

✦ meet the girls making dub →
women, non-binary artists, and bands with women, level by level

✦ start here: albums

Master of My Make-Believe by Santigold
Master of My Make-Believe
Santigold
open this album: apple music · spotify
King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown by Augustus Pablo
King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
Augustus Pablo
open this album: apple music · spotify
Based on a True Story by Fat Freddy's Drop
Based on a True Story
Fat Freddy's Drop
open this album: apple music · spotify
Sandinista! by The Clash
Sandinista!
The Clash
open this album: apple music · spotify
Heart Of The Congos by The Congos
Heart Of The Congos
The Congos
open this album: apple music · spotify
Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires by Scientist
Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Vampires
Scientist
open this album: apple music · spotify

✦ who's making it, level by level

level 1 · mainstream

the pop everyone knows

Major Lazer
3.1m listeners

level 3 · one step out

cult favorites and indie darlings

Sideshow
388k listeners
King Tubby
337k listeners
Augustus Pablo
417k listeners
Lee "Scratch" Perry
402k listeners
Stick Figure
328k listeners
Easy Star All-Stars
417k listeners
Fat Freddy's Drop
374k listeners
Asian Dub Foundation
468k listeners
Roots Manuva
590k listeners

level 4 · further

art pop, hyperpop, and the underground

Fishmans
503k listeners
Scientist
228k listeners
Rhythm & Sound
170k listeners
Dubioza Kolektiv
118k listeners
Stand High Patrol
87k listeners
Dreadzone
145k listeners
Barry Biggs
55k listeners
Disrupt
122k listeners
Demdike Stare
71k listeners
Fly My Pretties
45k listeners
FRENTE CUMBIERO
49k listeners
Scracho
105k listeners

level 5 · all the way

deep experimental

Baiana System
5k listeners
Dean Blunt
1m listeners
Mad Professor & Jah Shaka
9k listeners
Twilight Circus Dub Sound System
39k listeners
Tapper Zukie
38k listeners
Kaly Live Dub
15k listeners
Drome
25k listeners
Solarus
7k listeners
Ashtech
14k listeners
Dubdadda
10k listeners
Abassi All Stars
16k listeners
La Cherga
12k listeners

✦ make dub a playlist

turn these 34 artists into something you can press play on.

each artist's most played song, easing from level 1 out to 5

✦ nearby genres

reggaeelectronicexperimentalroots reggaeskachillelectro dubambientdancehallrap

questions

What is dub?

Dub is a form of music which evolved out of reggae in the late 1960s, though the dub sound more commonly known today did not originate until the early to mid–1970s. The dub sound consists predominantly of instrumental remixes of existing recordings and is achieved by significantly manipulating and reshaping the recordings, usually by removing the vocals from an existing music piece, emphasizing the drum and bass frequencies or 'riddim', adding extensive echo and reverb effects, and dubbing occasional snippets of lyrics from the original version. It is widely accepted that Jamaican musicians Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock, and Lee "Scratch" Perry pioneered the style in the 1960s and early 1970s.

What are good dub albums to start with?

Try Master of My Make-Believe by Santigold, King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown by Augustus Pablo, Based on a True Story by Fat Freddy's Drop, and Sandinista! by The Clash.

Who are some women making dub?

musicisforgirls.com/genres/dub/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making dub, from mainstream to underground.

genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20