Reggae is among the Caribbean’s most famous cultural exports, with Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, and Carlton Bennett being some of the most recognized figures. Since the early 2000s, the genre has become less localized and more international. Reggae has thrived in the Southern Californian city of San Diego in recent years under the guidance of several talented artists.

While reggae has been one of the most defining music movements of the last sixty years, its widest-reaching legacy is how the style of music—created in the sunny locales of Caribbean countries like Jamaica—gave birth to numerous other subgenres, styles, scenes, and music hubs worldwide. 

One of these is ‘Cali reggae,’ a loosely defined term describing the rock-meets-reggae-meets-ska music created by several California-based artists in recent years. While the term might be vague, it’s useful for understanding the evolution of how a handful of bands in San Diego took reggae music in exciting new directions while still sticking to the genre’s roots.

Let’s take a look at a few of these artists:

Tribal Seeds

Fronted by the duo of vocalist/guitarist Steven Jacobo and his brother, bassist/producer, Antonio Jacobo, Tribal Seeds has been lauded for their sound, which encapsulates the essence of roots reggae while infusing it with modern influences.

Lyrically and thematically, their music deals with issues like love, spirituality, and social consciousness, adding a deeper, more thought-provoking—yet still upbeat—slant to the San Diego reggae sound. Roots Party is a mesmerizing track grounded in classic reggae tradition while Representing is a powerful anthem that reflectts a deep connection to Rastafarian principles of unity and consciousness.

Despite numerous lineup changes over the years, Tribal Seeds still operates as a cohesive unit and still releases great music. Their albums have been consistently high-charting and they are considered one of the defining reggae bands of the 21st Century.

Slightly Stoopid

With a name that told you just how unseriously they took themselves, it was hard for audiences not to get into Slightly Stoopid when they emerged in the mid-90s.

The band’s journey began in 1994, when childhood friends Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald, along with drummer Adam Bausch, decided to start making music together while living in Ocean Beach, California.

Their early days were marked by raw, garage-band energy and a genuine zest for creating new music; this all helped pave the way to a career that saw them blend reggae, punk, ska, and folk in the most exciting ways.

An interesting twist of fate played a significant role in their early career. While residing at a rehabilitation center, Bradley Nowell—frontman of the band Sublime—heard Slightly Stoopid practicing in a garage one morning. Intrigued by their sound, he invited them to perform at Long Beach’s Foot Hill Tavern. One thing led to another, and within no time, Nowell signed them to his Skunk Records label while the band members were still in high school, exposing them to a wider music scene at a young age.

Slightly Stoopid’s self-titled debut album, released in 1996, showcased their infectious sound and laid the groundwork for future success. Over the years, follow-up albums like Everything You Need and Closer to the Sun solidified their reputation as reggae-rock innovators, while they also proved deft at keeping both fans and record labels satisfied. Similarly, their collaborations with artists like Don Carlos and Barrington Levy expanded their influence within the reggae community.

Stick Figure

Stick Figure stands out for the innovation of its one-man-band founder, Scott Woodruff. Having emerged from the San Diego reggae scene, Stick Figure quickly gained recognition for its unique roots-reggae and dub blend.

Woodruff serves as the band’s primary composer, instrumentalist, and producer—and his innately brilliant understanding of music is perhaps why Stick Figure is lauded by music fans. Woodruff’s style bridges the gap between off-the-cuff, energy-fuelled organic reggae, and the lush, layered, sometimes technical production that defines most modern music. It’s a combo that shouldn’t work—but Woodruff always manages to make it work. The song Showdown blends Stick Figure’s relaxed reggae style with Collie Buddz’s energetic, Caribbean-influence. The track Way of Life is a breezy, uplifting song that combines the bass-driven rhythms of reggae with elements of dub, rock, and electronic music.

Stick Figure continues to gain popularity. The band has embarked on extensive tours over the years—captivating audiences and expanding its reach far beyond San Diego, where Woodruff first made a name for himself, and where he solidified his place in the reggae canon.