Ska Punk

To understand ska punk, it is first important to understand ska. Born in Jamaica in the '50, ska blends traditional Jamaican music, such as calypso, with elements of jazz and R&B. As with any other musical genre, ska went through a number of evolutions over the years, eventually reaching the shores of the United Kingdom. In fact, the birth of punk is inextricably linked to ska, in that The Clash was using elements of the genre's sound on their earliest recordings.

The Combination of Ska and Punk

Very much like punk, ska often had political connotations, with lyrics dealing with unemployment and other social concerns in Jamaica. Followers of ska would dress like Hollywood gangsters and call themselves "rude boys" as a way to stand out from the public. It isn't hard to see why ska and punk became so closely related as they were both born out of a reaction to social conditions.

By the late '70s, ska had gained a strong foothold in England and led to the birth of what is known as the Two Tone era. Not only was this the name of a leading record label, but it also highlighted the music's push for racial unity. This was made even clearer by the black and white checkered designs made famous by The Specials. As the punk scene began to grow, it wasn't long before the two musical styles fused to create ska punk.

Although the origins of ska punk can be traced back to the late '70s, the genre truly took off in the '80s and '90s. Bands like Rancid and Less Than Jake combined the beats and horn sections of ska with the fast-paced and aggressive nature of punk. No longer an underground scene, bands such as No Doubt, The Mighty Mighty Boss Tones and Sublime have made the sounds of ska punk far more mainstream, although their lyrics don't always contain the political messages that the genre was initially known for.