Several reggae songs make Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time

Rolling Stone unveiled its list of the “100 Best Protest Songs of All-Time” on Monday, and several iconic songs by reggae legends made the cut. Among them were two tracks by Bob Marley and the Wailers, one by Junior Murvin, and one by Peter Tosh. Topping the list is Sam Cooke’s 1964 classic “A Change is Gonna Come.”

According to Rolling Stone, the list spans nearly a century of music, showcasing a diverse range of genres—from pre-World War II jazz and sixties folk to eighties house music, 2000s R&B, and even 2020s Cuban hip-hop.

Junior Murvin’s 1977 hit Police and Thieves is ranked at number 66 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Best Protest Songs of All-Time.” The song tackles the violence in Kingston’s streets, highlighting both police brutality and conflicts between warring gangs.

Meanwhile, Peter Tosh’s iconic 1976 anthem Legalize It comes in at number 54. Released after Tosh’s departure from the Wailers, this song became one of the most enduring pro-marijuana anthems. With its laid-back rhythm, Tosh highlights cannabis’ medicinal benefits and cultural significance, making it a powerful statement that has fueled global decriminalization movements over the years.

Bob Marley’s Get Up, Stand Up was inspired by his visit to Haiti, where he witnessed the extreme poverty faced by many. Co-written with Peter Tosh and built around a melody from the American funk rock band War, the song became a direct, unapologetic call to action. It urges listeners to demand justice and equality in the present, rather than waiting for peace in the afterlife.

Marley’s Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) also made the list, coming in at number 12. Featured on the 1974 Natty Dread album, this track critiques the stark contrast between those who have enough to eat and those still struggling in poverty, further emphasizing the need for social and economic change.

Rolling Stone says the songs represent voices from all generations. “Some of these songs decry oppression and demand justice, others are prayers for positive change; some grab you by the shoulders and shout in your face, others are personal, private attempts to subtly embody the contradictory nature of political struggle and change from the inside. Many of our selections are specific products of leftist political traditions (like Pete Seeger’s version of We Shall Overcome), but just as many are hits that slipped urgent messages into the pop marketplace (like Nena’s anti-nuclear war New Wave bop 99 Luftballons).”

Other notable songs that made Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Best Protest Songs of All-Time” include Talkin’ About a Revolution by Tracy Chapman, Fight the Power by The Isley Brothers, and Helen Reddy’s empowering anthem I Am Woman. Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s Freedom is also featured, alongside KRS-ONE’s iconic Sound of Da Police. H.E.R.’s powerful I Can’t Breathe, Edwin Starr’s War, and Marvin Gaye’s timeless What’s Going On all earned spots as well. Other standout tracks include James Brown’s anthem Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud) and Aretha Franklin’s iconic Respect. These songs, spanning decades and genres, continue to resonate as powerful calls for social change.