Two Tone

Two Tone was a British late-1970s movement blending Jamaican ska and rocksteady with punk energy and multiracial line-ups — named after 2 Tone Records — bringing ska revival hits to UK and European audiences.

Why it matters: Two Tone proves Jamaican rhythm's diaspora afterlife. Bands like The Specials reintroduced ska to punk-era youth, creating a template for later genre crossovers and anti-racist youth culture.