One drop rhythm

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One drop rhythm is a drumset playing style of reggae, popularized by Carlton Barrett (long-time drummer of Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Upsetters), in which the backbeat is characterized by the dominant snare drum stroke and bass drum kick both sounding on the third beat of every measure in 4/4 time, while beat one is left empty. The style is unique and solid, with a clean sound, leaving relatively large open musical space for improvisation.

King Roy Shirley was the originator of the One-drop:

King Roy Shirley is a born gifted song writer and multitalented singer and musician. Starting as a singer in the Church choir with his mother, he developed his musical talent by learning the guitar and progressed with the help of Jimmy Cliff, and band leaders Mr Barron Lee and Mr Sonny Bradshaw and the late Drum Bago, in the early sixties.

He was the man who created the one drop beat in Jamaica which was with hindsight to have proved to be the inspirational foundation for popularising West Indian music. The Onedrop led into the Rock Steady beat, from which came the rolling sounds of Reggae, Lovers Rock and Ragamuffin. His record Hold Them went to an international number one, and revolutionised music for ever"