Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. W.I. then US/UK black) authentic, culturally sound (by Rastafarian standards); thus roots people, those who feel they belong in Africa, rather than in the W.I. or the black diaspora; rootsheads, fans of roots music.

1980		M. Thelwell Harder They Come 292: The joint was [...] rocking under a steady, steady reggae roots beat.
1983		Toyes ‘Smoke Two Joints’ 🎵 Tokin’ on some sweet bud and jammin’ on a rootsy reggae-funky town.
1987		D. Hebdige Cut ’n’ Mix 151: But he isn’t a rootsy Jamaican ‘yardy’ either.
1999		(con. 1979–80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 98: They were surprised to see so many rootsheads in an outer-city place like Croydon.
2001		(con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 68: Some rootshead testing out his bass speakers.
2008		Sun. Times (S. Afr.) 27 Jan. 21: The popular constructs of beauty [...] categorise the natural look by reducing it to ‘rootsy chic.’.