Still havent figured out how to post you tube links. Chronixx's whole album is uploaded there, called Dread and Terrible. Theres also a channel by Justice Sound which has a lot of mixtapes of contemporary roots artists. I-Wayne is another that springs to mind, unique vocal style and lyrics.

Understand about preferring the rootsier stuff but theres a lot of dancehall with conscious lyrics, Sizzla was at the forefront of this style for many years, and made some of the best of it, although he also did a lot of songs that were far from conscious. Same goes for Capleton. They do have a way with lyrics, and theres a raw energy and spontaneity in their type of music that can get lost in the more carefully crafted tunes.

As far as 'the message', its not just 'one love' and smoking ganja (although thats a big part of it). Not all reggae singers are rastas and hardly any of the producers are. Coxsone 'studio 1', Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs, Lee Perry even, all 'baldheads'!. The great studio wizard and godfather of dub King Tubby was not only not a rasta, but didnt smoke or drink. His mixes certainly have a spiritual element however, and he had a deep understanding and love of the music.

Rastafari is a whole subject of its own. I think theres a thread somewhere on the subject, so I dont want to hijack this one too much. I always wanted to be a rasta when I was a younger, and I still embrace a lot of the rasta values, but at the end of the day, I cant honestly say I consider Haile Selassie a living god, nor do I want to be repatriated to Africa, nor live strictly under the laws of the Old Testament...

Reggae and The Herb are a natural mix of course, but Ive personally found even greater depths listening to it on psychedelics, especially mushrooms. Ive got some theories why there isnt more use of psychedelics, other than ganja, in the Jamaican community, but thats for another time. (Still getting the hang of this forum posting lark).

Think Ive figured out this youtube thing now, Ill try and post some links next.