2 Tone (or Two-Tone ) was a music genre and subculture that emerged in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The movement was a second-wave revival of Jamaican Ska, fusing its energetic rhythms with the raw energy of punk rock and the stylistic sensibilities of new wave .

It was characterized by its multiracial bands, its socially conscious lyrics addressing issues of racism and unemployment, and its distinct visual style, which was a revival of the 1960s Rude Boy look. The movement's name comes from 2 Tone Records, the influential record label founded by Jerry Dammers of The Specials, which served as the cultural and musical hub of the scene.

The 2 Tone movement began in Coventry in the late 1970s, a period of significant social and racial tension in the UK. Bands like The Specials, The Selecter, and later Madness and The Beat, began playing a faster, more aggressive version of the Ska music that had been brought to Britain by Jamaican immigrants in the 1960s.

The central philosophy of the 2 Tone movement was racial unity. In a direct challenge to the racial divisions being stoked by far-right groups at the time, 2 Tone bands were proudly multiracial, featuring both Black and white members. This message of unity was famously symbolized by the black-and-white checkerboard pattern, which was repurposed from Mod culture and became the defining visual motif of the scene. The lyrics of 2 Tone songs were often political, offering sharp social commentary on Thatcher-era Britain, with tracks like The Specials' "Ghost Town" becoming an anthem for urban decay and youth unemployment.

The movement was relatively short-lived, with the 2 Tone Records label becoming defunct by 1985, but its influence was profound. It successfully revitalized Ska for a new generation and laid the groundwork for the third wave of Ska and Ska-Punk that would emerge in the United States in the late 1980s and 1990s.

The visual identity of the 2 Tone movement is defined by a few key symbols, the most prominent being the black-and-white checkerboard pattern. This motif, which appeared on record sleeves, clothing, and posters, was repurposed from the 1960s British Mod subculture by Jerry Dammers of The Specials. In the context of 2 Tone, the contrasting squares served as a direct and potent symbol of racial unity, reflecting the multiracial lineups of the bands and the movement's core anti-racist message.

Another central image is the 2 Tone Records logo, a stylized Rude Boy character nicknamed "Walt Jabsco." Designed by John Sims and based on a photograph of Peter Tosh, the character is depicted in a black suit, white shirt, thin black tie, and a pork pie hat. This figure, often shown in a "skanking" dance pose, became an emblem for the fans and the sound itself, visually linking the British revival back to its Jamaican Ska and Rude Boy roots.

The fashion of the 2 Tone subculture was a direct revival and reinterpretation of the 1960s Jamaican Rude Boy look, blended with elements of the British Mod and Skinhead styles. The look was sharp and clean, consisting of two-tone suits, thin ties, button-down shirts, and pork pie hats. This was often paired with classic Mod staples like Fred Perry polo shirts and Dr. Martens boots or loafers. The black-and-white color scheme was prevalent, reflecting the movement's message of racial integration.

2 Tone is a music genre that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s, defined by its fusion of 1960s Jamaican ska with the energy and social commentary of punk rock and new wave. The style is characterized by faster tempos and a more guitar-driven sound than its Jamaican predecessor. The lyrics of 2 Tone songs often addressed the social and political issues of the time, including racism, unemployment, and urban decay, all from a working-class perspective.

The name "2 Tone" comes from 2 Tone Records, a label founded in 1979 by Jerry Dammers of The Specials, which became the cultural and musical center of the movement. The label's multiracial band lineups were a political statement, promoting a message of racial unity that became a core tenet of the subculture.