I know in the ATL, circa late 80's, there was little exposure to island music...maybe Marley, Third World, Black Uhuru...etc. Maybe if you listened to college radio you heard some Yellowman or Maytals.

The 90's combo of an influx of Caribbean and NYC transplants, and dancehall influenced hip-hop getting airplay kicked it off, but still it just the mainstream stuff.

Wasn't until I started going to real Caribbean parties and could go online and hear everything did I get into the better stuff.