By 1981, Peter Tosh had already established himself as the revolutionary voice of reggae. While Bob Marley was the movement's global ambassador, Tosh was its uncompromising backbone. Wanted Dread & Alive was unique because it featured different tracklists for its American and European releases, making the full collection of songs a "holy grail" for fans.

"Dread and Alive" features a distinctive blend of roots reggae, dub, and rock influences. The album's sound is characterized by Tosh's raspy vocals, militant lyrics, and a strong emphasis on social justice. The album's themes focus on:

(bass). Musically, it blends hard-hitting roots reggae with radio-friendly elements, such as soulful duets and rhythmic experimentation.