Though the genre extends far beyond the one family, the Marley name is virtually synonymous with reggae. So it’s fortunate that the musicians carrying the legacy of the legendary patriarch are all vital musicians in their own right. Ziggy, Damian and Julian Marley have all managed to push reggae in new directions while still respecting their father’s accomplishments. And they all have at least one other thing in common, besides their last name, and that is the key role Stephen Marley has played in their careers.
“Music is our life, you know. Music is a gift that has been given to us by God,” Marley recently told DCist, in his native Jamaican accent. “We make music from a pure place. We don’t make music because we have to.”
The 39-year old musician, who will lead his Ghetto Youths Crew on Thursday at the 9:30 Club, has been performing and recording since age 6, but hasn’t received the same exposure as some of his siblings. That is largely because he spent many years working behind the scenes as a producer and engineer, picking up five Grammys along the way. His work includes Damian Marley’s hit album, Welcome to Jamrock, and productions with Eve, Erykah Badu and Stevie Wonder. He also was an executive producer on Chant Down Babylon, the 1999 album of Bob Marley remixes that infused classic songs with a hip-hop edge. Marley’s debut release, Mind Control, finally dropped in 2007 to rave reviews. He is now touring in support of its follow-up, Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life, which came out in May of this year.
“I wanted to accomplish a great body of work,” Marley said of the album. “The difference between this project and previous projects is just growth.”
While Part 2 is expected to be a more electric and contemporary album, this recording re-visits the roots reggae sound that was popular in the 1970s. That said, there is still a diverse collection of songs here. The driving backbeat of “Jah Army” is juxtaposed with the tenderness of “She Knows Now”, while “No Cigarette Smoking (In My Room)” has a classic reggae lilt. More than just the music itself, Marley chose to focus on the broader context of that particular era.
“It was a time of movement. People were being very liberal and there was a lot of movement in America and all over the world,” Marley explained. “I’m one of the torch bearers of this real music.”
While he declined to say what surprises lie in store for Thursday’s show, Marley did say that it would feature several guests. Damian Marley often appears at his older brother’s concerts, and the album also features a guest spot from the District’s own Wale on the track, “Made in Africa”, so one can only hope.
“I want them to walk away with the feeling that real music is still alive,” Marley said of his audience. “Each show is its own sermon, its own spirit. So we’ll just have to see what unfolds.”
Stephen Marley and the Ghetto Youths Crew will perform with opener Zedicus on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at the 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. doors. $26 + fees.
