The release of Mind Control represents a new stage in Stephen’s evolution, one that brings together the genius of his production and his wise and soulful voice with hip-hop beats, smoky bass and winding keyboard runs. This is the sound of a man coming into full realization of his powers-and his legacy. His debut, which includes guest appearances from Mos Def and Ben Harper, will showcase the diverse range of the studio-savvy Stephen, with songs such as the mesmerizing “Chase Dem,” and the soulful serenade “Hey Baby.”
The album will also include the hit track “The Traffic Jam,” which features Damian “Jr Gong” Marley and Buju Banton. The song is currently exploding onto charts in Jamaica and England.
For Stephen, the past year has been a coming-out party of sorts. He scored his fifth GRAMMY award for his triumphant co-production work on brother Damian “Jr.Gong” Marley’s acclaimed RIAA certified Gold disc Welcome to Jamrock, to date garnering him the most GRAMMY awards of any Marley and more than any other Reggae artist in history. Stephen also embarked on two U.S. concert tours this year, including the acclaimed “Bob Marley Roots, Rock Reggae Festival,” where brothers Stephen and Ziggy Marley joined together for the first time ever with reggae pioneer Bunny Wailer.
Music heads have been up on Stephen’s work for years, whether for collaborations with R&B stars like Erykah Badu or his part on the dancehall burner “It Was Written,” and especially after Chant Down Babylon, the platinum-selling star-studded Bob Marley tribute he produced. A veteran of the family’s fertile launching pad, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Stephen has emerged in recent years as a pivotal production and creative force, helping to oversee Marley enterprises like Tuff Gong Records and its umbrella imprint Ghetto Youths.
Stephen will also join the rest of the Marley family when they bring “Africa Unite 2007” to South Africa next February. Executive directed by Mrs. Rita Marley, “Africa Unite 2007” will be a series of benefit concerts, symposiums, fund raisers and events in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. Members of the Marley family, such as Stephen Marley and Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, will perform with additional talent names to be announced in November. Now in its third year, the goal of “Africa Unite 2007” is to encourage peace, education and empowerment for youth in Africa while also reinforcing the significance of Bob Marley’s songs of freedom to inspire change throughout the world. For more information on “Africa Unite 2007” check out www.africa-unite.org.
Buy Mind Control.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
