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I<br />
think I always knew who my grandfather<br />
was, because my momma told me. But the<br />
first time I realised the significance of the<br />
impact he had, I was twelve. I realised that<br />
I wanted to be a musician about a year after<br />
that <strong>—</strong> when I was around thirteen years old.<br />
I have always loved music, but I was shy about<br />
my singing voice. But one night, while on tour with<br />
my uncle Stephen, he pushed me on stage during<br />
a concert and prompted me to sing “One Love” to<br />
a crowd of hundreds. He gave me the microphone,<br />
and from that moment on, I felt music. I remember<br />
coming off the stage and seeing everyone crying.<br />
They said they never knew that I sang songs.<br />
Finally, they had the next one.<br />
Am I claiming Bob’s throne? Maybe. He’s living<br />
through us, in all the choices we make every day.<br />
But I’m not trying to fill his shoes. I just want to be<br />
the voice of the next generation.<br />
new artist would be happy for the chance to learn and soak up some of that. I’ve<br />
always been Cedella Marley’s son, so I don’t really have anything to compare it<br />
to. But, having her for a mom definitely influences me to work hard, have love<br />
and respect for people and the planet. Music is art, and it sends a message. So I<br />
want people to enjoy the art in the music, but also get the message.<br />
“It’s different times, but it’s the same fight<br />
as my grandfather’s. But it’s not a physical<br />
fight <strong>—</strong> it’s a mental battle”<br />
On “Chained to the Rhythm”, for example, I<br />
sing about walls, truth, and greed. We’re about<br />
to riot / they woke up the lions. And on my single<br />
“Lions” I send the message that my generation will<br />
not have their rights taken away or be told how to<br />
pray, and will instead start a movement.<br />
It’s different times, but it’s the same fight as my<br />
grandfather’s. But it’s not a physical fight <strong>—</strong> it’s a<br />
mental battle. When I say “my generation” or “this<br />
generation,” it’s to reassure people that when we<br />
come together and stand strong, we’re people, and<br />
we’ll outnumber those who wrong.<br />
I enjoy working with and being around all my<br />
family <strong>—</strong> they are some of the best in this business.<br />
Last year I toured with my uncles, Damian and<br />
Stephen, and this year we were all on Kayafest<br />
together in Miami. I’ve also performed with my<br />
great-aunt, Marcia Griffiths. There is so much<br />
experience and wisdom among everyone <strong>—</strong> any<br />
I<br />
was born in Kingston, and I love being there with my family as much as we<br />
get the chance. I am blessed to travel to many places in the world <strong>—</strong> Sweden,<br />
Ethiopia, and other islands in the <strong>Caribbean</strong>. Jamaica has a unique energy<br />
that people won’t feel anywhere else, which is one of the reasons I love it. The<br />
best thing about living in Miami is my family and the sunshine.<br />
Right now I am in the studio working on my EP, and so what’s next is <strong>—</strong><br />
more music. Who would I like to collaborate with? Some of the best collabs<br />
can be unplanned and unexpected, so I don’t really keep a list. One of my first<br />
collaborations was with [Riddim Twins] Sly & Robbie and Spicy Chocolate for<br />
their Reggae Power 2 album. This year I worked with some great artists and<br />
producers <strong>—</strong> from Katy Perry to Supadups. Right now I am featured on this<br />
cool track by SEEB called “Cruel World”. Collaborating with each one came<br />
with its own vibe, and we created something unique. Based on the experiences<br />
of the last couple of years, I would like to keep an open mind and just<br />
see what opportunities come.<br />
I don’t get stressed out. The one time I got a little bit stressed was when I<br />
was on the [2017] Grammy stage with Katy Perry. It was surreal. You always<br />
see these people [on TV], and being in the same room with them, that’s huge<br />
for me. Katy gave me free range to do whatever I wanted. And we really<br />
meshed well. I’m so thankful for the opportunity, you know, to reach so many<br />
people. It’s impactful. Katy’s message is powerful, we all need to listen. She is<br />
a creative person. I’ll remember her and the experience forever.<br />
I like a lot of different music and artists. Lately we’ve been focused on<br />
finishing up my project, so mainly I listen back to the tracks that I’m working<br />
on. Besides that, I have been listening to Burning Spear and Steel Pulse. I also<br />
listen to the Melody Makers’ albums.<br />
My songs are expressions of thoughts and reactions to life, and what I<br />
observe happening in the world. I wrote songs all through my teens. The same<br />
way that you see events in the news or around you that make you think and feel<br />
a certain way, that’s how it is for me too <strong>—</strong> I just put it into music and lyrics.<br />
The message for my generation is one of love, equality, and the unification<br />
of mankind, you know. I think that it’s something for every generation, not<br />
just my own. We all need to live with more respect and freedom for people<br />
and our planet.<br />
I wouldn’t get involved in politics. My grandfather once said, “Never let a<br />
politician grant you a favour. They will always want to control you forever.” I<br />
don’t need to be a politician to help bring about change. We have the power <strong>—</strong><br />
not the other way around, so we need to be doing things differently.<br />
People can live in love and harmony, and come to an understanding, so we<br />
all grow together. But it has to come from within. n<br />
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