Ky-Mani Marley

Last updated

Ky-Mani Marley
Festival des Vieilles Charrues 2014 - Ky-Mani Marley - 075.jpg
Marley in 2014
Background information
Born (1976-02-26) 26 February 1976 (age 48)
Falmouth, Trelawny, Jamaica
Genres Reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, R&B [1]
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals, piano, trumpet, bongos
Years active1996–present
LabelsShang Records, Gee Street/V2 Records

Ky-Mani Marley (born 26 February 1976) [2] is a Jamaican reggae musician. In 2001, he received a Grammy nomination for his album Many More Roads . He is the only child of reggae musician Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis, a Jamaican table tennis champion.

Contents

Early life and family

Ky-Mani Marley was born in Falmouth, Jamaica, to Anita Belnavis and Bob Marley. When Marley was five years old, his father died of cancer. [3] At the age of nine, Marley and his mother relocated to Miami, Florida. [4] [5] His taste in music was informed by the music he heard on American radio stations, especially hip-hop, rock, and pop. [4] [6] In his early youth, Marley was focused on sports. As an athlete, he competed in soccer and American football. [4] [7] With his mother's direction, he received piano and guitar lessons and played trumpet in his high school band. [4]

Career

While a teenager, Marley started rapping and deejaying. His first single was "Unnecessary Badness". He became inspired as a singer after being asked to sing a hook to a song during a recording session at a studio in Miami. Marley soon began experimenting with laying tracks, at times with his brothers Stephen, Julian, and Damian.

Marley signed to Shang Records where he recorded his debut album in 1996, Like Father Like Son , and several singles: "Judge Not" with Patra, followed by "Dear Dad" (which topped the British reggae charts), [2] "Who the Cap Fit (remix)", and "Sensimelia", all of which added to his growing reputation in the new generation of reggae musicians. In 1997, Marley joined forces with Refugee Camp All-Stars and Pras of the Fugees, on "Avenues", a hit cover of Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue". Marley appeared at international music showcase Midem when it was held in Miami for the first time. At the Cameo Theatre, Marley performed a set which was aired live by the Caribbean News Agency to 36 countries.

Ky-Mani Marley in concert in 2008 Kymani Marley - Smile Jam Stage - 02-23-2008.jpg
Ky-Mani Marley in concert in 2008

Marley became the subject of a bidding war.[ when? ] He signed with Gee Street/V2 Records in 1997 where he completed a collaboration with label mate P.M. Dawn on the single "Gotta Be Movin' On Up".

Marley's next recording was the 2000 release, The Journey . In 2001, he released his third studio album Many More Roads, which was nominated for a Grammy Award, [8] and went on tour. In 2004 he released his fourth studio album, Milestone . In 2007, he released Radio . Also in 2007, Marley joined Van Halen on tour as their opening act. [6] [9] In 2015, he released another album, Maestro .

In 2019, Marley collaborated with XXXTentacion, Stefflon Don, and Vybz Kartel on the single "Royalty". He also appeared in the music video, which was filmed after the death of XXXTentacion. [10]

Marley's acting work included lead roles in the Jamaican films Shottas and One Love .

Personal life

Marley is married to Janie E. K. Green.

Discography

Guest appearances

YearSongArtist(s)Album
1997"Gotta Be...Movin' On Up"

(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)

P.M. Dawn "Gotta Be...Movin' On Up" (single)
"Thank You Lord"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Shaggy Midnite Lover
"Avenues"
(featuring Pras and Ky-Mani Marley)
Refugee Camp All-Stars Money Talks soundtrack
2000"Equality"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Afu-Ra Body of the Life Force
2007"Puff Puff Pass"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Young Buck Buck the World
2008"Natural Mystic"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Alborosie Soul Pirate
2011"Rasta Love"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Protoje 7 Year Itch
2012"Your Love"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
The Dirty Heads Cabin by the Sea
2013"Zion Train"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Alborosie Sound the System
2014"Smoke"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Young BuckBack to the Street 2
"Live Another Day"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Quique Neira Un amor
2015"Bajito"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Jencarlos Canela Non-album single
"Bajito (Remix)"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley & Tito El Bambino)
Jencarlos CanelaNon-album single
"Chillax"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
Farruko Visionary
2019"Royalty"
(featuring Ky-Mani Marley)
XXXTentacion Bad Vibes Forever
"Yayo"
(feat. Pitbull and Ky-Mani Marley)
PapayoTBA
"Celebration"
(feat. Ky-Mani Marley)
Maffio, Farruko and Akon TBA

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bounty Killer</span> Jamaican musician (born 1972)

Rodney Basil Price, known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Marley</span> American musician (born 1972)

Stephen Robert Nesta Marley is a Jamaican-American musician. The son of Bob Marley, Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, three times as a solo artist, twice as a producer of younger brother Damian Marley's Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock albums, and a further three times as a member of his older brother Ziggy Marley's group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Marley</span> British Jamaican reggae musician (born 1975)

Julian Ricardo Marley is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter, producer and humanitarian. He is the son of reggae music icon Bob Marley, and Lucy Pounder. In 2024, he received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his collaboration album with Antaeus, Colors of Royal (2023).

<i>Shottas</i> 2002 Jamaican film

Shottas is a 2002 Jamaican crime film about two young men who participate in organized crime in Kingston and Miami. It stars Ky-Mani Marley, Spragga Benz, Paul Campbell and Louie Rankin and was written and directed by Cess Silvera. Despite its low budget, the distribution of an unfinished bootleg made it a cult favourite long before its official limited release in the United States by Triumph Films and Destination Films in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mavado (singer)</span> Jamaican dancehall singer

David Constantine Brooks, better known by his stage name Mavado, is a Jamaican dancehall singer. Mavado is signed to We the Best Music Group and formerly to Cash Money Records.

<i>Radio</i> (Ky-Mani Marley album) 2007 studio album by Ky-Mani Marley

Radio is the fifth solo studio album by Jamaican reggae musician Ky-Mani Marley. It was released on September 25, 2007 through AAO Music and Vox Music Group. Recording sessions took place at Lions Den, The Hit Factory and Circle House in Miami, at Right Track Studio and SMT Studio in New York, and at Vox Studio. Production was handled by Jason "J-Vibe" Farmer, Alex "Lex" Francis, Ky Miller, BlackOut, Corey Chase, DannyBoyStyles, Larry "Kalid" Chu, Mark Sparks and Red Spyda, with Ky-Mani serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Louie Rankin, Gail Gotti, Maintain, Mýa, Tessanne Chin and Young Buck.

Dwayne Chin-Quee, better known as Supa Dups, is a Jamaican record producer, a drummer, and selector based in Miami, Florida. He is a member of the Black Chiney sound system. His father is a second generation Chinese Jamaican, and his mother is of Hakka Chinese, German, and African descent.

Collin Demar Edwards, better known by his stage name Demarco, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae recording artist.

Adidja Azim Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Among his various nicknames, he is referred to as Worl' Boss or Teacha. As summarized by Rolling Stone, he "attained folk-hero status in Jamaica with provocative lyrics, and a mischievous public persona", and "few have captivated [the dancehall] audience – or offended the sensibilities of its detractors – as consistently and thoroughly as Kartel."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protoje</span> Jamaican musician

Oje Ken Ollivierre, popularly known as Protoje, is a contemporary reggae singer and songwriter from Jamaica. His mother is Jamaican singer Lorna Bennett, best known for her 1972 rendition of "Breakfast in Bed". His father is a former calypso singer Mike Ollivierre from the island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popcaan</span> Jamaican singer

Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known professionally as Popcaan, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Royal (musician)</span> Jamaican reggae musician

Jesse David Royal is a Jamaican reggae musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spice (musician)</span> Jamaican dancehall deejay (born 1982)

Grace Latoya Hamilton, known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer. Known as the Queen of Dancehall, Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world. She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Bob Marley:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Blaze</span> Musical artist

Ricardo Lloyd Johnson Jr., also known as Ricky Blaze, is an American DJ, producer, singer, and songwriter. He has done production work in the dancehall music space and the trancehall subgenre. He has produced and collaborated with Shaggy and Sean Paul, and has also worked with Vybz Kartel, Jim Jones, Maino, Kardinal Offishall, Jasmine Sullivan, Nicki Minaj, and Santigold.

<i>Bad Vibes Forever</i> 2019 studio album by XXXTentacion

Bad Vibes Forever is the fourth and final studio album by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion. It was released through Bad Vibes Forever and Empire Distribution on December 6, 2019. The production was handled by XXXTentacion himself, alongside DJ Carnage, John Cunningham, JonFX, Ronny J, XXYYXX, and among others. The album features a wide range of guest appearances from artists including PnB Rock, Trippie Redd, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Killstation, Noah Cyrus, Tom G, Tory Lanez, Mavado, Craig Xen, Kemba, Joey Badass, Sauce Walka, Carnage, Ky-Mani Marley, Stefflon Don, Vybz Kartel, Jimmy Levy, Joyner Lucas, Ikabod Veins, and Blink-182. The album serves as a follow-up to his first posthumous album and third studio album, Skins (2018), which released exactly a year earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenseea</span> Jamaican singer and songwriter

Chinsea Linda Lee, known professionally as Shenseea, is a Jamaican singer and songwriter. She is best known for her guest appearance alongside Roddy Ricch on Kanye West's 2021 song "Pure Souls," which entered the Billboard Hot 100. Through its parent album Donda, she received a Grammy Award nomination Album of the Year at the 64th Grammy Awards. She signed with Interscope Records to release her debut studio album Alpha (2022), which peaked at number two on the Top Reggae Albums chart and number three on the Heatseekers charts. Her other accolades include a NAACP Image Award and MOBO Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koen Heldens</span> Musical artist

Koen Heldens is a Dutch born mix engineer residing in Miami Florida. Koen started his career in 2003 and rose to prominence in 2017 when he started working with the late XXXTentacion with which he earned a Guinness World Records for most streamed song in a single day for the Billboard Hot 100 #1 single Sad!. Heldens has been nominated for a Grammy Award and has won an American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award. Heldens has worked with Kanye West, Maluma, Trippie Redd, Swae Lee, Khea, Lit Killah, Dalex, Don Toliver, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Tory Lanez, Kid Ink, Elley Duhé, Lil Pump, Lil Yachty, Rico Nasty, Vybz Kartel, Ky-Mani Marley, Stefflon Don and Ski Mask The Slump God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JonFX</span> Musical artist

John Alexander Crawford, professionally known as JonFX, is a music producer from St. Andrews, Jamaica. He has worked with dancehall and reggae artists Shabba Ranks, I Wayne, Vybz Kartel, Gyptian and Akon, as well as late rapper XXXTentacion. In June 2018, he was appointed as a governor on the board of the Florida Grammy Chapter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royalty (XXXTentacion song)</span> 2019 single by XXXTentacion featuring Ky-Mani Marley, Stefflon Don, and Vybz Kartel

"Royalty" is a song by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion featuring British rapper Stefflon Don and Jamaican musicians Ky-Mani Marley and Vybz Kartel. Written alongside producer JonFX, it was released on July 19, 2019 as the lead single from the former's fourth and final studio album, Bad Vibes Forever.

References

  1. Hagerman, Brent (20 February 2008). "Ky-mani Marley Radio". exclaim.ca. Exclaim! Media Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2022. turns in a few fairly colourless R&B numbers ("Royal Vibes" and "I Got You")
  2. 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "Ky-Mani Marley Biography". AllMusic.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. "Ky-Mani Marley headlines return of Reggae in the Desert". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ky-Mani Marley headlines return of Reggae in the Desert". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  5. "**CANCELLED** Ky-Mani Marley - The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall". theuctheatre.org. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  6. 1 2 Orshoski, Wes (14 September 2007). "Marley Undaunted By Van Halen Opening Slot". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  7. DelGallo, Alicia (13 November 2018). "Ky-Mani Marley to perform at Orlando City Stadium for Florida Cup 2019". ProSoccerUSA.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  8. "Ky-Mani Marley". GRAMMY.com. 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  9. BraveWords. "Report: KY-MANI MARLEY Honored To Be Special Guest On 2007 VAN HALEN Tour". bravewords.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  10. Saponara, Michael (2 October 2019). "XXXTentacion Explores Jamaica in 'Royalty' Video Featuring Stefflon Don, Ky-Mani Marley & Vybz Kartel". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2023.