Damian Marley
I grew up in uptown Jamaica; I went to a rich school. I was raised by my mother and my stepfather; they made sure education came before anything. I had a good childhood, grew up spending time with my bigger brothers and sisters. My people are good people. I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of people and culture.Collection: Education
A revolution is to bring on change and we're spiritual people trying to bring on spiritual change. It might sound like I'm a dreamer, but economic models have reached their height of evolution. Technology has evolved. What hasn't evolved is mankind's spirituality; everything is from 3,000 years ago.Collection: Technology
Technology has changed things, same as everywhere. But the economy has changed drastically. When Jamaica first won independence, our dollar was stronger than the U.S. dollar. Now ours is about 90 to one. That's had a big impact on crime and poverty.Collection: Independence
I'm about 5' 10", and my hair is the length of my whole body now. We grow our hair because of faith, but it's getting heavy. Most of the rastas I know with hair my length are elders, and they keep it tied up, but for a young person who's active and running around, the weight is a big thing. So to play sports, I put it in a backpack.Collection: Sports
One of the first albums that I remember, rap albums I remember really listening to, was LL Cool J 'Mama Said Knock You Out.'Collection: Cool
I think after a time there won't be anything left to be interesting for mankind. Computers are about to do everything for us. Cellphones are smarter than we are. We'll embrace spirituality because we'll be bored of everything else.Collection: Computers
We take for granted electricity, water, even concerts. Count your blessings.
I'm a big fan of hip-hop, so it reflects in my approach.
Everything I've experienced, things that my friends have experienced and we talk about, things that are on the news - all aspects of life are in my message.
Jamaica full of ghetto, but boy, I tell you: me never see it like that.
Being Bob Marley's son has done many things for me, in terms of having a career in music. I'm very proud of my music, and I'm very proud of where I'm from. People hear that I'm Bob Marley's son, and they turn on my music to listen just out of curiosity.
Everyone is related to Africa; everyone comes from Africa. We are all distant relatives.
The whole world is set up so that for places like Switzerland to exist, that are crime-free and with the best care for everybody, you have to have places like Sudan, or Jamaica. But really, there's enough to share, when you check it. It's not that complicated, really. It's probably less thinking and more feeling that's required.
The U.K. crowds always have a lot of energy, and I've done some milestone shows there that I'm very proud of.
I record all night and sleep all day.
By the time Africa is developed, it will be the wonderland of the world, 'cause it will be able to make use of all the mistakes of other nations. But it nah go just drop out of the sky. So we have to put in work.
Toasting is basically what you call rapping. It came off of playing the beats at the parties, however it be. You find a space in the beat, and you have somebody live just basically saying rhymes over the beat.
The U.K. is one of the places that has always been an advocate of my music and I spend a lot of time touring here. I've got family and friends over here, but more than that, there's a large Jamaican community and the Jamaican culture is very widespread in the U.K. which I love.
I used to buy records in high school. Mainly dancehall: Super Cat, Buju Banton.
I like singing all songs, really, but I find that writing social commentary comes naturally.
It might sound like I'm a dreamer, but economic models have reached their height of evolution. Technology has evolved. What hasn't evolved is mankind's spirituality; everything is from 3,000 years ago. With spirituality comes morals, a better way of thinking.
Coming where I'm coming from, really, my family name isn't a pressure because, you know, music is not like sports, where you can go and do a hundred reps in a gym and come out and be all buffed up. Music is an expression of what's inside of you. And that's how I make music.
You say 'African music' and you think 'tribal drumming.' But there's a lot of African music that's like James Brown, and a lot, too, that sounds very Hispanic.
My father has been a voice of encouragement in times of desperation for so many people. But he died when I was so young that, for me, his music has been a way for me to get to know him better.
I would never say that being Bob Marley's son has been a pressure. It has been a door opener.
I record all night and sleep all day. It started because you're excited about the music and you want to stay up longer, but over 15 years, it's become a habit. In my circle, I think a lot of musicians operate like this. When the place is quiet, you're more creative. I have plenty of people I can call at 4 A.M. and know they'll be up.
More people would recognise me in Kingston, but it's rare to go on the road and not get recognised by someone. The problem now is everyone has a camera in their pocket, on their cell phone - at the airport it's difficult to get from point A to point B without taking half an hour because there are so many people taking pictures.
I can remember the first time I ever recorded my vocals on to a beat. Cat Coore from Third World - a legendary Jamaican band - had a little demo set up at his house. I'm very good friends with his eldest son, Shiah, who plays with me now. So we were rhyming over a track by the dancehall artist Peter Metro. I've still got it somewhere.
It's my luck to be at the frontier of what looks to be a resurrection of roots music on the international scene. That's really what reggae music is about: that voice against oppression and struggle.
In Jamaica, them always have throwback riddims, recycled old beats, and the hardcore reggae scene is always present. You have faster stuff like the more commercialized stuff, but you always have that segment of music that is always from the core, from the original root of it.
Your body's just a vehicle, transporting the soul. It's what's inside of people, is beauty to behold.Collection: People
Vexation of spirit is a waste of time Negative thinking, don't you waste your thoughts Verbal conflict is a waste of word Physical conflict is a waste of flesh People will always be who they want And that's what really makes the world go round Unconditional love is scarce.Collection: Unconditional Love
The victory's found in truth, like innocence found in youth Self defeat is your own disputeCollection: Motivational
The average man can't prove most of the things that he chooses to speak of, and still won't research and find out the root of the truth that you seek ofCollection: Men
Did you know the pen is stronger than the knife: they can kill you once but they can't kill you twice.Collection: Knives
Poverty breeds a lot of things. When people are desperate and trying to survive, they do drastic things.Collection: People
Some boy nuh know dis, dem only come around like tourist. On the beach with a few club sodas. Bedtime stories, and pose like dem name Chuck Norris and don't know the real hardcore.Collection: Beach
Did you know that I exist before the earth and did you know my eyes are windows to the world.Collection: Eye
Body have to physically strong and sturdy. Spiritually balanced fi clean and purge me. Mentally advanced fi always urge me. Read a couple books and challenge the clergy. Read a couple psalms up in the morning early.Collection: Strong
Music is an expression of what's inside of you. And that's how I make music.Collection: Expression
Did you know destruction of the soul is not the ending to life: Fear not of the Antichrist.Collection: Soul
It's not like I go into the studio and say I'm going to try to make music to prove to somebody that I can make music.Collection: Trying
I find it very fascinating that one person or a group of people can get together as a choir and come up with a song that ends up inspiring people to create emotions, love and togetherness. Communication, which comes from this idea that sparks off of humanity and becomes something that is cherished and loved by the people, is very fascinating to me.Collection: Song
I'm a fan of hip hop music, so I always used a hip hop element in my music anyway.Collection: Hip Hop
Every one of my father's songs is a lesson.Collection: Song
Politicians need to stop the violence because it has become a way of life in Jamaica. It's the thing to do - be violent in Jamaica.Collection: Jamaica
The greatest thing to me about Obama is not the individual, it does not have to do with Obama himself - it's really about the people who have elected Obama. It demonstrates that people are ready for change, and I think Obama knows that, because he really came up from the people, the young generation especially. He motivated a lot of African Americans who never voted before to go and vote.Collection: Thinking
When you do an album about Africa, you can't be too superficial.Collection: Albums
Music is not like sports, where you can go and do a hundred reps in a gym and come out and be all buffed up.Collection: Sports