Posted on: March 14, 2008 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Media Raves About His Expansion of the Marley Legacy on Radio
As Album and Single “The March” Continue Chart Success

The Africa Unite/Smile Jamaica concert caps a month of events in Jamaica honoring Bob Marley and his musical and cultural legacy, and will be held at James Bond Beach in Ocho Rios, named for the internationally known iconic character created by Ian Fleming, who lived in Ocho Rios in his home “Goldeneye” in the hills above the beach. Africa Unite is an effort of the Bob Marley and Rita Marley Foundations to eradicate poverty in Africa and Jamaica as well as to help unite the African continent, among other charitable and educational missions.

CMJ/New Music Report notes how Ky-Mani “infuses the classic reggae of his father with southern hip-hop, dancehall and ragga. Instead of the turbulent trails of ‘70s Jamaica, it’s the urban streets of modern Miami that wind through this record. Where his siblings tend to stick with their father’s traditional style, Ky-Mani makes songs that are more suited for modern moods.”

Since the release of his third album Radio last fall, Ky-Mani Marley has firmly established his own identity while taking his father’s musical legacy into greater realms, won new fans opening the Van Halen with David Lee Roth tour, and proven himself a break-out artist in radio play and sales within such multiple generes as pop/rock, reggae, hip-hop and world music. As Amazon.com raves, the album “is definitely his best effort yet. Coming from such a musical family you would think it would difficult to stand out. But Ky-Mani rises to the top with radio friendly hits such as ‘One Time,’ ‘The March,’ ‘Royal Vibes’ and ‘The Conversation.’ Ky-Mani delivers an album full of musical talent, brilliant beats and roots reggae, yet keeps the spiritual torch burning. Ky-Mani is definitely keeping the Marley music magic alive. This CD is a must have for every music collection”

Similarly, All Music Guide declares Radio to be “an incredibly potent album, with a great flow, minimalistic in feel but thick with atmosphere, the lyrics personal, often thoughtful, and delivered with all the power and emotion Marley possesses. A hip-hop powerhouse parading as a reggae set, the album will blow your socks off, even if you were expecting a one-drop set.”

Radio remains firmly lodged after 21 weeks in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart alongside albums by Ky-Mani’s father and brother Stephen Marley, and his latest single “The March” is #11 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales charts, thanks to enjoying airplay on a range of commercial and non-commercial radio formats, and recently reentered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Ky-Mani Marley tour dates:
3/15 Ketchum, ID BaseCamp Pavilion (with Michael Franti & Spearhead)
3/22 Steamboat Springs, CO Steamboat Springs Resort
4/12 Phoenix, AZ Reggae Spring Fest
7/11 Henderson, NV Sunset Station Amphitheatre

Leave a Comment