Watch Stephen onstage and in the studio as he performs material from and discusses the album.
The credentials have never been questioned, the hype has been well-deserved, and now the wait is over. Stephen Marley's debut CD, Mind Control, comes out Tuesday, March 20 and it's destined to be one of the most talked-about and critically acclaimed reggae releases in years.
Already, some of the most influential magazines in the music industry have responded to Mind Control in overwhelmingly positive fashion, and fans of reggae, dub, dancehall and hip-hop are about to have the chance to do the same.
Stephen, Bob Marley's second eldest son, has been a Grammy-decorated producer, lending his creative expertise to hit records such as his brother, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's 2005 smash, Welcome to Jamrock and dozens of other acclaimed albums over the course of his decade-long career. But now he's on his own and the fruits of his patient labor are set to pay off in what Entertainment Weekly has declared to be "the best Marley album in a generation."
Reviews from all over are pouring in, and almost all are positive if not glowing.
"Stephen possesses a vocal tone that is uncannily close to his dad's," writes Rolling Stone. "Perhaps more important, Stephen is also blessed with some of Bob's songwriting gift."
Spin gave the album four stars and wrote that the "heir to reggae's royal family honors dad's legacy ... dance-hall-inflected reggae/hip-hop jams, carefully balancing political fire and island-life vibe. His ease with both elements would make his father proud."
Stephen netted four stars from Time Out New York, which noted that, "It'd be a mistake to think that Bob and Rita's second son is interested in resting on his dad's laurels - even if his vocal rasp is the spitting image of Poppa Nesta's. The 34-year-old's sense of an expanded mission was evident throughout the hip-hop-flavored tracks ... Fittingly, Mind Control is a modern album made by someone who has no beef whatsoever with the old school."
According to Interview magazine, "The album is a quiet masterpiece - easily the best effort from a Marley progeny yet."
In the words of Performing Songwriter magazine, "the 34-year-old songwriter emerges as a central figure in modern reggae. ... Marley incorporates a rich blend of contemporary styles into a solid reggae foundation."
And Glide Magazine writes that the album, "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."
A quick rundown of the 11 tracks on Mind Control (Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths/Universal-Republic) reveals a brilliant, innovative mixture of musical styles, guest performers and influences.
The first hit single off the record, "The Traffic Jam," features "Jr. Gong" and deals with a real-life incident in 2002 in which Stephen and his brother, Julian, were arrested and briefly jailed in Florida for marijuana possession.
Along with "Officer Jimmy Interlude" and "Iron Bars," which features Julian plus Mr. Cheeks and Spragga Benz, the song makes up an autobiographical trilogy of sorts.
But there's a lot more to Mind Control, including the title track, which hearkens back to Bob Marley's musical messages of defiance and brotherhood in a troubled world.
In a recent interview, Stephen said of the title track, "What we're talking about is mental slavery. ... We didn't sit down and say, 'Let's write a political song,' but the things we depict, that we see, they're political - mind control, corruption of your thoughts. Destruction of your soul."
On the lighter side of things is "Hey Baby," a soulful serenade featuring Mos Def that Stephen released two years ago but was redone, he says, with "a little more swagger."
"Chase Dem" is a straight-up reggae number that the Daily Star in Great Britain referred to as "virtually a Bob Marley tune," and there's even a cover in the mix -- Ray Charles' "Lonely Avenue," which the Daily Star calls a "gorgeous old reggae take."
"Inna Di Red," which features Ben Harper on slide guitar, is an "elegantly sparse shuffle through blues, reggae and folk," the Star says, and "Let Her Dance" is augmented with the appearances of guests Maya Azucena and Illestr8.
Throughout, Stephen takes on his usual role of multi-instrumentalist, creative force, visionary and experimenter, and this spirit of adventure and love of music makes Mind Control a gem worth waiting for.
Luckily, the wait is just about over. Visit www.StephenMarleyMusic.com and www.BobMarley.com for the latest Stephen Marley news and to purchase your copy of Mind Control.