Stephen Marley released his debut album, Mind Control, March 20, 2007::>>>

There are moments during this middle Marley boy's debut album that you can drift off and imagine you're listening to a long-lost B side from his dad.

The fourth of Bob's ten recognized children, Stephen possesses a vocal tone that is uncannily close to his dad's. Perhaps more important, Stephen is also blessed with some of Bob's songwriting gift. He co-wrote and produced most of Damian's breakthrough 2005 collection and demonstrates an even broader range here. "Hey Baby" features a verse from Mos Def and some skillful light R&B production; "The Traffic Jam" is a stripped-down dancehall romp; "Iron Bars" -- which has the impassioned refrain "Let me out, let me out/I'm an angry lion" -- could be a roots-reggae classic. Mind Control does justice to Bob Marley's legacy -- and that's saying a lot.

EVAN SERPICK - Rolling Stone

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"The album is a quiet masterpiece - easily the best effort from a Marley progeny yet" (Interview Magazine)

Stephen Marley, Grammy winning artist and producer, and son of the legendary Bob Marley, released his highly anticipated solo debut album Mind Control (Tuff Gong/ Ghetto Youths/ Universal-Republic) on Tuesday, March 20.

The release of Mind Control 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.

His debut, which includes guest appearances from Mos Def and Ben Harper, will showcase the diverse range of the studio-savvy Stephen, with songs such as the mesmerizing Chase Dem, and the soulful serenade Hey Baby.

The album will also include the hit track The Traffic Jam, which features Damian "Jr Gong" Marley. The song is currently exploding onto charts in Jamaica and England and showing early spins on several US Rhythmic/Crossover stations. Marley recently performed the track live on the Jimmy Kimmel Show on Thursday, February 1.

Early press reviews on the album are beginning to hit with Urb Magazine calling the release "irresistible -- an impressive offering" and Spin Magazine giving the album "4 stars" proclaiming 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."

For Stephen, 2006 was a coming-out party of sorts. He scored his fifth Grammy award for his triumphant co-production work on brother Damian "Jr Gong" Marley's acclaimed RIAA certified Gold disc Welcome To Jamrock, to date garnering him the most Grammy awards of any Marley and more than any other Reggae artist in history. Stephen also embarked on two U.S. concert tours last year, including the acclaimed "Bob Marley Roots, Rock Reggae Festival," where brothers Stephen and Ziggy Marley joined together for the first time ever with reggae pioneer Bunny Wailer.

Music heads have been up on Stephen's work for years, whether for collaborations with R&B stars like Erykah Badu or his part on the dancehall burner It Was Written, and especially after Chant Down Babylon, the platinum-selling star-studded Bob Marley tribute he produced. A veteran of the family's fertile launching pad, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Stephen has emerged in recent years as a pivotal production and creative force, helping to oversee Marley enterprises like Tuff Gong Records and its umbrella imprint Ghetto Youths.

For more information please stay tuned to www.stephenmarleymusic.com

 

Mind Control's Accolades Keep Raining In!

"It's passion and soul that sets apart your average, competent reggae group from the likes of a Stephen Marley, who brought a nine-piece backing outfit - a guitarist, drummer, bassist, two keyboardists, a percussionist, two female backup singers, and a guy whose job it was to wave and twirl a Rasta flag all night - plus his younger brother Damian "Junior Gong" Marley to a very packed Showbox on Friday night for a phenomenal and frequently transcendent two-hour performance. Reggae's rarely sounded this joyful and intense, at least not to my ears."

(Seattle Weekly, April 14, 2007: Review of Stephen Marley at the Showbox - April 13)

"Mind Control is polished, assured and casually virtuosic in a way that most premieres are raw, edgy and ferociously single-minded. In the same way that hip-hop producers like Timbaland and Just Blaze have renewed rap by emphasizing the music's omnivorous rhythmic appetites, Stephen Marley updates Jamaican music for an era of globalized pop by tracing the connections between local styles. "

(SFGate.com, April 15, 2007)

"The Traffic Jam, with its rubbery bassline, is guaranteed to rock your car stereo".

(People Magazine, April 23, 2007)

"When it comes to music royalty, it doesn't come more important than the Marleys. The sons of Bob Marley have been successful the world over, thanks largely in part to the behind-the-scenes magic of Stephen Marley."

(The Hook, March 16, 2007)