Ky-Mani Marley

Biography

Ky-Mani Ronald Marley (born 26 February 1976) is a Jamaican reggae musician. In 2001, he received a Grammy nomination for his album Many More Roads×Many More Roads29 May 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Who We Are3:522Many More Roads3:493Heart of a Lion3:454Yesterday4:015Freedom3:486Love in the Morning3:557Ska-Ba-Dar3:498Valley of Decision3:499Giving I a Fight3:5910In a de Dance3:4311Warning3:4712Hailie I3:52. He is the only child of the late reggae musician Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis, a Jamaican table tennis champion. He is one of Bob Marley's 11 children.

Early life and family

Ky-Mani was born on 26 February 1976 out of wedlock outside of Bob’s marriage to singer Rita Marley in Falmouth, Jamaica, to Anita Belnavis and Bob Marley. When he was five years old, his father died of cancer. At the age of nine, Marley and his mother relocated to Miami, Florida. His taste in music was informed by the music he heard on American radio stations, especially hip-hop, rock, and pop. In his early youth, Marley was focused on sports. As an athlete, he competed in soccer and American football. With his mother's direction, he received piano and guitar lessons and played trumpet in his high school band.

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×Like Father Like Son2 August 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 22 tracks1Nice Time2:462Nice Time (dub version)2:453War3:464War (dub version)3:475Who the Cap Fit3:376Who the Cap Fit (dub version)3:387Bad Card3:018Bad Card (dub version)3:069Johnny Was3:3210Johnny Was (dub version)3:3311Soul Rebel3:3612Soul Rebel (dub version)3:4213Africa Unite2:4914Africa Unite (dub version)2:5015Kinky Reggae3:3916Kinky Reggae (dub version)4:1017No Woman, No Cry3:4818No Woman, No Cry (dub version)3:4619So Jah Seh4:0320So Jah Seh (dub version)4:0221Small Axe3:4722Small Axe (dub version)3:52, and several singles: "Judge Not" with Patra, followed by "Dear Dad" (which topped the British reggae charts), "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.

Marley became the subject of a bidding war. 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×Many More Roads29 May 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Who We Are3:522Many More Roads3:493Heart of a Lion3:454Yesterday4:015Freedom3:486Love in the Morning3:557Ska-Ba-Dar3:498Valley of Decision3:499Giving I a Fight3:5910In a de Dance3:4311Warning3:4712Hailie I3:52, which was nominated for a Grammy Award, and went on tour. In 2004 he released his fourth studio album, Milestone×MilestoneJune 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Rude Boy3:422Country Journey4:313Dear Dad3:554Return of a King4:575Emperor4:386Hey Love4:287Yesterday4:008Hi-Way4:189Tom Drunk4:5810Your Love4:5211Fell In Love4:3612Warriors4:0613Lord is my Shepherd4:08. In 2007, he released Radio. Also in 2007, Marley joined Van Halen on tour as their opening act. In 2015, he released another album, Maestro×Maestro30 June 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1All The Way3:562Get High3:543Fancy Things3:564Love Over All3:205Keepers Of The Light4:556We Are3:257Destructive Love Affair3:048Rasmantic3:469Mary Jane3:3710Champagne Dreams5:0411The Chant3:3512Valley Of Death4:30.
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.
Marley's acting work included lead roles in the Jamaican films Shottas and One Love.