Welcome to Jamrock

 (130 customer reviews)

The youngest son of the one and only Bob Marley, Damian (Jr. Gong) Marley takes his nickname from his dad's "Tuff Gong" moniker, and has been strutting his talented genes since he was 13 years old. This is his third album, after Mr. Marley (1996) and the Grammy award winning "Halfway Tree" (2001).

The first single "Welcome to Jamrock" stormed the charts on release, with its blaring air horn and Ine Kamoze sample, causing much controversy in his homeland of Jamaica with its hard hitting, critical lyrics about poverty and politics:

"Come on let's face it, a ghetto education's basic

A most a the youths them waste it

And when they waste it, that's when they take the guns and replace it

Then them don't stand a chance at all"

The album is an expose of the side of Jamaica the tourists don't see, and music wise is a fusion of reggae, dancehall, R&B and even Hip Hop, starring his brother Stephen, with a guest list that includes...Read more

People have said they like Damian Marley's music for its beats and its hooks, but I think Damian's true talent lies elsewhere. This fellow's music is nothing short of the modern "chattin" equivalent to the Wailer's deep, magical and legendary tunes. With his infinite flow techniques, Damian shows us in this album that he also deserves the title his father's still-selling album was dubbed with - "Legend". Yes, I said it. Damian is no ordinary dee-jay. Each song of this spectacular album reminds you of the "royal" blood that flows through his veins. xUnlike his contemporaries and chat-jay counterparts, Sean Paul and Elephant man, Damian is very intelligent. His music is always to-the-point and it always has a point. He does not dedicate hours to singing the praises of marijuana, or to the description of dances (yes, Elephant Man does do that).

"Welcome to Jamrock is really welcomin yuh to de lives of Jamaican citizens, as opposed to what de tourists come and experience in...Read more

I have only listened to Welcome to Jamrock so far.

WELCOME TO JAMROCK - Damian Marley

encapsulates the history

pulsates with vivid imagery

expresses the cold blooded violence

through use of dialectic utterances

epitome of true 'dancehall stylee'

emanating the sound of Barrington Levy

From the first time I heard it on 95.7 FM The Beat, Tampa Bay, FL, I knew that I had to purchase the music and learn the lyrics.

This is the most Jamaican sounding music I've heard in a long time. It is profoundly powerful in its delivery. The sound of it is reminiscent of the style of reggae rap, which originated in the late 70's and proliferated in the eighties. In terms of art, this cut is the peak of what Jamaican reggae rap is. It is a poetic reflection of the reality of living in Jamaica. This piece is wonderfully arranged.

It explores politics, gang violence, and a drug atmosphere, which a...Read more