7-time Grammy award winning singer-songwriter, Stephen Marley, is set to release his third solo album, titled Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life. The album will be released on Ghetto Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Republic and the album will be released on May 24, 2011.
Conceived as a two part project, THE ROOT OF LIFE will be followed by the release of REVELATION PT 2: THE FRUIT OF LIFE, due in fall of 2011, which will feature an array of styles that have emanated from reggae’s core.
With 2 seperate releases scheduled for this year, Stephen Marley’s first release with Revelation Pt 1: The Root of Life features an all star cast of guest appearances including Damian & Ziggy Marley, Capleton, Spragga Benz, Buju Banton, Wale & The Cast of Fela, plus Melanie Fiona.
Anchored in reggae’s scorching drum and bass backbeat, THE ROOT OF LIFE delivers an organic and richly textured sound through its 14 tracks, making it a true body of work that delivers powerful messages and encouragement for the struggling masses (“Working Ways“); depicts the harrowing residual effect of slavery (“Old Slaves“); evokes the sorrow of rejection (“She Knows Now“); conveys the disappointment of “False Friends“; in reggae’s lovers-rock tradition a duet with Melanie Fiona, “No Cigarette Smoking“; to the final track “Now I Know,” a contemplative song about moving on.
The first single, “Jah Army,” features Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Buju Banton spitting formidable, career-defining verses over a thunderous one-drop rhythm with lyrics to rally the troops. “Whether it’s in the music or our life, get it together man, the Gideon is on,” declares Stephen.
Track Listing:
1.) Made In Africa (Feat. Wale & The Cast of Fela)
2.) False Friends
3.) Break Us Apart (Feat. Capleton)
4.) Can’t Keep I Down
5.) No Cigarette Smoking (Feat. Mealnie Fiona)
6.) Freedom Time
7.) Jah Army (Feat. Damian Marley & Buju Banton)
8.) Old Slaves
9.) Pale Moonlight (How Many Times)
10.) She Knows Now
11.) The Chapel (Feat. Ziggy Marley)
12.) Tight Ship (Feat. Damian Marley)
13.) Working Ways (Feat. Spragga Benz)
14.) Now I Know
“Reggae music has influenced hip hop and so many other kinds of music,” Stephen reasons.” THE FRUIT OF LIFE will be more open, eclectic kind of record. There will be songs for the club, dancehall reggae will be there, love songs in there, but it will remain conscious good music that you can always take something positive from.”
Having recently completed a cross-country tour to launch this album, Marley will also see exclusive distribution for the vinyl version of THE ROOT OF LIFE from VP Records.