Damien Marley:
Welcome to Jamrock

Release Date: 15 September 2005

Reviewed By: Melisa Tang

1. Confrontation

2. There For You

3. Welcome To Jamrock

4. The Master Has Come Back

5. All Night

6. Beautiful

7. Pimpa's Paradise

8. Move!

9. Hey Girl

10. Hey Girl

11. Road To Zion

12. We're Gonna Make It

13. In 2 Deep

14. Khaki Suit

15. Carnal Mind

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As the youngest son of Reggae legend Bob, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley is always going to be compared to his late father. However, over the course of three albums, Damian has worked to carve out his own sound, and as a result, has a following all of his own.  

On his latest album, ‘Welcome To Jamrock’, the JA star tries his hand at different styles and sounds, working with the likes of Bunny Wailer, Bounty Killer, Bobby Brown, Nas and his brother, Stephen Marley. With a collection of artists as varied as this, you would be forgiven for having a few doubts at how the album would turn out. Yet, upon listening to the album all the way through, you’d find a rather eclectic mix of Reggae, Dancehall, Hip Hop and R&B-tinged tracks, something that I wasn’t expecting.                 

Most people will be familiar with the title track, the song that has been blaring out of stereo speakers all summer long. On the hot lead single ‘Welcome To Jamrock’, Damian takes it back to the old school, delving into the contentious topic of street violence in what has become known as ‘Jamrock’. With heavy basslines and echoing drums produced by his brother Stephen, Damian has brought the plight of the masses to the forefront of Reggae music, in a message to the politicians: “Welcome to Jamdown, poor people a dead at random/ Political violence, can't done!” 

The young Marley continues to campaign for equality and peace in Jamaica on the album opener, ‘Confrontation’. Featuring Bunny Wailer and clips of speeches by Marcus Garvey, the track sees Damian prophesising over what may happen in his native country if the strong do not protect the weak: “Any day, revolution might erupt/ And the skies over Kingston lighten up.”  

Whilst Damian rarely sounds like his iconic father, at times he changes the tone of his voice and it’s then that similarities can be heard. On the tribute to his family, ‘There For You’, Damian adopts a raspy singing voice and it’s at this point on the album that he sounds most like his father when Bob sang on ‘Jah Will Be Waiting There’.  

Sampling his father’s song ‘Exodus’ on the upbeat ‘Move!’, Damian makes use of his quick tongue and adds more drums to the track, updating his father’s work and making the song one of the highlights of the album. 

Damian goes into “loved-up playa” mode on the mediocre R&B-influenced track ‘Beautiful’, his duet with Bobby Brown, but it’s on cuts like ‘All Night’ and ‘Hey Girl’ that Marley really excels. These have more of a Soca feel to them, and the riddims are simply infectious.  

In reviewing ‘Welcome To Jamrock’, it is impossible not to mention the mellow and laid back ‘Road To Zion’ featuring QB’s Nas; a track which sees both artists get spiritual and reflective; quite possibly the best song on the album.  

However, as mentioned before, Damian stumbles when he attempts to serenade the ladies on slower R&B beats, something which Damian should steer well clear of, at least for now. With so many ‘gangsta’ rappers also trying out this look for size, it would be better for Damian to leave it up to them to fall flat on their face, as an artist this talented should not feel the need to cover common territory.

Nevertheless, ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley has produced one hell of an album; one which should not be overlooked. Forget the comparisons to his father; if he continues to make music as emotive as this, Damian Marley is going to achieve iconic status all of his own. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Top 3 tracks:

11) Road To Zion featuring Nas

3) Welcome To Jamrock

8) Move! Featuring Bob Marley

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