Stephen Marley’s MIND CONTROL

GHETTO YOUTHS/UNIVERSAL-REPUBLIC
by M. Peggy Quattro

This debut album from Stephen “Ragga” Marley was well worth the wait. Nominated for the Reggae Grammy, to be presented on February 10, 2008, in Los Angeles, CA, Mind Control set the new standard in modern Reggae production.

Three-plus years in the making, we waited as Stephen produced Grammy-winning albums for his brother Damian. Now it is Stephen’s time to shine. I cannot stop talking about this CD. It is a fresh collection of new Reggae together with old-school, Hip-Hop, Latin and R&B, with a little Blues, Country and Roots thrown in. Each song takes you on a musical journey into the life and mind of Stephen Marley.

From the haunting intro of “Mind Control,” Stephen leads you down the road of mental slavery. With a call to free ourselves of this suppression, Stephen follows the path set up by his mentor and father. He says he did not sit down to write a political song; but what he depicts is what he sees, and if itís political, so be it. Continue reading →