

Eight-time Grammy winner Stephen Marley today celebrates another year of life. The quinquagenarian, who was born in the United States, is the son of reggae legend Bob Marley.
As we celebrate the 50th year of Stephen’s life, here are eight of his songs that deserve a spot on your playlist.
8. My Conclusion
Featuring Akon and Buju Banton, My Conclusion was released in 2013. In this track, Banton, Akon and Marley suggest that the only solution to end ongoing societal problems is to start a revolution.
Though they have heard war is not the answer, it appears it is the only possible solution to rectify the ongoing issue.
7. Ghetto Boy
The 17th rack on Marley’s Revelation Pt. II: “The Fruit of Life”, this record features the likes of Bounty Killer and Mad Cobra.
The 2016 track captures what appears to be the typical ‘ghetto boy’. Marley, who sings about the ghetto boy in the first person, talks of the experience of the ghetto boy, who, at a tender age, is forced to become a man after being pressured to make the gun his toy.
Bounty Killer, in his verse, makes bold statements disregarding politicians and telling ghetto youths that they have to endure the struggle before they can legitimately make it.
6. Traffic Jam
This is the fifth track from Marley’s Mind Control album. This team up of Marley and his brother, Damian Marley, also includes frequent collaborator, Buju Banton.
In Traffic Jam, the brothers are stopped by police officers, who Rastafarians usually refer to as ‘Babylon’. The brothers go on to highlight aspects of their Rastafarian practices as well as flaunt their status as celebrities throughout the track.
5. No Cigarette Smoking (In My Room)
No Cigarette Smoking (In My Room) is another track from Marley’s Revelation Pt. II: “The Fruit of Life”. The 2016 track features Canadian singer, Melanie Fiona.
This cultural-romantic track is one in which he makes his Rastafarian beliefs against cigarette smoking known, but at some point says he will take another draw from a spliff. It appears the singer is also romantically involved, promising his lover that he will give her ‘good loving’ in the afternoon.
4. Medication
The Marley brothers, Damian and Stephen, deliver an enchanting ode to Mary Jane (cannabis) and tell all about its medicinal purposes. Damian sings about growing natural Mary Jane without any added chemicals while further explaining all the healing capabilities of herb.
The song was released at the end of the 2017 international pot smokers’ holiday, 4/20.
3. Options
Options is the eighth track on Pitbull’s 2017 Climate Change album. Featuring Marley, the reggae superstar tells his love interest in the song’s chorus that although he has several other girls to choose from, he prefers to have just her.
He goes on to note that he is more than willing to change his ways and drop women of his past for her.
2. Rock Stone
Rock Stone features popular Jamaican reggae acts Capleton and Sizzla. Produced by Marley, the three sing of a hard life growing up. Like the slaves, they state that a literal stone, was used as their pillow.
Going on to mention other struggles they had to endure in life, the trio highlight Haile Selassie, asking him not to forsake them.
1. The Mission
One of his more popular songs, Stephen Marley, who collaborated with his brother Damian on this track, encourages youths to keep their heads up.
Stephen, in the chorus, highlights a number of different Jamaican communities as well as a few other crime-ridden countries.
Damian urges fathers to step up for their sons so they have a good example to follow and can become men who follow through on ‘the mission’ in their future.
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