Bob Marley's second son,
Stephen Marley, first appeared on record in 1979, when he was only six years old. With his brother
Ziggy, the young
Stephen recorded the single "Children Playing in the Streets," a charity single with the profits going to the United Nations to aid its efforts during the International Year of the Child. The single would also mark the beginnings of the
Ziggy-fronted
Melody Makers, a band that included
Stephen's other siblings.
Stephen played a supportive role in
the Melody Makers from the beginning as guitarist, singer, and occasional songwriter. To satisfy his creative interests outside the group,
Stephen decided to become familiar with the music industry from behind the scenes. Production work began in 1996 with
Stephen contributing ideas to albums by his brothers
Damian and
Julian. Remixing
the Fugees the same year was the first public display of
Stephen's love of hip-hop and R&B. Work with
Eve,
Krayzie Bone, and
Erykah Badu would follow along with a new role as "executive producer" of the
Bob Marley remix compilation
Chant Down Babylon, released in 1999. The album drew criticism from reggae purists who thought
Stephen's mixing of hip-hop and his father's music was blasphemy, but the album's success encouraged the young producer. In 2001, his production work for brother
Damian's
Halfway Tree helped win the Grammy for Best Reggae Album, while
Stephen's version of "Master Blaster" landed on the
Stevie Wonder tribute
Conception the same year. Work began on a debut solo album, but the 2002 formation of production house/promotion firm Ghetto Youths International with brother
Ziggy kept
Stephen from finishing it. Work on brother
Damian's successful 2005 album
Welcome to Jamrock pushed his debut all the way back to 2007. It was March that year when
Mind Control finally landed. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
