Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Download not available
Six years passed since Ky-Mani Marley released his sophomore set, Many More Roads, but the Marley name's cachet in the reggae scene hadn't yet dissipated, and with the strength of his previous sets, Radio debuted at the top of the reggae chart. This is quite a feat, since Radio is not a reggae album, with its only link guesting singer Tessanne Chin hot off her hit "Hide Away." None of Marley's half-siblings appears, no veteran reggae musicians wave the black, green, and gold, and there's not even a single dancehall producer to boost Ky-Mani's Jamaican cred. There is, however, "The Hustler," which is obviously aimed at a world audience, and catchy enough to take the clubs and airwaves by storm. But that infectious roots reggae number is the exception to the record's rule of straight-up hip-hop and R&B. But because Marley is a Marley, one can tease out reggae elements, all of which would go unremarked if delivered by any other artist. Radio's atmospheres are overwhelmingly introspective, if not outright brooding, its auras shadowed, at times gloomy, with the bluesy "Breakdown" pushing toward the gothic; the inspiration could be dread roots, but not necessarily. Some of the basslines would work well in a reggae context, a few of the brass passages too, but at this point, one's really stretching. Several of the themes are a better fit, notably the heartfelt plea for Jah's mercy "I Pray" and the militant "The March," wherein Marley girds himself for life and Armageddon. Of course, deceitful women are a universal affliction, but only someone raised in the reggae world would call theirs "Jezebel." And much of the set revolves around relationships, from the slack "Slow Roll" to the fiery "So Hot," and on to such romantic numbers as "Royal Vibes," "Conversation," and "I Got You." But Marley isn't merely a loverman; he's also a "Ghetto Soldier," but one who still feels the need to establish his street cred, as he does on this powerful, part-autobiographical/part-bring-it-on number. That's the toughest of the set, though the defiant and exuberant "I'm Back" runs it a close second, as Marley announces his return with style, with his posse, rappers Young Buck and Louie Rankin, watching his back. It's one of five combo numbers within; others feature guest rappers Maintain and Gail Gotti, and R&B star Mya. All told, Radio is an incredibly potent album, with a great flow, minimalistic in feel but thick with atmosphere, the lyrics personal, often thoughtful, and delivered with all the power and emotion Marley possesses. A hip-hop powerhouse parading as a reggae set, the album will blow your socks off, even if you were expecting a one-drop set.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133,33/month
D. BROWN, Writer - Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - Young Buck, FeaturedArtist - Louie Rankin, FeaturedArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer - Alex Francis, Composer
Mark Sparks, Composer - Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Gail Gotti, FeaturedArtist
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - Ky Miller, Composer - K. Marley, Writer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Larry Chu, Composer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - Tessanne Chin, FeaturedArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer - T. CHIN, Writer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - M. Harrison, Writer - Mya, FeaturedArtist - Ky Miller, Composer - K. Marley, Writer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Corey Chase, Composer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - Winston Thomas, Composer - Louie Rankin, FeaturedArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer - Maintain, FeaturedArtist - S. Ridgeway, Writer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - Red Spyda, Composer - K. Marley, Writer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer
Ky-Mani Marley, MainArtist - K. Marley, Writer - Jason Farmer, Composer - Alex Francis, Composer
Album review
Six years passed since Ky-Mani Marley released his sophomore set, Many More Roads, but the Marley name's cachet in the reggae scene hadn't yet dissipated, and with the strength of his previous sets, Radio debuted at the top of the reggae chart. This is quite a feat, since Radio is not a reggae album, with its only link guesting singer Tessanne Chin hot off her hit "Hide Away." None of Marley's half-siblings appears, no veteran reggae musicians wave the black, green, and gold, and there's not even a single dancehall producer to boost Ky-Mani's Jamaican cred. There is, however, "The Hustler," which is obviously aimed at a world audience, and catchy enough to take the clubs and airwaves by storm. But that infectious roots reggae number is the exception to the record's rule of straight-up hip-hop and R&B. But because Marley is a Marley, one can tease out reggae elements, all of which would go unremarked if delivered by any other artist. Radio's atmospheres are overwhelmingly introspective, if not outright brooding, its auras shadowed, at times gloomy, with the bluesy "Breakdown" pushing toward the gothic; the inspiration could be dread roots, but not necessarily. Some of the basslines would work well in a reggae context, a few of the brass passages too, but at this point, one's really stretching. Several of the themes are a better fit, notably the heartfelt plea for Jah's mercy "I Pray" and the militant "The March," wherein Marley girds himself for life and Armageddon. Of course, deceitful women are a universal affliction, but only someone raised in the reggae world would call theirs "Jezebel." And much of the set revolves around relationships, from the slack "Slow Roll" to the fiery "So Hot," and on to such romantic numbers as "Royal Vibes," "Conversation," and "I Got You." But Marley isn't merely a loverman; he's also a "Ghetto Soldier," but one who still feels the need to establish his street cred, as he does on this powerful, part-autobiographical/part-bring-it-on number. That's the toughest of the set, though the defiant and exuberant "I'm Back" runs it a close second, as Marley announces his return with style, with his posse, rappers Young Buck and Louie Rankin, watching his back. It's one of five combo numbers within; others feature guest rappers Maintain and Gail Gotti, and R&B star Mya. All told, Radio is an incredibly potent album, with a great flow, minimalistic in feel but thick with atmosphere, the lyrics personal, often thoughtful, and delivered with all the power and emotion Marley possesses. A hip-hop powerhouse parading as a reggae set, the album will blow your socks off, even if you were expecting a one-drop set.
© Jo-Ann Greene /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:56:52
- Main artists: Ky Mani Marley
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Voxonic Music
- Genre: Reggae
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.