Who Is Damian Marley? Age, Wife, Children, Parents, Net Worth, Height, Biography, and More
Damian Marley (born 21 July 1978, Age: 45 years old) is a Jamaican reggae artist, producer, and entrepreneur who is widely known as the youngest son of the legendary Bob Marley. He is also nicknamed Jr. Gong, after his father’s stage name Tuff Gong. Damian has followed his father’s footsteps in music but has also carved his niche with his distinctive style, blending reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, and R&B.
He has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance. He has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Nas, Jay-Z, Skrillex, Bruno Mars, and Mick Jagger.
Damian is not only a successful musician, but also a philanthropist, activist, and businessman who has invested in various ventures, such as cannabis, music streaming, and clothing. He is also a proud father of a son, Christian Marley, who was born in 2009. In this article, we will explore more about Damian Marley’s life, career, family, and achievements.
Early Life and Family
Damian was born on July 21, 1978, in Kingston, Jamaica, to Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare. His father was a world-renowned reggae icon who died of cancer when Damian was only two years old. His mother was a former Miss World and a jazz musician who raised Damian in Jamaica.
Damian has 11 siblings from his father’s side, including Ziggy, Rohan, Stephen, Ky-Mani, and Julian Marley, who are also involved in music. Damian grew up listening to his father’s music and was inspired by his message of peace, love, and unity.
He also developed an interest in other genres of music, such as hip-hop, rock, and soul. He started performing at the age of 13, joining a musical group called Shephards, which later became the Ghetto Youths Crew, a collective of his siblings and cousins.
Damian Marley Wiki/Bio
| Name | Damian Robert Nesta Marley |
| Birth Date | July 21, 1978 |
| Birth Place | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Age | 45 years old |
| Children | Christian Marley |
| Siblings | Ziggy Marley, Rohan Marley, Stephen Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Julian Marley, Cedella Marley, Sharon Marley, Robert Marley, Karen Marley, Stephanie Marley, Makeda Jahnesta |
| Parents | Bob Marley, Cindy Breakspeare |
| Also known as | Jr. Gong |
| Occupation | DJ, singer, lyricist, rapper, producer, entrepreneur |
| Genres | Reggae, dancehall, hip-hop, R&B |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion |
| Labels | Tuff Gong, Ghetto Youths International, Universal, Republic, Def Jam |
| Awards | 4 Grammy Awards, 1 MOBO Award, 1 BET Award, 1 MTV Video Music Award, 1 Soul Train Music Award |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
| Social Media | Wikipedia: Damian_Marley Twitter: damianmarley Instagram: damianmarley Facebook: damianmarley YouTube: @DamianMarleyTV |
Music Career
Marley released his debut solo album, Mr. Marley, in 1996 when he was 18 years old. The album was produced by his brother Stephen and featured tracks that showcased Damian’s versatility and talent. He followed up with his second album, Halfway Tree, in 2001, which earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
The album’s title refers to his mixed heritage, as his father was from the rural town of Nine Mile and his mother was from the affluent area of Kingston. The album featured guest appearances from Capleton, Yami Bolo, Eve, and Treach of Naughty by Nature. Some of the popular songs from the album include “More Justice”, “It Was Written”, and “Still Searchin’”.
Damian Marley’s breakthrough came with his third album, Welcome to Jamrock, which was released in 2005. The album was a critical and commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies in the US and reaching the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s title track, “Welcome to Jamrock”, was a smash hit that became an anthem for Jamaica and the diaspora.
The song addressed the social and political issues of the island, such as poverty, violence, corruption, and tourism. The song also sampled a classic reggae song, “World-A-Music” by Ini Kamoze. The album also featured collaborations with Nas, Bobby Brown, Black Thought, Eek-A-Mouse, and Bunny Wailer. The album won two Grammy Awards, for Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance, making Damian the first Jamaican artist to win in the latter category.
Rise To Fame
Damian continued to expand his musical horizons with his subsequent projects, such as Distant Relatives, a collaborative album with Nas, released in 2010. The album explored the connections between Africa and the Caribbean, as well as the themes of ancestry, history, and spirituality. The album featured guest appearances from K’naan, Lil Wayne, Joss Stone, and Dennis Brown. Some of the notable songs from the album include “As We Enter”, “Patience”, “Africa Must Wake Up”, and “Land of Promise”. The album was well-received by critics and fans and donated a portion of its proceeds to various charities in Africa.
Marley also teamed up with other artists to form supergroups, such as SuperHeavy, with Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, and A.R. Rahman, in 2011, and The Marley Brothers, with his siblings Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, and Ky-Mani, in 2012. He also collaborated with Skrillex on the electronic dance track “Make It Bun Dem” in 2012, which became a viral hit and was featured in the video game Far Cry 3.
He also worked with Jay-Z on the song “Bam” from his album 4:44 in 2017, which sampled Damian’s song “Zion Train” from his album Stony Hill. Stony Hill was Damian’s fourth solo album, which was released in 2017, after a 12-year hiatus. The album was a return to his roots, with songs that reflected his personal and spiritual growth. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2018, making Damian the most awarded reggae artist in Grammy history, with four wins.
Damian is currently working on his fifth solo album, which is expected to be released in 2022. He has also released several singles, such as “Reach Home Safe”, “Life Is A Circle”, “Medication Remix”, and “Just Ain’t The Same”, in the past few years. He has also performed at various festivals and events around the world, such as Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza, and One Love Peace Concert. He has also participated in several social and environmental causes, such as the Jamrock Cruise, which promotes reggae culture and music, the Ocean Cleanup, which aims to remove plastic waste from the oceans, and the 1Love Foundation, which supports education, health, and environmental initiatives in Jamaica and Africa.
Personal Life, Spouse & Kids
Damian Marley is a private person who does not reveal much about his personal life. He is not married, but he has a son, Christian Marley, who was born in 2009. Christian’s mother is Cristal Chaitram, a model and actress from Trinidad and Tobago. Damian is very close to his son and often posts pictures of him on his social media accounts.
Damian is also a devout Rastafarian, who follows the teachings of Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, whom Rastafarians regard as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Damian wears dreadlocks as a symbol of his faith and abstains from alcohol, tobacco, and meat. He also uses cannabis as a sacrament and advocates for its legalization and decriminalization.
Marley is also a savvy businessman who has invested in various ventures, especially in the cannabis industry. He is a co-owner of High Times, the leading magazine and media company for cannabis culture and news, which he acquired with a group of investors in 2017. He is also a co-founder of Stony Hill Corp, a cannabis company that produces and sells CBD products, such as oils, edibles, and beverages.
He is also a partner of Ocean Grown Extracts, a cannabis company that produces and distributes medical and recreational marijuana products. He is also involved in Marley Natural, a cannabis brand that was launched by his family in 2016, in partnership with Privateer Holdings, a private equity firm that focuses on the cannabis industry. Marley Natural offers a range of products, such as flowers, oils, accessories, and body care products, that are inspired by Bob Marley’s legacy and vision.
Net Worth
Damian is one of the richest reggae artists in the world, with an estimated net worth of $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He has earned his fortune from his music sales, tours, endorsements, and investments. He owns a record label called Ghetto Youths International, which he founded with his brothers Stephen and Julian in 2002.
The label has signed and produced several reggae and dancehall artists, such as Wayne Marshall, Jo Mersa Marley, Black-Am-I, and Kabaka Pyramid. He also owns a clothing line called Tuff Gong Clothing, which he launched in 2006, in honor of his father. The clothing line features apparel and accessories inspired by reggae culture and Rastafari colors.
Height and Physical Appearance
Damian is 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall and weighs around 165 lbs (75 kg). He has a slim and athletic build, with dark brown eyes and black hair. He has several tattoos on his body, such as a lion on his chest, a star on his neck, and his father’s face on his arm.
He also has a distinctive gap between his front teeth, which he inherited from his father. He usually dresses in casual and comfortable clothes, such as jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and sneakers. He also wears accessories, such as hats, sunglasses, chains, and rings.
