Quotes from Damian Marley

I can remember the first time I ever recorded my vocals on to a beat. Cat Coore from Third World - a legendary Jamaican band - had a little demo set up at his house. I'm very good friends with his eldest son, Shiah, who plays with me now. So we were rhyming over a track by the dancehall artist Peter Metro. I've still got it somewhere.

It's my luck to be at the frontier of what looks to be a resurrection of roots music on the international scene. That's really what reggae music is about: that voice against oppression and struggle.

I used to buy records in high school. Mainly dancehall: Super Cat, Buju Banton.

I grew up in uptown Jamaica; I went to a rich school. I was raised by my mother and my stepfather; they made sure education came before anything. I had a good childhood, grew up spending time with my bigger brothers and sisters. My people are good people. I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of people and culture.

My father has been a voice of encouragement in times of desperation for so many people. But he died when I was so young that, for me, his music has been a way for me to get to know him better.

It's not like I go into the studio and say I'm going to try to make music to prove to somebody that I can make music.

Music is an expression of what's inside of you. And that's how I make music.

We take for granted electricity, water, even concerts. Count your blessings.

The whole world is set up so that for places like Switzerland to exist, that are crime-free and with the best care for everybody, you have to have places like Sudan, or Jamaica. But really, there's enough to share, when you check it. It's not that complicated, really. It's probably less thinking and more feeling that's required.

Everything I've experienced, things that my friends have experienced and we talk about, things that are on the news - all aspects of life are in my message.

I love hip-hop music, ... It's rebel music is how I like to speak about it. Hip-hop and reggae come from the same community as far as class...they both come from the bottom of society.

Politicians need to stop the violence because it has become a way of life in Jamaica. It's the thing to do - be violent in Jamaica.

The U.K. crowds always have a lot of energy, and I've done some milestone shows there that I'm very proud of.

The U.K. is one of the places that has always been an advocate of my music and I spend a lot of time touring here. I've got family and friends over here, but more than that, there's a large Jamaican community and the Jamaican culture is very widespread in the U.K. which I love.

One of the first albums that I remember, rap albums I remember really listening to, was LL Cool J 'Mama Said Knock You Out.'

Technology has changed things, same as everywhere. But the economy has changed drastically. When Jamaica first won independence, our dollar was stronger than the U.S. dollar. Now ours is about 90 to one. That's had a big impact on crime and poverty.

By the time Africa is developed, it will be the wonderland of the world, 'cause it will be able to make use of all the mistakes of other nations. But it nah go just drop out of the sky. So we have to put in work.

In Jamaica, them always have throwback riddims, recycled old beats, and the hardcore reggae scene is always present. You have faster stuff like the more commercialized stuff, but you always have that segment of music that is always from the core, from the original root of it.

I'm a big fan of hip-hop, so it reflects in my approach.

Everyone is related to Africa; everyone comes from Africa. We are all distant relatives.

The victory's found in truth, like innocence found in youth Self defeat is your own dispute

The average man can't prove most of the things that he chooses to speak of, and still won't research and find out the root of the truth that you seek of

I like singing all songs, really, but I find that writing social commentary comes naturally.

Jamaica full of ghetto, but boy, I tell you: me never see it like that.