Ky Mani Marley

He may be a Marley, but Jamaican reggae and hip-hop artist Ky-Mani didn't grow up as Jamaican royalty like his siblings. Born to Caribbean table tennis champion Anita Belnavis following a brief fling with reggae king Bob Marley, Ky-Mani grew up in Miami, estranged and an outcast.

With no access to his father’s fortune, Ky-Mani sold drugs, doing the best he could to survive the impoverished and predator-infested streets of one of Miami's most violent ghettoes. Initially interested in sports rather than music, Ky-Mani’s life changed when he discovered a knack for rapping and singing. Music became his anti-drug.

His debut album, ‘Like Father Like Son’ (consisting of cover versions of some of his father's most obscure songs) was released in 1996 when he was barely 20 years old. According to Ky-Mani, it wasn’t even supposed to be an album. It was something he was doing at a studio and someone took the tapes and released it as an album.

His next album, 2000s ‘The Journey’ received critical acclaim. In 2001, Ky-Mani released his third studio album, “Many More Roads.” He then went on tour and in 2004 released his fourth studio album, “Milestone,” followed by “Radio,” in 2007. This was followed by a single called “New Heights” in early 2012.
Then in 2015, Ky-Mani released his sixth album and second Billboard Reggae Album Chart topper, “Maestro,” addressing subjects closest to his heart –love, unity, loving your neighbor just as you would your brothers and sisters.

Today, a Grammy-nominated musical artist ("Many More Roads" in 2001; he lost to his half-brother Ziggy,), actor, author, humanitarian and philanthropist (he was named 'Philanthropist of the Year' by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Better World Awards in 2009), Ky-Mani Marley is definitely a star in his own right.

Following in the legacy of his father's footsteps, Ky-Mani Marley continues on with the pop-reggae sound for which his family is known. But his fondness for all music influences the work he creates. From hip-hop to blues, rock and grassroots, Ky-mani’s music is a pure representation of his life and his name (Ky-Mani translates to Adventurous Traveler) and his essence.
In his controversial book, ‘Dear dad: where's the family in our family, today,” Ky-Mani chronicles his struggles and his own story of personal redemption.

His political view is that all politicians are the same. “I never met one that proved the other one wrong or that proved the other one right. They all the same. I think about the people and what I can do to contribute to society, and to those less fortunate. How my music can affect the positive in life. How can I reach my hand out and not just from an economic standpoint to where I can get to the less fortunate. I get my hands dirty and let them know that I'm here physically and not just donating money. I'm not just on the net, but standing on the same ground with you, and telling you how I got out of my struggle. So I like the hands-on charity work. Sometimes, you donate money, but you don't know where it's going.”