Stephen Marley happy to be ‘Winning’

When reggae royalty Stephen Marley, son of the King of Reggae Bob Marley, links up with dancehall royalty Beenie Man for a collab, chances are it is a winning combination. It comes as no surprise, then, that their new single is titled Winning, an apt description, too, of the production team steering the track.

“My good brethren David Cole produced this one,” Stephen told The Gleaner of the track, which is set for release on September 18.

“I was glad to be a part of it and collaborate with another of Jamaica’s greats, Beenie Man,” the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer and producer added.

David Cole is the son of former I-Three member, Judy Mowatt and the late, great footballer, Allan ‘Skill’ Cole, who was also Bob Marley’s tour manager. He was assisted on this project by Makonnen Blake-Hannah – whose moniker is Maki-B TheSpaceAgeRasta – the son of journalist, author, filmmaker and cultural liaison, Barbara Blake-Hannah.

“This is our first project together, actually, but I’ve known David all my life really,” Makonnen told The Gleaner. “David is a brother from another mother ... and father too... seeing that our parents are all very close friends with and who worked with Bob Marley from before we all were born.”

Simply put, Winning is winning. Makonnen, who stepped on the big stage in 1998 when, as a 13-year-old technology prodigy, he was appointed Youth Technology Consultant to the Government, explained that “it was all David’s idea”.

However, he does have his own impressive credits as a producer, having worked with artistes such as Capleton ( Pain ft. Bobo Zaro); Masicka ( Way We Roll, Poverty, and Ghetto Life); and Third World ft. Stephen and Damian Marley ( 96 Degrees Remix). Makonnen has also done production work for Lil Wayne, Sean Paul, Akon, Carlos Santana, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Future, and Wyclef Jean.

He noted that they went for the best in the business to bring to life this Winning hybrid production, which features digital as well as live elements from A-list musicians such as Lenky Marsden and Bowie McLaughlin, with whom Cole has collaborated over the years.

“I trusted [David’s] instincts, and it turned out extremely well. He has the “golden ear” as we call it in the business. I know when a song is going to be a hit and in the case of this one, the response we are getting all points in one direction … winning,” a satisfied Makonnen stated.

Cole, who has produced several hard-hitting dancehall and reggae riddims over the years, shared that the track came together remotely, with an element of surprise even for him. The song had its beginnings during the World Cup, with a chorus Stephen sang. Cole later played it for Beenie Man, and from there, nature took its course.

“Not even I knew that they both would be performing together … it happened mystically. One thing magically led to another,” Cole shared.

The winner in all of us

The actual production process started at his nephew Joshua Famous’ Dugout Studio. Stephen’s vocal production was done at Tuff Gong Studio, while Beenie Man’s was recorded at the Wolf Pack Studio.

“I hope this one motivates the winner in all of us,” Stephen, who is the co-founder of the non-profit organisation focused on youth upliftment, Ghetto Youths Foundation, told The Gleaner.

Quizzed on what it was like producing a track for another elite producer and if Stephen offered any specific feedback or advice on the arrangement, Cole shared that the second son of Bob Marley is “very meticulous”.

“Being that I’ve been working professionally with him and the Ghetto Youth outfit since 1998, it was just another day in the studio. He’s very meticulous about his vocal presentation more than most artistes and was very specific on the addition of backing vocals and who he wanted to do it,” Cole said.

The Winning songwriters are Moses Davis and David Cole, and their core message surrounds athletic excellence, “since we Jamaicans are overachievers in that world”. Cole emphasised that the glorification of unity and teamwork within all spaces – musical and social – is also a key message of Winning.

He pointed out that both Beenie Man and Stephen Marley embody unity and excellence and “are still maintaining the high standards that have been set musically on the world stage”.

Makonnen completed the thought by adding that “they are both world-class artistes of the highest level and this goes to show how well people at the top of their game collaborate”.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com