Skip Marley

The maternal grandson of Bob Marley, Skip Marley belongs to the storied reggae lineage that encompasses his mother Cedella along with uncles Ziggy, Stephen, and Damian Marley, though his style incorporates elements of modern pop, rap, and rock. Initial recognition arrived via his appearance on Katy Perry’s 2017 smash “Chained to the Rhythm,” after which he issued multiple solo singles across subsequent years. His languid 2019 duet with H.E.R., “Slow Down,” topped the charts and later appeared on the debut EP Higher Place, released the following year.

Raised in Miami, Florida after his birth in Kingston, Jamaica, Skip taught himself to play instruments and took his first stage bow at fifteen when uncle Stephen invited him to deliver the chorus of “One Love.” He entered the family’s Island-distributed Tuff Gong imprint in 2016 with the ballad “Cry to Me.” The pivotal year proved to be 2017. Following his official signing to Island Records proper, he unveiled the sweeping, pop-driven single “Lions” that February; days afterward Katy Perry dropped “Chained to the Rhythm,” their joint effort, which the pair performed at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards and which swiftly reached the Top Ten in multiple territories.

Opting against an immediate full-length project, Skip pursued standalone releases over the ensuing three years, sharpening his approach through assertive cuts such as “Calm Down” and “Refugee” plus the 2019 pairings “That’s Not True” with uncle Damian and “Slow Down” with H.E.R., the latter claiming the summit of Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs chart. He recruited Rick Ross and Ari Lennox for 2020’s “Make Me Feel,” a track that joined additional recent singles on the August arrival of Higher Place. The further single “Vibe,” featuring Popcaan, surfaced in 2021.