Damian Robert Nesta Marley, also known around the world as “Junior Gong” and more recently as “Gongzilla” was born in 1978 to parents Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976.  As a young adult, he developed a passion and a gift to speak for those who cannot always speak for themselves. A self-proclaimed ‘Spiritual Revolutionary’, Damian has worked assiduously to carve his own niche in music history and to add a new perspective to the Marley legacy for the 21st century. 

At the age of 13, Damian began performing in a group called “The Shepherds” which comprised of Shiah Coore (son of Third World guitarist Cat Coore) and currently a member of his band, and Yashema Beth McGreggor, daughter of reggae singers Freddie Mcgreggor and Judy Mowatt and then began touring with his brothers, Stephen, Ky-mani, Julian and Ziggy. 

By 1996, Damian had already made his stamp as a different kind of Marley when he released his first solo album “Mr. Marley”, a heavily dancehall-influenced album produced by his brother Stephen Marley.  His second album “Halfway Tree” was released in 2001 by a major record label and showcased Damian’s unique gift for blending dancehall, reggae and hip-hop styles.  This album won Damian much recognition and remained on the Billboard Top Reggae Album Charts for 158 weeks and earned him his first Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2002. 
While honored by this recognition by the global music fraternity, Damian continued to work in the studio, laying the groundwork for the tracks that would become his highly anticipated album, “Welcome To Jamrock”. The lyrics in this album presented Marley as a true spiritual revolutionary, as he used his talent to evoke a spiritual change while trying to enforce a better way of thinking.  He is described as “rhyming with the conviction of a street preacher with the intellect of a university economist”.  

Damian’s hit single “Welcome to Jamrock” was listed as one of the Top 100 Songs of the Decade by Rolling Stone, and at the 2006 Grammy Awards, he won Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for Welcome to Jamrock. Damian is the only Jamaican reggae artist in history to win two Grammy Awards on the same night. He is also the only reggae artist to win in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category at the Grammy Awards. The New York Times called Welcome to Jamrock the “best reggae song of the decade.” 
Welcome to Jamrock led the pathway to Damian’s critically acclaimed collaboration with Nas for 2010’s much lauded album “Distant Relatives” – a project which explored the relationships between reggae, hip-hop and Africa. The album title refers not only to the bond between the artists, but the connection to their African ancestry, which inspired the album both musically and lyrically. USA Today referred to the album as a “potent and often provocative collaboration” and by Rolling Stone as “an Afrocentric winner.” The album debuted at Number 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and Number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Rap Albums and Reggae Albums charts, with Billboard heralding the album as “a dynamic hybrid.”    

The Distant Relatives Tour kicked off in 2011 and saw Damian traveling and performing for thousands of fans all over the world, including South America, Europe, The United Kingdom, The Caribbean and North America.  

Damian continued to cross musical boundaries in 2012, as he went on to partner with Skrillex for their groundbreaking track “Make It Bun Dem”, which Rolling Stone called “a monster mash up of dubstep and dancehall” and has led to several remixes of the original version.  Damian recently released two other singles; “Set Up Shop” and  “Affairs of the Heart” which both received widespread airplay. 

Damian continues to tour with his band all over the world as a way of entertaining and healing as he continues to spread the message for those whose voices cannot be heard. He is working with his brothers Stephen and Julian under their Ghetto Youths International Label, to discover, develop and sign gifted artistes by applying their musical talent and vast experience to create new and different styles of music.  

Damian is currently in the studio working on his upcoming solo album.

CHRONIXX Feat. SIZZLA, PROTOJE & KABAKA PYRAMID "SELASSIE SOULJAHZ" Produced by King I-Vier & Jah Yzer OUT NOW on itunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/selassie-souljahz-feat.-sizzla/id598777592


Firstly, If you want/need a custom-made riddim or require some drums/guitar/keys/organ played for a track then feel free to send me a request detailing what you want via my inbox on Soundcloud, or send me an email to country.hifi@yahoo.co.uk and we can discuss it further.

Secondly, and most importantly, welcome to the Country Hi-fi sound with music to please a myriad of tastes. On an island on the very edge of Europe, Northern Ireland, an ocean away from the birthplace of reggae and not necessarily the first port of call when looking for good reggae music made inna roots and culture style. However, by making quality music inspired by a love of the music from Jamaica and the ethos behind it's creation, Country Hi-fi is doing it's best to put Northern Ireland firmly on the reggae map.

The name 'Country Hi-fi' is related to the country upbringing of founding member 'Pugs' while also being a tribute to the late great King Tubby and his pioneering sound which echoes far and wide. The Country Hi-fi sound was brought to life in a project called 'Small Town Roots' (available on iTunes) which involved two friends: hip-hop producer/DJ/MC DAZ (www.soundcloud.com/dazmusic) and Pugs (reggae fan and self-taught musician) practically living in a studio for a week with each side bringing their own ingredients to the mix. The result was a series of songs inspired by the roots reggae traditions while telling stories through the songs, which relate to various events in Pugs' life growing up in a small country town.

The Country Hi-fi sound is dedicated to making music with the original enthusiasm and willingness to experiment as our pioneering brothers and sisters in Jamaica so although you can expect to hear lots of one-drop reggae, ska, rocksteady, lovers rock etc. don't be surprised to hear some digital dancehall, house, hip-hop, or even some UK hip-hop/grime style beats, and various remixes, mash ups, and versions: feel free to download and share any tracks you like and spread the word. 

With Pugs working as a one-man-band, engineer, producer, and occasional songwriter, he has managed to work on projects with artists from all over the globe and is always open and happy to collaborate with other artists on whatever the project may be, so don't be afraid to use the drop box, respond to requests on tracks, or send a message about any enquiries you may have.

Pugs also presents a weekly reggae show on Skank FM (an online radio station in Belfast, Northern Ireland, www.skankfm.com) from 6-8pm (GMT) bringing the best in caribbean vibes with tracks from way back in the day to the hottest tracks in the Jamaican chart and everything else in between from hip-hop, DnB, soul, grime, and reggae from  all around the world. Get on board and tune in for an education in reggae music and all it has to offer.

Thank you for stopping by the Country Hi-fi profile and hopefully you enjoyed exploring all the tracks on offer and found something you liked enough to download (which means you wanted to hear it again which is cool). Comments are always gratefully received, and all those people who have got on board so far they are always appreciated and their support is crucial for the Country Hi-fi sound to gather momentum. Any newcomers are equally welcome and big up yourself for getting on board and helping the Country Hi-fi sound to spread the message of One Love and Unity which is increasingly important in this modern world.

Finally, I would like to give thanks and much respect to the people I have been fortunate enough to work with (Naptali, Tijani Concious, Madi Simmons, Junior Pinchers, delaypilot, Wadadli, fireface horns). Perhaps most notably, I have also received some crucial advice from a bredren who is known as Jamyork. He has been most forthcoming with his words of wisdom and I have had relatively few experiences in my short foray into the music scene with somebody being so willing to share their experiences and knowledge to such a degree: his advice and tips have really helped me progress my sound, so I am eternally grateful for his help; I hope I am able to do the same should anyone seek some guidance/advice from me!

Works on this profile registered with the UK Copyright Service, Copyright © 2012 Country Hi-fi.

Jah bless, One Love & Unity, Rastafari

2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle & Russel Hobbs

Empowering a creative and passionate community through innovation. Welcome to the Family!

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