So they just went through about three to four weekends straight of that they’ve been having major lockdowns there. And then you’d go out Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then for half of the day Saturday. Which is the first time since I was 17 that I’ve been in one place so long.īut in Jamaica they’ve been having lockdowns where from Saturday until Tuesday, you couldn’t leave your house.
Honestly, I’ve been in Miami throughout the whole ordeal, since February of 2020. HONEYSUCKLE MAGAZINE: How have you been throughout the pandemic? You took a break from social media for several months.ĭAMIAN MARLEY: Yeah, because of lockdown, we are like everyone else basically, taking it easy and I need some time to just be at home and self reflect a bit.
Gong” on Covid, Cannabis and Religion in Jamaica He sat down for a phone chat to discuss his next big moves, which include developing the brand HURB with Dan and global cannabis pioneer Berner, new music that pays homage to Jamaica’s legacy of reggae and dancehall genres, and the many ways that life is a circle. Damian and Dan both sit on LPP’s advisory board, alongside numerous influencers in the cannabis space such as the organization’s founders Steve and Andrew DeAngelo, actor Jim Belushi, and musician Melissa Etheridge.Īfter a long public silence during 2020, it seems Damian is now blazing all his fires. In 2019 Ocean Grown launched the brand Evidence, which donates proceeds from each bag of flower sold to the restorative justice nonprofit Last Prisoner Project (LPP). I think his approach to music is so authentic, no bullshit. “So well thought out, so talented, an incredible lyricist and producer. “I just think he’s brilliant,” Dan says of Damian. The family-owned business, co-founded by Damian’s long-time manager Dan Dalton with siblings Casey and Kelly, operates on 24 acres of land in the city of Coalinga, including a 77,000 square-foot facility that was formerly a prison. While the Marley Family in general has been lauded for bringing greater awareness to international cannabis consumption through various brands and projects, Damian has struck a particular note for social justice in partnering with the California-based company Ocean Grown Extracts. Yet weaving throughout his entire career, and his natural way of life, is cannabis. We saw him perform with his family at Kaya Fest in 2018, the first time in a decade all the Marley siblings had appeared onstage together, and have written about his distinctive place in music in past issues. But to me and most of the Honeysuckle staff, Damian has always stood out. Most people crash and burn when they find early stardom, but Damian Marley, it seems, has found a way to always stay ‘slick.’ĭamian’s entire family is prolific, his brothers, sisters, and parents. It’s not every day or ever, really, that you meet someone whose work you can follow for their entire life. The famous rapper and DJ discussed spirituality, social justice, cannabis and his role at Last Prisoner Project. The renowned lyricist is the youngest son of Jamaican Reggae legend Bob Marley. It’s easy to undestand why one of our favorite artists and public figures, Damian Marley, has made such a strong impact on the entire world. This article was originally published on HoneySuckle Magazine and appears here with permission.