Damian Marley.

TO TELL IT like it is and offer no apologies--in music, politics, simple conversation--requires confidence. To do so lyrically radiating hope-laced messages of triumph over adversity is a spiritual gift of riddim. The seventh wonder of the Marley lineage, Damian Marley's new leadership is reverently refreshing reggae's old school. Welcome to Jamrock. Welcome to Jr Gong.--Erin Dyer

The album's been well received, considering it was a few years in the making following Halfway Tree. It's safe to say you're not one focused on achieving overnight success.

The first time I performed publicly was 1989, so you grow with the music. Especially in my case, being the youngest of seven brothers on my father's side, we have a large foundation to draw from, a large well of experience that we can draw from, so I was really fortunate to have elders who have so much experience in the business that can guide me in the right direction, because longevity is more important than all that success.

What is your definition of success?

Success means winning, and winning how you want to win, which for me in that sense is being commercially successful but still having my integrity, and at the same time still getting across a message, still reaching the people that we want to reach. That to me is success.

Given your musical roots, how much do awards and record sales and charts play a role in the scope of your musical focus?

All of those things are like icing on the cake. I've always said that the biggest award is knowing that the people who the music is about and that the music is speaking on behalf of endorse the music, so when I go back home to Jamaica, and I go out to the streets here--it's the street people who are facing the struggle, and they are endorsing you as their voice. Performing is power and how I really got into music, and I always loved the stage and the energy. That's where it's all at, that communication, when you really get in front of an audience and you're communicating to and feeding off each other. That connection is where it's really at.

Talk about winning a Grammy for Best Album in 2001.

That was my first real major award, and my second album [Halfway Tree]. It was a good feeling, I won't tell a lie. The reggae category is dealt with like a Lifetime Achievement award; they usually give it to somebody who contributes to reggae over the years, rather than just which album they think is the best of that year. It's usually something for more veteran acts, so it was an honor winning at such a young age. It was a compliment in the sense that there's a new generation on the rise now who are stepping up the [reggae] frontier on an international level. That is what is the best. This tour I think we're definitely reaching a lot of new people. Night to night we're winning over people and bringing people in that aren't familiar with our sets, so that's good.

Roots reggae has always been dominant in Jamaica; it was just off the international scene for awhile. Now it's making a comeback. Just in general right now I think is really a unique time for reggae music as a genre, because there's a lot of different flavors and different artists coming out who are being heard. I think it's a good time to stand up as a whole genre, rather than just one artist being successful.

"Road to Zion" addresses the political climate in Zimbabwe. How important is it for you to incorporate politics into your lyrics or enlighten listeners to grim realities of today's world?

It's not really incorporating politics per se, but more incorporating things that will affect our life. In that sense politics affect our lives, so that's really where our mission is to incorporate politics in our music.

It seems like other genres are also broadening their sense of awareness about social issues in music, and being accountable for their behavior. Like the bling-bling flashiness of dancehall and hip-hop appears to be slowly subsiding.

I think overall the bling-bling factor has almost had its run now. It's getting back to a better sense of balance. The bling-bling thing, people are kind of searching for more substance now.

And given the current state of worldly affairs--the War on Terror, testing nuclear arms--people are ready for the nitty-gritty laced with positive messages. How's it important for artists to assume some humbleness and follow the footsteps your father laid the foundation for, spreading musical and general positivity?

In my opinion it is not really about the artists, because not every artist is morally--some artists are just for entertainment. That's why you have movies and you have the news. I think there should be more balance within the media and what is exposed. There are a lot of conscious acts out there, but they don't get the kind of exposure that bling artists get.

Where are the priorities?

Right. I mean, nothing's wrong with bling and nothing's wrong with going to the club and dancing out the good vibes, but like I said, saying something of substance or something you can think about or learn from.

Talk about your collaborations. Why Nas, the Roots?

I'm a big fan of music in general, so there's a lot of people I will work with if given the chance. When we start putting the music together, it then kind of dictates whom you work with. When we were putting "Road to Zion" together, we thought that Nas' vocals would suit that beat, so that's why I reached out to Nas. Everything else was like extra benefits in that these are positive artists, and he has something to say but is still respected by the streets. Same kind of thing with the Roots. Really the people who we're friends of and we respect their work, and we have a track that we think they would compliment.

Also Alicia Keys, who's not on this album, but you've worked with in the past.

Yeah. She invited us to her Unplugged. We give thanks for that time. We respect Alicia for really presenting herself as a musician as opposed to selling this image and body--blab, blab, blab. She's about the music.

It's refreshing. As a woman, that's refreshing.

Respect.

What's the idea behind "For the Babies"?

"For the Babies" is really saying that adults have to take some responsibility for the children. Not just your children as parents, but all adults for all children--black, white--and to encourage young fathers to take responsibility for their kids. Intervention is better than cure. We have all these abortion issues and things like this, and we're trying to say it's better to be responsible. If you're not ready for children, maybe you're not ready for sex, or you should take more precaution with having safe sex.

Was this your first venture producing an album?

This was the first I've been so deeply involved. Over the years it's something I've kind of matured into. On my first album there was one track that I did some stuff on. Then on the second one on maybe half of the album I did programming.

How do you feel about the production side of things now?

I love it. I love it. It's a full package; you get to really be your own self, and bring ideas to the frontier. I mean, I have a great team. I get to work with my brothers, and work with close family members and friends.

What kind of music do you listen to?

Besides reggae, I love hip-hop. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, and all depends on the song and the artist. I like people that been with us. I like Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald. A lot of people.

Any final shout outs?

Yeah, shout out to all the fans. It's been a great year for me; I give thanks to everybody who has really helped among the media and the industry. But like I said, I give my fans a big up.