Royal Princesses of Reggae

From the southernmost tip of Argentina, to the northernmost tip of Greenland, the contagious lyrics, mesmerizing harmonies and electrifying beats that originated from “Land of Wood and Water”, speaks volumes to the global impact of Reggae music.

Indeed, the second generation of Marleys have represented their legend of a father well. However, we have not heard much from the second generation of female Reggae royalties.

In fact, one could very well argue that the princesses are struggling to solidify their place in a revered genre where their fathers are no less than icons. But in a male-dominated business where the scales are unbalanced, not even the legacy of musical royalty, ostensibly, grants them a pass to success. Still, they trod to pursue success, driven by a passion only understood when you meet them in an intimate space.

Sharing their journeys, thus far, are Marla Brown, daughter of the “Crown Prince of Reggae”, Dennis Brown; Cen’c Love, daughter of Bunny Wailer, the only surviving member of Bob Marley and The Wailers; and Pashon Minott, daughter of Lovers’ Rock heavyweight Sugar Minott.

Marla Brown

While she grew up in music, Marla explains that she was not forced into it. “My parents always encouraged me to do what I loved. They always told me to be my own person.” And it is for this reason, she says, that she knows her dad, would show the same unwavering support her mom shows for her choice to pursue music. “When I told my mom I wanted to pursue music, she gave me her blessing. Then she warned me to be aware of the people who want to be around me to use me.

She told me this is a tough business and people are not always who they seem.”Last year, while witnessing the Marley brothers on tour in the United States, Marla says she was convinced to hang up her dancing shoes for the microphone. “The energy from the crowd’s response was wicked. The whole vibe from the tour was amazing.” It was then she told Damian she wanted to do music seriously.

Pashon Minott

At the age of eight years old, as the eldest child of Sugar Minott, Pashon led her siblings in the performance of their song Reggae Di Beat, in her Dad’s studio, having convinced him they had a song to perform for him. That was her entrance into the music world. “That was my first record.

I grew up around hearing the Youthman Promotion sound system playing in the yard, and Tenor Saw would lift me up to shout out into the mic.” A mic she shared with the likes of Garnet Silk, Tony Rebel, and Junior Reid, who were regulars at her home. “So constantly being surrounded by music and musicians, I knew that was what I wanted to do from an early age.”She soon took her love of music to school, as the only child at both Richmond Park Preparatory and Rose Hall Preparatory School, who was constantly drumming on the desk and deejaying. “I used to annoy my mom so much with the deejaying that she’d get very upset and send me to my bed.”

Cen-C Love

Her enticing melodies caressing the strings of the guitar was what convinced a then sceptic Bunny Wailer, when his daughter Cen’c Love decided to drop out of college to pursue music. After completing her tenure at Meadowbrok High School, Cen’c migrated to Georgia, US and enrolled in a performing arts high school.

But in 2006, after her 3rd year in college, she came back to Jamaica to make something of music. “I was doing music in school with my friends at the time, and we connected. It was around that time I decided to take it up seriously,” she explains. Then in 2007, she recorded an album with her dad, titled Save The People, which was never released. “We have a loving relationship,” Cen’c recalls of her rapport with her dad. And while even weeks will pass before they talk on the phone, she says their spiritual connection ensures they’re never apart.