Ky-Mani Marley (born February 26, 1976, in Falmouth, Jamaica) is a Jamaican… Read Full Bio ↴Ky-Mani Marley (born February 26, 1976, in Falmouth, Jamaica) is a Jamaican actor and reggae musician. He is the son of singer Bob Marley and table tennis champion Anita Belnavis, and the half-brother of Ziggy Marley. Marley's first appearance as musician took place in 1996 when he recorded Like Father Like Son, an album consisting of cover versions of some of his father's songs. His next album, 1999's "The Journey", received mass critical acclaim, and achieved relatively good sales. His 2001 album, "Many More Roads", was nominated for a Grammy for best reggae album. He lost to his brother Damian's album, "Halfway Tree".

In 2002 he played lead role (Biggs) in the film Shottas along with Spragga Benz, Paul Campbell, Louie Rankin, Wyclef Jean, Screechie Bop and many more. It is an original story that shows the life of a shotta/gangster on the streets of Jamaica and Miami.

He achieved even more success as a musician with a cover of Eddy Grant's Electric Avenue, in collaboration with the Fugees' Pras. He has also starred in several films, including Shottas in 2002 and as John the Baptist in the 2004 film Haven.

Remaining true to his Jamaican culture, Ky-mani's fondness for all genres of music influences the work he creates. Ky-mani is an artist with no limits. Incorporating world music, hip hop, blues, rock and a grass roots sound into his music, the end product is the pure representation of life for Ky-mani. The Ky-mani Marley sound is one that transcends cultural lines and prohibits him from being categorized as only a reggae artist. His raw, unadulterated, gruff sound captures the listener and reverberates the essence of Ky-mani's life story.

Ky-mani launched his latest album "Radio" in 2007. The album features several key singles including One Time, The March and Conversation among others. All of the songs contain Marley’s unique sound of classical reggae beats mixed with contemporary hip hop. Also featured on the CD are some of today’s hottest artists including Young Buck, Mya and Gail Gotti.

Kinky Reggae
Ky-Mani Marley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I went downtown
I saw Miss Brown
She had brown sugar
All over her booga-wooga

I think I might join the fun
But I had to hit and run
See I just can't settle down

In a kinky party of town

Ride on! Don't you know I've got to ride on, oh baby
Ride on! See I just can't settle down
Ride on! OH, I'm a leavin' town

Kinky reggae, take me away!
Kinky reggae now!
Oh, kinky reggae!
All I've got to say....
Kinky reggae, now!
Kinky reggae, now! It's gonna be kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now!

An' I would say....
Ride on, ride on, ride on, ride on!
Oh ride on, baby!
Ride on, come on, ride on

I went down to Piccadilly Circus
Down there I saw Marcus
He had a candy tar
All over his chocolate bar
I think I might join the fun
But I had to hit and run
See I just can't settle down
In a kinky party of town

Nice one! That's what they say
But I'm leavin' you today
Oh darlin' please don't play
Mama say, mama say

Kinky reggae, take it or leave it
Kinky reggae, believe it
Kinky reggae, now

Kinky reggae, it's gonna be kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ky-Mani Marley's song Kinky Reggae speak of a man who is wandering through a town where a kinky party is taking place. He sees Miss Brown with brown sugar all over her booga-wooga, a man with a candy tar all over his chocolate bar, and Marcus in Piccadilly Circus. The man feels tempted to join the kinky party but also feels that he can't settle down in such an environment. The chorus of the song has the man singing about riding on and leaving the town. Ky-Mani Marley uses the term kinky reggae to describe the party, which may suggest that it has a different vibe from regular reggae parties.

The song seems to be about a man who is tempted by the kinky party scene but then decides it's not for him. He can't settle down in that environment and chooses to leave instead. The lyrics suggest that the man is a bit of a wanderer and doesn't want to be tied down to one place or way of life. The use of the term kinky reggae might suggest that Marley is commenting on the way that some reggae fans and artists have embraced the counterculture.

Line by Line Meaning

I went downtown
I went to the urban part of the city

I saw Miss Brown
I saw a woman named Brown

She had brown sugar
She had a sweet personality

All over her booga-wooga
Everywhere around her being

I think I might join the fun
I consider participating in the revelry

But I had to hit and run
But I had to leave quickly

See I just can't settle down
Because I am not ready to commit

In a kinky party of town
In an unconventional social gathering in the vicinity

Ride on! Don't you know I've got to ride on, oh baby
Move on! You know I must move on, my dear

Ride on! See I just can't settle down
Continue ahead! I am not ready to settle down

Ride on! OH, I'm a leavin' town
Keep forward! I am leaving this place

Kinky reggae, take me away!
Unconventional reggae, let me escape!

Kinky reggae now!
Taboo reggae music, immediately!

Oh, kinky reggae! All I've got to say....
Oh, unconventional reggae! That's all I have to say...

Kinky reggae, now! Kinky reggae, now! It's gonna be kinky reggae Kinky reggae, now!
Taboo reggae music, right now! It's gonna be an unconventional music style, taboo reggae. Taboo reggae music, immediately!

An' I would say.... Ride on, ride on, ride on, ride on! Oh ride on, baby! Ride on, come on, ride on
And I will say... Continue ahead, keep moving forward. Oh, keep moving forward, my dear! Keep moving forward, let's go!

I went down to Piccadilly Circus
I went to a popular area in London

Down there I saw Marcus
I saw a person named Marcus there

He had a candy tar
He had a sweet affection

All over his chocolate bar
Everywhere around his being

Nice one! That's what they say
That's great! That's what people say

But I'm leavin' you today
But I am leaving you today

Oh darlin' please don't play Mama say, mama say
Oh darling, please don't toy with me. Mother used to say...

Kinky reggae, take it or leave it
Taboo reggae music, accept it or reject it

Kinky reggae, believe it
Believe that taboo reggae music exists

Kinky reggae, now
Taboo reggae music, immediately

Kinky reggae, it's gonna be kinky reggae
Taboo reggae music, it will be unconventional music

Kinky reggae, now.
Taboo reggae music, state of emergency.