Stephen Marley released his solo debut, the Mind Control reggae album, in 2007. It went on to win the Grammy for Best reggae album that year, being selected over work from Toots & the Maytals, Burning Spear, Lee Scratch Perry, and Sly & Robbie. Mind Control‘s hit single was The Traffic Jam, which he recorded with his brother and fellow reggae singer Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley.

Hey Baby, which features hip hop star (and actor) Mos Def is widely regarded as another excellent track on the same album. In addition to the collaboration with Mos Def, Mind Control includes tracks with American rocker Ben Harper.

Stephen Marley has come a long way since starting out with his brothers as a kid with The Melody Makers, having won 5 Grammys as a reggae performer and songwriter. Stephen produced both of Damian Marley‘s Grammy-winning albums and has also produced tracks and albums for Buju Banton, Spearhead, Capleton, Mr. Cheeks, and his brothers brothers Julian and Ziggy Marley.

You can hear Stephen Marley‘s Hey Baby featuring Mos Def for free on imeem or download it from these locations:

• http://web.stephenmarleymusic.com/media/mp3/02_hey_baby_featuring_mos_def.mp3
• http://www.jusflow.com/mysongs/32%20Stephen%20Marley%20%20Hey%20Baby%20-Hey%20Baby%20Riddim.mp3

Stephen Marley’s latest album, Mind Control Acoustic, is now available online at Amazon.com.

More Stephen Marley music is available on his MySpace page. His official website is StephenMarleyMusic.com.

Stephen Marley and Damian Marley Hey Baby video

In addition to releasing the track on the Mind Control album, Stephen Marley also performed it live with brother Damian Marley, as seen in this music video:

“I don’t want to be just another artist. I want to make a statement, and to continue this legacy, this musical legacy, with my family. Just like my brothers… I aspire to be a reckoning force, when you hear my name, you know quality comes with that: good music, good message, good vibe.”

Stephen Marley and Mos Def Hey Baby lyrics

Hey baby don’t you worry
Even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
Cuz if you thought that I was lost
I had to bear my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

I’ll be gone awhile away from you
And I hope you overstand
That I’ve got to do what I must do
To be a better man

Cuz if I was just to act a fool
Do nothing with myself
Then all my blessings would be cursed
My world would crumble in

It’s a joy when I sit down and think
Of the good times that we have
And what we do to make it through
When the good turns to the bad

Well I hope you find it in your heart and know these words are true
And please don’t fuss because I must go do what I must do

Hey baby don’t you worry
Even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
Cuz if you thought that I was lost
I had to bear my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

A time, a space
A different place
How perfect we might be
I would be the wind that blows
You’d be that willow tree
And I could never bear the thought
Of you not by my side
So I would be the warmth of day
You’d be the cool of night
And everyday I pray to Jah
That one day you will see
And overstand the fact I must
Fulfill my destiny
I hope you find it in your heart
And know these words are true
And please don’t cry
You know that I must do what I must do

Hey baby don’t you worry
Even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
Cuz if you thought that I was lost
I had to bear my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

Well, and it’s not easy
Jah knows how I try, I try
So don’t you get weary
Jah knows how I try, I try

Mos Def Lyrics:

God knows,
Life is one big road
with a lot of signs and turns and twists and curves
Even though the road is rocky
My main thing’s to rock and keep on rockin
From city to city, backyard to yard
And we be seeing the sights
Standing under the lights
And the spot is hot, its cold and lonely at night
And I’m ‘feenin’ and I’m dreaming and I’m holding you tight
But hold on, Every single road I roll on
Comes to an end and I’m back home again
So baby please don’t cry
There’s no valley low, and there’s no mountain high
And our love don’t die with the passage of time
It just grows more
And just keep strong
And even though I’m gone, I am never too far
You’re the light thru the dark shining right thru my heart
So my journey must start

Hey baby don’t you worry
Even though the road is rocky
I’ll be coming home to you again
Cuz if you thought that I was lost
I had to bear my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

Cuz if you thought that I was lost
I had to bear my cross
Now I’m free from all these chains

Stephen Marley on the Blazed and Confused Tour

Stephen is back on that rocky road, joining the Blazed and Confused Tour with Slightly Stoopid and Snoop Doog (who is rumored to be working on his own reggae album). Hopefully he will stay “free from all these chains” and not end up back in a Florida jail, as he did in 2002 for a few hours when he was accused of marijuana possession (the incident was the inspiration for the Iron Bars track on Mind Control).