BET Awards 2024: Get Familiar with Reggae’s Rising Star YG Marley
Born into a lineage of musical excellence, emerging talent YG Marley infuses a unique flair into today’s R&B and hip-hop scenes.
At the BET Awards 2024, hosted by the hilarious Tarji P. Henson, the Jersey native captivated audiences with a soul-stirring rendition of his breakout hit “Praise Jah in the Moonlight.” This marked a stellar debut performance alongside his mother, the iconic rapper Ms. Lauryn Hill.
As the excitement of the ceremony lingers, let’s continue to groove to the music and reminisce about the standout moments. Take a moment to delve deeper into this year’s standout performer with these fascinating insights.
He comes from musical royalty
Born Joshua Omaru Marley, YG Marley is the son of 5-time Grammy Award-winning singer Lauryn Hill and former CFL (Canadian Football League) player Rohan Marley. The rising star is also the grandson of the legendary reggae icon Bob Marley.
His breakthrough single is significant in many ways
In December 2023, the singer released his debut single, "Praise Jah in the Moonlight." This was his first self-produced track, which included a sample of his grandfather’s song "Crisis," originally performed with the Wailers.
The single debuted at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 10, 2024, making it the first reggae song to enter the chart since "Bam" by Damian Marley and Jay-Z seven years earlier.
Fans pushed for an official release of "Praise Jah in the Moonlight"
In late 2023, Marley performed the song at several concerts with his mother, Lauryn Hill. This exposure boosted the song's popularity on TikTok, prompting fans to request an official release, which finally happened on December 27, 2023.
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Cole Bennett directed the visual for "Praise Jah in the Moonlight"
Marley tapped BET Awards' "Director of the Year" winner Cole Bennett to shoot the music video featuring a cameo from the singer’s mom, Lauryn Hill. The visual has been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube.
Bennett has worked with some of the biggest names in music and is behind visuals, including the late Juice Wrld's “Lucid Dreams,” Jack Harlow's “What's Poppin,” and many more.
He recently made his BET Awards debut
During the BET Awards 2024, the rising star debuted on the main stage alongside his iconic mom, Ms. Lauryn Hill, before performing his breakthrough single "Praise Jah in the Moonlight.”