(NEW YORK, NY) Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley made history today when his Ghetto
Youths/Tuff Gong/Universal Records release, WELCOME TO JAMROCK, entered the
Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at Number 7, selling over 85,000 units and
making it the biggest opening week for a Reggae artist in the history of the
Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart.
By debuting at Number 7, Marley beat out Reggae/Soca artist Kevin Lyttle
whose 2004 release charted at Number 8, selling 84,270 in his first week of
release.
Fueled by the title track single, “Welcome To Jamrock” was called “an early
contender for song of the decade,” by the New York Times, People Magazine
gave the release 3 〓 stars, Entertainment Weekly gave the release an “A”,
and Rolling Stone Magazine names Marley as one of the “10 Artists To Watch.”
Marley’s performance this week on Jimmy Kimmel Live and the announcement
that he will open for U2 on fifteen dates on their fall tour, ensure that
WELCOME TO JAMROCK will be an upper chart contender for some time to come.
Marley begins his slew of dates with U2 on October 16th in Philadelphia and
parts ways with the Irish rock band on November 9th in Oakland, California,
playing 15 dates in all. Then on November 3rd the Grammy Award winning
Marley will embark on his own fall headlining tour hitting 24 cities across
the United States.
Co-produced by Damian and Stephen Marley, WELCOME TO JAMROCK features such
artists as Stephen Marley, Bounty Killer, Eek-A-Mouse, NAS, Black Thought of
The Roots, and Bobby Brown.