Words by Ronnia Cherry
Photo by Kris Kofi
Jo Mersa Marley returns full steam with a fresh message and a powerful new chune.
Son of the original “Raggamuffin” Stephen Marley, Mersa carries the torch on “Hurting Inside,” a blend of honest, insightful lyrics and — surprisingly given its title — upful vibes.
“Hurting Inside is basically about the pursuit of happiness, and overcoming the dark times in life,” the artist says of the track, which includes musical contributions from producer Jason ‘Jvibe’ Farmer, Riff Raff and sax king Dean Fraser. “You know, happiness starts from within.”
Having premiered Jo Mersa’s debut “Comfortable” some years ago, we welcome his return after a brief hiatus from the studio during which the singer has stayed on the road touring, and also saw the birth of his daughter. Released by Ghetto Youths International, “Hurting Inside” is a reflection on the times from yaad to foreign, and a reminder that no matter what we we are facing inside, Rastafari will always rise again. Jah know.
Find your happiness with this exclusive LargeUp premiere.