Welcome to Jamrock (song)

The song covers issues such as crime, poverty and political corruption as part of the harsh reality of "Jamrock", Marley's personification of Jamaica, as opposed to the Jamaica advertised as a popular tourist destination. Marley laments Jamaica's high crime rate and increasing violence, demanding that those in charge do something about it. In this sense he carries on the legacy of his father before him, in inspiring Jamaicans to stand together.

Both the rhythm (known as World Jam) and the hook are sampled from the 1984 track "World-A-Reggae" by Ini Kamoze − the original rhythm from the Ini Kamoze album was provided by Sly and Robbie.

UK - CD: 1

1. "Roshien"
2. "Welcome to Jamrock"
3. "Jr. Gong the Dreadful"

UK - CD: 2

1. "Welcome to Jamrock"
2. "Jr. Gong the Dreadful"
3. "Lyrical .44"
4. "Welcome to Jamrock" [Video]

Damian Marley won the Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards in 2006 for "Welcome to Jamrock".48th Grammy Award Winners - search query for Year: 2005, Genre: All. See page 6. {{cite web|url=http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx|title=2006 Grammy Award Winners|work=Grammy|access-date=17 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124040144/http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx|archive-date=24 January 2010|url-status=dead}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Damiam Marley|title=Welcome to Jamrock|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2024|access-date=16 June 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Damian Jr Gong Marley|title=Welcome to Jamrock|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2022|id=8107-1901-1|access-date=16 December 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Love It or Leave It Alone / Welcome to Jamrock

| cover =

| alt =

| type =

| artist = Alicia Keys

| album = Unplugged

| released =

| recorded = {{start date|2005|7|4}}

| studio =

| venue = Brooklyn Academy of Music

| genre = R&B

| length = {{Duration|m=6|s=42}}

| label = J

| writer = {{hlist|Lorenzo DeChalus|Derek Murphy|Charles Davis|Kirk Khaleel|Joseph Williams|Damian Marley|Stephen Marley|Ini Kamoze}}

| producer = Alicia Keys

}}

"Welcome to Jamrock" was recorded by American recording artist Alicia Keys for her first live album Unplugged (2005). Entitled "Love it or Leave it Alone/Welcome to Jamrock", Keys recorded the song as part of a medley, which appears as the last track of the album. "Love It or Leave It Alone" features hip hop recording artists Common and Mos Def and "Welcome to Jamrock" features Damian Marley.{{cite web|author=Vineyard, Jennifer|title=Alicia Keys Taps Mos Def, Common For 'Inspired' 'Unplugged'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1505972/alicia-keys-taps-mos-def-common-for-inspired-unplugged/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708061634/http://www.mtv.com/news/1505972/alicia-keys-taps-mos-def-common-for-inspired-unplugged/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 8, 2017|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|date=2005-07-19|access-date=2015-10-24}} Additionally, "Love It or Leave It Alone" contains a sample of "Love Me or Leave Me Alone" by Brand Nubian, written by Lorenzo DeChalus, Derek Murphy and Charles Davis and "Latoya" by Just-Ice, written by Kirk Khaleel and Joseph Williams. On working with Alicia Keys on Unplugged, Damian Marley said that "I’m a fan of her music. What I really appreciate about her music is the whole live aspect. She’s very hands-on and musical. Reggae musicians appreciate that because we use more live instrumentation".{{cite web|agency=Associated Press|title=Damian Marley Finds His Own Footing|url=http://www.today.com/id/9328892/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/damian-marley-finds-his-own-footing/#.VivTsdLhCt9|work=Today|date=2005-09-13|access-date=2015-10-24}}

The song was generally well received by music critics in their reviews for Unplugged. Matilda Egere-Cooper from BBC Music called it the "grand finale" of the album while Anthony Carew from Neumu called it a "jamboree finale".{{cite web|last=Egere-Cooper |first=Matilda |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/38w6 |title=Alicia Keys MTV Unplugged Review |publisher=BBC Music |date=2005 |access-date=2015-10-24}}{{cite web|author=Carew, Anthony |url=http://neumu.net/fortyfour/2005/2005-00201/2005-00201_fortyfour.shtml |title=Alicia Keys - Unplugged |website=Neumu |access-date=2015-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225111424/http://neumu.net/fortyfour/2005/2005-00201/2005-00201_fortyfour.shtml |archive-date=2008-02-25 |url-status=live}} Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times felt that Keys gave a "vigorous rendition" of the song.{{cite web|last=Hilburn |first=Robert |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-09-ca-rack9.3-story.html |title=Young Keys and Her Good Old Songs |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2005-10-09 |access-date=2015-10-24}} According to Roberta Penn of Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the "closing medley of "Love It or Leave It Alone" and "Welcome to Jamrock [...] is a fabulous love fest".{{cite web|author1=Penn, Roberta|title=New Music This Week: Alicia Keys Unplugged (J Records)|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/music/article/New-music-this-week-1184756.php|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=2005-10-10|access-date=2015-10-24}} Thomas Inskeep from Stylus Magazine described it as a "big hip-hop jam", but was not pleased with the song, writing "Clearly, Keys is trying to lighten up with this, but it comes off as basically a “Look at my cool celebrity friends!” move. Musically uninspiring, this medley feels and sounds tacked-on".{{cite web|last=Inskeep |first=Thomas |url=http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/alicia-keys/unplugged.htm |title=Alicia Keys - Unplugged - Review |work=Stylus Magazine |date=2005-10-18 |access-date=2015-10-24}} Writing for Entertainment Weekly, David Browne simply commented that "a left-field cameo by Damian Marley on a cover of his hit ”Welcome to Jamrock” just feels opportunistic".{{cite magazine|author=Browne, David |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1114686,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429014720/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1114686,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 29, 2007 |title=Unplugged (Music - Alicia Keys) |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2005-10-10 |access-date=2015-10-24}} Rolling Stone reviewer Christian Hoard felt that with the multiple guest artists on the song, Keys "is sort of like trying to spice up a cocktail party by trotting out Noam Chomsky".{{cite magazine|last=Hoard |first=Christian |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/unplugged-20051020 |title=Unplugged |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2005-10-20 |access-date=2015-10-24}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Alicia Keys songs}}

{{Damian Marley}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Welcome To Jamrock (Song)}}

Category:2005 debut singles

Category:2005 songs

Category:Damian Marley songs

Category:Alicia Keys songs

Category:Reggae fusion songs

Category:Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance

Category:Universal Records singles

Category:Songs written by Damian Marley