YG Marley Debuts Be Great With Tahj Anwar, Acknowledging Legacy While Launching New Reggae Album

YG Marley released the single “Be Great” featuring Tahj Anwar on June 19 2026. The track is the first preview of Marley’s upcoming album Babylon, which is scheduled for release later in the year. The single was issued by Hitmaker Music Group and distributed through Hitmaker Distro, and it is available on all major streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Audiomack, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

The song is 3 minutes and 12 seconds long and carries a classic reggae rhythm that is layered with a clean, contemporary production style. Production credits list Johnny G and Supa Dups, who have worked on several contemporary reggae releases. The track’s musical arrangement blends traditional reggae instrumentation with a modern mix that is optimized for digital streaming platforms.

Lyrically, Marley addresses the pressure that comes with his family name. He references his grandfather, reggae pioneer Bob Marley, and his mother, singer‑rapper Lauryn Hill, acknowledging both the opportunities and the burdens that their legacies bring. The verses also confront perceived detractors in the reggae scene, with Marley stating that he will not allow external criticism to hinder his progress. The song’s chorus emphasizes personal greatness and resilience.

The collaboration with Tahj Anwar adds a contrasting vocal texture. Anwar’s verses focus on interpersonal relationships, describing the challenges of maintaining a partnership. This dual perspective gives the track a layered emotional dynamic, preventing it from feeling one‑dimensional.

The release strategy bypassed traditional promotional buildup. Instead, Marley issued a short visualizer on YouTube that has already accumulated several thousand views. Comments on the video show a divided audience: some listeners praise the artist’s directness about his heritage, while others question whether the explicit references to Bob Marley and Lauryn Hill might limit his ability to establish an independent identity.

The single’s release follows Marley’s 2023 debut single “Praise Jah in the Moonlight,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a platinum certification from the RIAA. Since then, Marley has collaborated with artists such as Busta Rhymes, Coco Jones, and Davido. The new single positions him as a potential bridge between traditional reggae roots and contemporary sounds, a role that has been highlighted by industry commentators.

Marley’s statement accompanying the release confirms that he intends to continue producing music for the rest of his life. He dismissed rumors of a short‑lived career and emphasized that he will not let outside opinions dictate his creative schedule.

The track’s title, Babylon, is a reference that carries political and social weight in reggae culture. Marley’s lyrics mention walking with Jah through the rain, grounding the song in Rastafarian spirituality while also hinting at the broader themes he plans to explore on the full album.

Industry observers are monitoring the single’s performance across international markets, especially given Marley’s growing presence on social‑video platforms. The early streaming numbers suggest a strong start, but the long‑term impact will depend on how the album is received.

In summary, YG Marley’s “Be Great” is a concise statement of intent: he acknowledges the weight of his lineage, confronts external criticism, and signals his commitment to a sustained music career. The track sets the tone for Babylon and positions Marley as a new voice in the evolving reggae landscape.