I have just returned from an amazing concert and reception for Senegalese Superstar Baaba Maal. It has been several years since we first met, and I went to speak with him about featuring him in a film I am putting together on Music and Social Transformation. It was an inspiring evening of music and beautiful time to hang back stage with the group and my friend Mark Johnson (Playing for Change), who is currently making a film with Baaba and his band about the music of Mali. Mark is also building a music school for the young people of Kirina – a village with a long and rich musical heritage. Baaba played for the village to help mark the occasion (see video below).

Baaba Maal has always brought great inspiration and important messages through his music, both to the people of Africa and about Africa to the world. He has been one of the most globally popular African artists in recent years, along with King Sunny Ade and Youssou NDour, and a great contributor to the popularization of African music in the West. Baaba studied traditional music with his blind guitarist and family griot, Mansour Seck, and began performing with the band Daande Lenol. Mansour has continued to travel and perform with Baaba throughout his career and brought his magical voice and presence to the show and event tonight. In his earlier records, Baaba drew from ragga, salsa and Breton harp music to create a popular sound that launched the careers of Positive Black Soul, a group of rappers, and also led to the formation of the Afro-Celt Sound System.

Tonight’s performance was in conjunction with UCLA’s Department of African studies 50th Anniversary. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate history and cultural studies than though the musical masters and messengers – those that carried the history in their songs and poetry long before it was written in books.

I am truly grateful for Baaba Maal’s inspiration and generous heart and look forward to working with him on the film and visiting his home in Senegal, where musical talent must come from the water.

I had the pleasure of meeting Damian Jr. Gong Marley prior to his Distant Relatives launch party and show in LA last week. We have been trying to work out a time in his insane schedule to feature him on a song with Nigerian artist Nneka, as part of the international collaborations for conscious “Hip Hop” artists I’m creating for Beat The World. It was a really honor to finally meet with him, and even a bit nostalgic for me. I had just spent time in the studio with his brother Ziggy and featured a song of his on last week’s release of Yoga Revolution. Their father was a huge musical and personal influence for me (like millions of others). Rarely a week goes by that I don’t intentionally turn on, play or get inevitably spoken to by one of his songs. I even had a concert booked with the great Bob Marley for his last North American tour. Unfortunately for us all, he never made it. Still he continues to show up in all of our lives through his music, his family and the many musical messengers that continue to carry the torch he set on fire. As you can see, looking in the eyes of and speaking to Damian (aka: Jr. Gong) took on a whole world of meaning for me.

In conversation with my friend Mark Johnson (Playing for Change) before the show, we talked about Bob, Ziggy and Damian. His take on the music paths these two sons have followed and how it encompasses the spirit of their father was very insightful. Ziggy, he said, represents the “One Love” side of Bob Marley, while Damian speaks the voice of the social revolutionary side – “Get Up, Stand Up” or the classic “Redemption Song”.

On this particular night, in far less than ideal over-capacity Hollywood night club, I closed my eyes and was truly transported by the spirit of Bob Marley in Damian’s voice and words – with a timeless and unlimited resonance. That performance made so many things apparent – but none more so than the power of the music and the mission we have to carry it forth to the world. The torch was blazing fully.

That said, it is not fair to put all the spotlights for the evening or music performed on Damian. Adding Nas to the pairing brings the current incarnation it to yet another level, one with exponentially greater global reach. I have followed Nas’ music closely since first working with him on my In Too Deep soundtrack in 1999. Nas is one of the most incredible conscious-centered wordsmiths of contemporary Hip Hop. It is clear how he was inspired by working with Damian and the meaning behind the Distant Relatives project, as well as how his lyrical mastery influenced Damian’s writing.

I feel blessed to both experience the music and to work with artists who are dedicated to keep the torch of the great musical messengers burning .

Check out: Distant Relatives (the new record by Nas & Damian Marley) out May 18. Also check out: Mark Johnson’s Playing for Change tributes to Bob Marley. Ziggy Marley’s Love is Our Religion on Yoga Revolution. JPeriod & KNaan’s Messengers mix tape, featuring the music of Bob Marley. Sing any of Bob Marley’s songs in the morning, and it will change your day. Much respect…