Like his father, reggae pioneer Bob Marley, and several of his siblings before him, Julian Marley pursued the life of a musician, becoming a fixture in the reggae world as a singer, songwriter, producer, and collaborator. Proficient on a number of instruments from a young age, Julian worked with brothers Damian, Stephen, and Ki-Many Marley as part of the Ghetto Youths Crew before releasing his own solo debut, Lion in the Morning, in 1996. Touring globally both with his backing band, the Uprising and as part of various other Marley family-related projects, Julian's solo career reached a new level with 2009's critically acclaimed Awake.

Released by Universal and the family's own Ghetto Youths United label, 2009's Awake proved to be a breakout album for Julian, earning a Best Album of the Year award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album.