Survival
The first of an extraordinary musical trilogy that includesUprisingandConfrontation, uponSurvival's1979 release, Marley's ghetto supporters read titles like "Ambush in the Night," referring to the late '76 attempt on his life, and "Zimbabwe," celebrating that African state's liberation from colonial rule, as fiery political declarations. Whether singing songs of love, rebellion, reality, or spirituality, Marley vibrated with uncontainable intelligence that did great things for any listener. While it's impossible to single out any release in the reggae prophet's canon as "the best," his greatest impact came from a rare ability to articulate rebel rage while holding onto the vision of a more noble human reality.Survival's 10 straight up social-political declarations were Marley's boldest to date, and their muscular messages endure today as reggae's most luminous "sufferas" anthems.--Elena Oumano