Marley was born Marlon Williams on September 30, 1962, and grew up in the Queensbridge housing project in Queens. He became interested in music through local talent shows and neighborhood parties before becoming a go-to DJ during hip hop’s infancy.

Marley also did mixing work on a number of early hip-hop and electro records before partnering with Tyrone Williams to found the label Cold Chillin’ which would go on to release music by members of the Juice Crew, a loosely knit group of artists centered on Marley.

Marley then caught his first big break in 1984 when he produced Roxanne Shanté’s “Roxanne’s Revenge,” which was a high-profile response song to U.T.F.O.’s underground smash “Roxanne, Roxanne.” Following on the success of “Roxanne’s Revenge,” Marley produced the MC Shan track “The Bridge,” an ode to Queensbridge that became the unofficial Queens rap anthem and inspired a spirited feud with Bronx native KRS-One.

With Marley’s success came the opportunity to produce artists outside the Cold Chillin’ stable, which he did with Eric B. & Rakim on their single “Eric B. Is President,” as well as full-length albums by Heavy D & the Boyz. The end of the 1980s saw Juice Crew members Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane finding increased success on the back of Marley’s production work.

Marley’s greatest commercial success came in 1990 when he produced LL Cool J’s album Mama Said Knock You Out which went double platinum in the US. The title track from the album has proven itself to be an evergreen hit with recurring licensing activity.

After working with TLC on their 1992 debut, Marley remained quiet for a few years before working with artists Rakim, Capone-N-Noreaga, and Fat Joe in the late 1990s.