Christian hip-hop artist Steven Malcolm is bringing reggae, faith, and a powerful message of renewal together on his new single ‘Holy Water’, featuring rising artist and multi-instrumentalist Soul-Rebel Marley.
Released August 21, the reggae-inspired track finds Malcolm drawing on his Jamaican roots while teaming up with Bob Marley’s grandson for a song centred on redemption, peace and finding new life through faith.
‘Holy Water’ blends Malcolm’s energetic approach to Christian hip-hop with the rhythms and spirit of roots reggae. The result is a record that connects two musical worlds while keeping its message firmly focused on hope and spiritual renewal.
For Malcolm, the collaboration with Soul-Rebel Marley was a natural fit. The song explores what it means to move through brokenness and struggle while still finding the strength to believe in a new beginning. Soul-Rebel’s contribution adds another layer to that message, connecting the track to reggae’s long-standing tradition of music centred on liberation, hope and upliftment.
The Marley connection is particularly significant given Soul-Rebel’s family history. As the son of Cedella Marley and grandson of Bob and Rita Marley, he grew up surrounded by reggae and its cultural influence. He is also the brother of Skip Marley and has continued to develop his own musical identity while carrying elements of his family’s legacy forward.
Rather than simply recreating the sound associated with the Marley name, Soul-Rebel has been developing a style that combines reggae foundations with hip-hop, contemporary production and global influences. His background as a producer and multi-instrumentalist has also allowed him to explore different sides of that sound.
His production credits include work on Jo Mersa Marley’s Eternal and Sharon Marley’s ‘Just One More Morning’. As a recording artist, Soul-Rebel made his debut with ‘Loving Jah’, a motivational reggae-rooted song inspired by Bob Marley’s ‘Forever Loving Jah’ and featuring vocals from Cedella Marley. He later released ‘Holy Father’, which pushed further into spiritual Afrobeat territory.
That background makes his appearance on ‘Holy Water’ feel particularly fitting. The collaboration allows Malcolm to connect his Christian hip-hop sound with a musical tradition that has long explored spirituality, struggle, freedom and perseverance.
Malcolm has also built his career around crossing musical boundaries. His sound combines hip-hop, melody, inspirational songwriting and global influences, while his Jamaican heritage continues to inform his artistic identity. With more than 151 million global streams and eight Dove Award nominations, he has established himself as one of the notable voices within Christian hip-hop.
His latest release also comes during another significant moment in his career. Malcolm recently received his eighth Dove Award nomination, with his collaboration ‘Yes’ featuring for KING + COUNTRY and KB nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year.
The 57th annual GMA Dove Awards are scheduled for October 6 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, adding another milestone to a year that continues to build on Malcolm’s growing catalogue.
‘Holy Water’ follows Malcolm’s 2024 album BOATS (Based On A Truth Story), which highlighted his ability to combine hip-hop, melody and spiritual themes. His recent collaborations have included artists such as for KING + COUNTRY, KB, Futuristic, Adia, and Carly Ann Taylor.
For Soul-Rebel Marley, the release represents another step in establishing his own musical identity while remaining connected to the reggae tradition that shaped him. For Malcolm, it expands the palette of a sound that has always been open to global influences.
Together, the two artists create a record that feels rooted in tradition but aimed at the present. ‘Holy Water’ uses reggae-inspired production and Christian hip-hop to deliver a message about leaving struggle behind, finding peace, and believing that redemption remains possible.
With more new music expected from Steven Malcolm throughout 2026, ‘Holy Water’ opens another chapter in his journey while introducing listeners to the evolving sound of Soul-Rebel Marley.
