Shenseea "No Woman No Cry"

Jamaican Dancehall artiste Shenseea has recently added her name to the esteemed list of over 80 artists who've covered Bob Marley and The Wailers' timeless classic, "No Woman, No Cry," since its debut in 1974.

Her rendition, released on February 16 via Tuff Gong and Island Records (a subsidiary of Universal Music), graces the deluxe version of the album "Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film." Alongside her rendition, the 10-track compilation boasts contributions from Skip Marley on "Exodus," Mystic Marley on "Misty Morning," and Wizkid on "One Love."

Shenseea aimed to infuse her cover, produced by We Good and Z3N, with her own style while respecting the song's iconic roots. "I added my own Shenyeng seasoning, you know, a little flavor," she remarked. "But I didn’t stray too far. I wanted to maintain its iconic and original essence."

Despite the pressure of interpreting such a revered song, Shenseea expressed excitement rather than nervousness, viewing it as an opportunity to make the song her own. "I was having fun...I feel like if I got the opportunity to do so, I should make it my own and just have fun with it. It’s already mine, there is nothing to be nervous about."

"No Woman, No Cry" has been covered by a plethora of artists including Jimmy Cliff, Nina Simone, The Fugees, and more, according to WhoSampled. In 2022, Nigerian singer Tems covered the song for the Marvel Studios film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart.

Originally written by Marley and his friend Vincent “Tata” Ford, the song first appeared on the Natty Dread album in 1974. A live recording from the Natty Dread Tour at the Lyceum Theatre in London was released as a single a year later, becoming the best-known version. In April 2022, "No Woman, No Cry" was certified platinum in the UK.

Walking the red carpet at the Bob Marley: One Love premiere in Los Angeles, California, Shenseea expressed her gratitude, stating, “We had some obstacles we had to hurdle over, but we made it, and we are here, and I am just super-grateful, I am happy to my team, I am happy to God, I am just grateful…big up to the Marley family for sure.