Billboard’s No. 1 living reggae artist for 2024, Stick figure, has released a cover of Bob Marley’s Natural Mystic on the legendary reggae singer’s 80th birthday, February 6, 2025.
Stick Figure, a California-based reggae band, is the highest-ranked living reggae act on the 2024 Billboard Year-End Reggae Albums Artist Chart for the sixth consecutive year. The band, founded by Scott Woodruff in 2005, trails only Bob Marley & The Wailers and surpasses Jamaican stars like Sean Paul, Shaggy, and Damian Marley.
The band posted on Instagram Thursday, “in honor of the legend himself, excited to be releasing a Stick Figure rendition of “Natural Mystic” TONIGHT—a tribute to @bobmarley on his birthday. 🌿🔥 Much love to everyone keeping Bob’s spirit alive. Hope you enjoy this one! 💛💚❤️ Drops at midnight! 🎶.”
“Natural Mystic” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, was originally released on June 3, 1977, as part of the Exodus album. The track features a slow fade-in and was initially recorded with a drum machine before being reworked with live drums and a horn section.
The song appears on compilation albums Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On and The Essential Bob Marley & the Wailers. It has been certified Silver in the UK for 200,000 units and has surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify as of January 2025, Marley’s 11th track to reach the milestone.
Three of Stick Figure’s albums—World on Fire, Set in Stone, and Wisdom—placed in the top 10 on the 2024 Billboard Year-End Reggae Albums Chart. Their independent label, Ruffwood, ranked No. 3 among reggae album imprints, while distributor Ineffable placed No. 4.
Ineffable President Adam Gross credited the band’s success to Woodruff’s hands-on approach to music production, a dedicated fanbase, and a grassroots strategy of consistent releases and touring. Stick Figure’s Spotify audience grew by 88% in 2024, with over 136,000 fans listing them as their No. 1 artist. Despite being unsigned, the band continues to dominate charts, sell out tours, and maintain strong album and merch sales.
