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Usain Bolt, Rihanna or Bob Marley?

If you had to guess, who would you pick?

I'd guess Rihanna right now because she's active in her field and her global reach in the Internet era would appear to be greater.

Bob has a cultural impact/legacy that's greater than Rihanna but I feel if you asked the average Joe anywhere in the globe right now they'd be more aware of Ri Ri.

I also think that music is bigger than sport which is why I'd suggest that Usain Bolt has a lesser impact.

In reply to Tryangle

Fair assessment.

In reply to Tryangle

Who had/have more impact, between Bob and Rihanna?

In reply to black

How long was Bob's career compared to Ri Ri? I think longevity and body of work counts a lot.

Rihanna of course has since expanded into the world of film, fashion and other ventures. She's virtually a brand to herself, and still ascending.

In reply to Tryangle

I think that you are underestimating Bob Marley's reach. Young people I work with never heard of Led Zeppelin have heard and know Marley's music. Bob left a lasting cultural impact on the world that will exist long after Rhi Rhi has faded from memory. No disrespect to ms. Fenty.

I am talking about canadian born white and foreign born non white.

In reply to Bigzinc

I don't doubt it; I wasn't even born when Marley was first doing his thing. There's much I don't know about the crowds his shows got or the cross-section appeal that he must have had in varied places across the globe. I think I mentioned the cultural impact of Bob in my initial response, which lines up with what you're saying.

My argument is that because the Internet opens doors up that were previously unforeseen, Rihanna can release a song today and the whole world can hear it right away, for example.

But it's a good discussion to have and I'm happy to hear from those who would have experienced Bob's impact more directly.

In reply to Bigzinc

It is an unfair debate.

In the information age it is easier to become viral.

If Bob had the information age at his side 99% of the people on the planet would name their children Marley. It would be really confusing.

In reply to Bigzinc

I agree, Bob's impact is longer lasting.

Bob is up there with the image of Jesus Christ. There are places in the Amazon jungle where the inhabitants were shown images of Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Bob Marley. They knew only Bob..

In reply to Raggs

In reply to Raggs
I have to give it to Bob.
Every person that can play an instrument, want to play the genre and sing Bob's songs.
Bob's popularity and his Reggae music, is up there with the Beatles

In reply to black

Rhi Rhi by a distance.

In reply to nick2020

True. It is unfair to put Bob in this debate.

In reply to nitro

sure now but lets have this debate 20 years on and see.

In reply to nitro

I would say just about everyone from 80 to 18 in the western world knows Bob Marley.

Can you say the same for Rihanna?

In reply to black

What about the rest of the world though? Do people in central Africa or India or Thailand or Papua New Guinea of various ages know and love Bob Marley?

*shrugs*

In reply to Tryangle

I would dare to say people all over the world knows and loves Bob Marley music.

In reply to Tryangle

Yes, but I don't know to what degree.

In reply to black

use google

In reply to ray

You are relentless.

BDS?

In reply to Tryangle

I will posit that all of Africa knows about Bob Marley. His visit to Zimbabwe and all those concerts were huge. Peoples across the continent that had the wherewithall visited Zimbabwe -find a YouTube of those concerts.

In reply to np

I think someone had posted this awhile back, sounds just like Bob.

Isn't Rhi Rhi like a Bajan Ambassador or something?

In reply to black
Rhi Rhi's brand is not as fully develop like Bob's.
Most people around the world, equate Reggae with Bob Marley.
It is like Elvis and Rock and Roll.