Tanya Stephens

Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973; St. Mary, Jamaica), better known as Tanya Stephens, is an influential reggae and dancehall artist, songwriter, and vocalist.

Known for her socially conscious lyrics and ability to address diverse themes ranging from personal relationships to political critique, Stephens gained prominence in the late 1990s with hits such as "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" and "It's a Pity". She is also a co-founder of Tarantula Records, a label she established with business partner Andrew Henton to manage her independent musical output.

Early Life

Born in St. Mary, Stephens grew up in St. Mary and St. Ann, attending Zion Hill and Ocho Rios Primary Schools before moving on to St. Mary High. She was raised in a large family with three brothers and three sisters. Her musical foundations were laid in the mid-1990s when she began recording for producers such as Dave Kelly and Philip "Fatis" Burrell. This period saw the release of her debut album Big Things a Gwaan (1994) and her breakthrough single "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" (1996), which was later featured on the Reggae Gold 1997 compilation.

Career

Stephens' career is marked by her versatility and willingness to experiment with genre. Following her early dancehall success, she moved to Sweden and released a pop-influenced album, Sintoxicated (2001), with Warner Music Sweden. She returned to Jamaica to release the critically recognised Gangsta Blues (2004), which signalled a shift towards "reality" themes. Her 2006 album Rebelution produced the single "These Streets", which topped charts in the Caribbean for over four weeks. In addition to her music, Stephens successfully sued American rapper Lil' Kim in 2006 for plagiarism regarding the song "Durty". Her work extends to acting, having played Nurse Tracey in the CVM TV series Royal Palm Estate (2009), and entrepreneurship, opening the restaurant 'H2O' in Ocho Rios the same year.

Personal Life

Stephens is the mother of a daughter, Kelly, born in 1994. A strong advocate for education and social responsibility, she was awarded a scholarship in 2007 to study for a Business Management degree via the University of Sunderland. She frequently uses her platform to speak out against discrimination and the objectification of women in dancehall music. Her track "Still Alive" was used in a television campaign dealing with HIV discrimination, reflecting her commitment to human rights advocacy.

Current Activities

In the first half of 2026, Stephens maintained a busy performance schedule, appearing at the "Lovers Leap Lighthouse Series" in January and the "Lost in Time Festival" in Kingston in late February. She also performed aboard the "Love & Harmony Cruise" in April and at the "Journey to Kingston" concert in Miramar, Florida, in May. Musically, she released the digital single "A Nuh My Man Dat" in June 2026. Managed by her own production and representation teams, Tanya Stephens is currently engaged in several high-profile projects.