Hardcore and innovative aptly describe the persona of the artiste known as … Read Full Bio ↴Hardcore and innovative aptly describe the persona of the artiste known as Aidonia. When scanning through radio stations it is impossible not to hear his songs. The ladies adore him and men give high ratings to the lyrical flow of Aidonia aka lyrical king.

Born Sheldon Lawrence in1981, he is the second of four children for his mother a teacher and his father an ex-soldier. His close-knit family instilled in him his morals and values and from his friends he gained street knowledge. He attended Mona Heights Primary then moved on to Meadowbrook High School where his love for music began.

After watching a tape of Sting 1993 with the infamous clash between Beenie Man and his icon Bounty Killer his mind was set on becoming a deejay.

When he returned to school after that Christmas break he began re-enacting the clash for schoolmates and friends who immediately recognised his talent. Soon after he began writing his own lyrics and formed the J.A.G 1 (Jah A Guide) crew with friends. Jag 1 or J.O.P. (Jag One Productions) were often referred to when performing at school concerts and fetes.

A few years after leaving high school, Aidonia met Mr. G (then known as Goofy) and shortly after recorded his first single Many a Dem in October 2003. Shortly after he began working with Rod Pinnock of Orizen Entertainment. In early 2004, he became a popular performer at a weekly event called Battle Thursdays where he got some recognition and also had an opportunity to work on his performance skills.

Aidonia credits Mr. Pinnock for introducing him to the business aspect of the music industry by giving him the Business of Music book to read. This taught him that for an artiste, music is not only about recording and performing, but that the business aspect is also very important.

In the latter part of 2004 Aidonia was approached by Cordell 'Skatta' Burrell who invited him to record at his studio. He later became associated with Gangbang Entertainment and throughout this period worked with Skatta and other producers. Several popular songs such as Prayer, Inna Di Ghetto, Eagle, and his chart making hit Lolly were recorded.

More recent singles include Chickenhead on the Galore riddim, Bookam on the Billbak riddim, Reload on the Redbull & Guinness riddim and Kingfish and Unknown Assailant on the Stick-Up riddim. Aidonia fulfilled one of his goals of working with Bounty Killer when he recorded Sen Fi Dem. He has been making a number of appearances with Killer since that time. One of his current singles Ooku has been pulled from the airwaves pending investigation by the Broadcasting Commission

Aidonia has performed throughout the island at popular shows at UWI and UTech, Chancellor Hall's Spectrum, Eclipse Pool Party, Lady Saw's Birthday Bash, Champions In Action, Spring Break in Negril, Fully Loaded, ATI 2006 and Sting 2K5 to name a few. Though a newcomer, he was a confirmed act at Reggae Sunsplash and Sumfest that both took place this summer.

There are no limitations on where he plans to take his career. Aidonia plans to develop himself as an artiste and keep putting in hard work in order to reap the benefits. He would like to work with producers such as Dave Kelly, Steelie & Clevie and Sly & Robbie and other dancehall artistes such as Shabba Ranks, Sizzla, Baby Cham, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton, In the next five years he hopes to produce an internationally acclaimed album.

"I want to take dancehall music to the level that Bob Marley took reggae," says Aidonia.

BAD PICKNEY
Aidonia Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Big Ship a sail out
Weh dem hear bout
See dat now

Some bwoy fi know this (pick out dem deh)
Lord Evil (mmmm)
Yes Pappa

From mi a likkle youth man a bad pickney
Seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan hav nuh tuff chat fi gimme
Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan seh dem have nuh box fi gimme
So tek yuh yeye offa mi, tek yuh yeye offa mi
When yuh si mi u know seh
Man a bad pickney
Bad people, bad pickney
Seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bleach out bwoy nuh yuh nuh don fi Didi

Yo anytime u see mi yeah mi have it with mi
U see mi bad any enuff yuh nuh have nuh bodda wid
Yuh si mi pon di bike a flash it a nuh dolly dilly
Nah go mek nobody inna black a seh dem sorry fi mi
Yuh zimmi
Mi mek a step mi nah fi carry belly
A mi alone a pro with di swaggy ziggy
Yuh see mi [?] bwoy corn like Army [?]
Daddy Didi mi a di baddest inna di family family

Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan hav nuh tuff chat fi gimme
Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan seh dem have nuh box fi gimme
So tek yuh yeye offa mi, tek yuh yeye offa mi
When yuh si mi u know seh
Man a bad pickney
Bad people, bad pickney
Seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bleach out bwoy nuh yuh nuh don fi Didi

Hey yo
Bad pickney we nuh tek nuh drape up
We nuh run from bwoy jump fence and scrape up
Anytime u see mi DVD [?] a wave up
Plus mi go fi dollar coin then weh mi did a save up
We nuh trace like when u see a gal a rail up
Sittn nuttn nuh like when hammer nail up
Nuh [?] see dem deh mek mi hand [?]
Man a drop jail we nuh fraid like grabba a quail up

Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan hav nuh tuff chat fi gimme
Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan seh dem have nuh box fi gimme
So tek yuh yeye offa mi, tek yuh yeye offa mi
When yuh si mi u know seh
Man a bad pickney
Bad people, bad pickney
Seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bleach out bwoy nuh yuh nuh don fi Didi

See dat now

Some bwoy fi know this (pick out dem deh)
Lord Evil
Yes Pappa

From mi a likkle youth man a bad pickney
Seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan hav nuh tuff chat fi gimme
Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan hav nuh tuff chat fi gimme
Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bwoy cyan seh dem have nuh box fi gimme
So tek yuh yeye offa mi, tek yuh yeye offa mi
When yuh si mi u know seh
Man a bad pickney
Bad people, bad pickney

Seh man a bad pickney
A nuh bleach out bwoy nuh yuh nuh don fi Didi

Overall Meaning

In Aidonia's song "Bad Pickney," he emphasizes his dominance as a "bad pickney" since childhood. He declares no one can challenge him because he is unbeatable. He uses the term "pickney" as a reference to his earlier childhood days, but in a Jamaican context, "bad pickney" means a person who is tough, fierce, and cannot be intimidated. This song reminds us of Aidonia's past and how he became a renowned dancehall artist.

Aidonia brags about his toughness and how he does not back down from any situation. He refers to himself as the "baddest" in his family, and no one can rival his swaggy ways. He goes on to say that he always carries something with him, making him feel unstoppable. Aidonia goes on to say that he does not run or hide from anyone, and nothing scares him. This song conveys a message of self-confidence and empowerment, encouraging listeners to stand up for themselves and not be intimidated by anyone.

Line by Line Meaning

Big Ship a sail out Weh dem hear bout See dat now
The big ship is leaving, have you heard about that? Look, it's happening now.

From mi a likkle youth man a bad pickney Seh man a bad pickney A nuh bwoy cyan hav nuh tuff chat fi gimme Seh man a bad pickney, seh man a bad pickney A nuh bwoy cyan seh dem have nuh box fi gimme
From when I was a child, I was already tough and disobedient. I am a tough and disobedient person and no one can give me tough talk or claim to defeat me. No one can challenge me and win.

So tek yuh yeye offa mi, tek yuh yeye offa mi When yuh si mi u know seh Man a bad pickney Bad people, bad pickney Seh man a bad pickney A nuh bleach out bwoy nuh yuh nuh don fi Didi
Don't stare at me, when you see me, you already know I am a tough and disobedient person. I am a bad person, and no one can defeat me. I am not a coward or a fake person like those who bleach their skin, and you don't want to mess with me like Daddy Didi.

Hey yo Bad pickney we nuh tek nuh drape up We nuh run from bwoy jump fence and scrape up Anytime u see mi DVD [?] a wave up Plus mi go fi dollar coin then weh mi did a save up We nuh trace like when u see a gal a rail up Sittn nuttn nuh like when hammer nail up Nuh [?] see dem deh mek mi hand [?] Man a drop jail we nuh fraid like grabba a quail up
Hey, we are bad people who don't give up easily. We are not afraid to jump fences or get into fights. You will always see us waving our DVD (whatever that is), and we can afford anything because we save our money. We don't follow people around like a girl who is desperate for attention, and we act fast and decisively like a hammer nails. We are not afraid of anyone, even if we have to go to jail because we are as fearless as someone who catches a quail.

Some bwoy fi know this (pick out dem deh) Lord Evil Yes Pappa
Some guys need to know what we are capable of (point them out). We are not to be messed with, and we are obedient followers of Lord Evil and his power.

Writer(s): Mcgregor Stephen David, Sheldon Ricardo

Contributed by Blake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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