Alkaline is an artist with high influence among the youth in the Dancehall realm.
He is known for his elusive character and aggressive hip-hop influenced style in his music which artistically captures the core of the genres past whilst embodying the diversity of Modern Dancehall.
Bartley began recording at the age of 16, and using the stage name Alkaline. He became popular in Jamaica in 2013 with a series of singles like "123", "High Suh", "Bruk Out", "Things Mi Love" and "Live Life". His live shows have sometimes been controversial, in February 2016 an object was thrown at him with a bottle while on stage in St. Lucia, responding by throwing the bottle back at the offender.
ATM
Alkaline Lyrics
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(Portmore! Portmore!)
Dem time deh when nobody never tek serious, Yuh see me
(Portmore! Portmore! Portmore!)
From me a one boy Yuh Know
Am all about the money
Me, Me forever boasty
Am all about the money
Like seh a Nanny grow me
Voluntary service anuh me
Am all about the money
That anuh the president, dat a me
Every dollar have a picture a me
Am all about the money
And the money all about me
The money all about meβ¦.Ahh
No Money, No Money, Then Goodbye
No bother hail me, Don't even bother say Hi
Tired of white rice, what bout some Rolls-Royce
Private Jets, These public lights
Broke voice no have no voice
That's why Me and Lee up every night
Stay up every night so much that we sleep out the Days of Our Lives
Call it a Soap Opera Life
Just fi live the Soap Opera life with Big Cars and Big Bikes
The type of life what a man forget what broke life did feel like
Me a talk larger than life
2016, Me Pree the Profit pon top a Profit
What a Profit ah man
And me tell Sashi seh soon we ago need some bigger cups for these Ice
Am all about the money
Like broke life never know me
Me, Me forever boasty
Am all about the money
Like seh a Nanny grow me
Voluntary service anuh me
Am all about the money
That anuh the president, dat a me
Every dollar have a picture a me
Am all about the money
And the money all about me
The money all about meβ¦.Ahh
Since me Buss weh, Fly gone
Never seen so much Hate from I born
Me knock out the Heavyweight now a the referee want fi fight man
Me owna people and the Media a try bring me back a Square 1
The Fame, The Attention
So tired of it, Me Can't Stop Yawn
Am all about the money
Like broke life never know me
Me, Me forever boasty
Am all about the money
Like seh a Nanny grow me
Voluntary service anuh me
Am all about the money
That anuh the president, dat a me
Every dollar have a picture a me
Am all about the money
And the money all about me
The money all about meβ¦.Ahh
No Money, No Money, Then Goodbye
No bother hail me, Don't even bother say Hi
All About The Money Yuh Know
All About The Money like today a Friday and me father a work yuh know
All About The Money like me Ex-girlfriend
ATM Yuh Know
All About The Money like Me picture deh all over the money
All About The Money like me is a Gold Digger
Like me pocket dem yuh know
Or me wallet
All About The Money Yuh Know
Straight
Madness
Badness
Earlan Bartley
The lyrics to Alkalineβs song βATMβ revolve around the theme of money and the rapperβs unapologetic dedication to it. He reminisces about his high school days in Portmore when people did not take him seriously, and emphasizes how money has transformed his life. Alkaline boasts that he never knew what a broke life felt like, and he now lives the βsoap opera lifeβ with big cars and big bikes. He states that he is larger than life, and he revels in his success by declaring that every dollar has his picture on it. He admits that he is all about the money and that the money is all about him.
Furthermore, Alkaline reflects on the challenges that come with fame and attention, revealing that he is βtired of itβ and cannot stop yawning. He describes how people, including his own community and the media, are trying to bring him back to square one despite his success. He is unapologetic about his focus on money and urges people not to bother hailing him if they have no money.
The lyrics to βATMβ are a reflection of the commercialization of hip-hop music, where money, success, and fame are central themes. Alkalineβs unapologetic focus on money is a departure from the social commentary and political messages that are common in reggae and dancehall music.
Line by Line Meaning
From High School days yow
(Portmore! Portmore!)
Dem time deh when nobody never tek serious, Yuh see me
(Portmore! Portmore! Portmore!)
In high school, nobody took me seriously, but I hail from Portmore and still represent it proudly.
From me a one boy Yuh Know
I've always been a solo player.
Am all about the money
Like broke life never know me
Me, Me forever boasty
Am all about the money
Money is my number one priority, and I refuse to entertain the notion of being broke. I'm always bragging about my wealth.
Like seh a Nanny grow me
Voluntary service anuh me
Am all about the money
That anuh the president, dat a me
Every dollar have a picture a me
Am all about the money
And the money all about me
The money all about meβ¦.Ahh
Money has always been a part of my life, and I didn't get to where I am by doing voluntary service. I'm the richest person I know and embody all the power that comes with it.
No Money, No Money, Then Goodbye
No bother hail me, Don't even bother say Hi
Tired of white rice, what bout some Rolls-Royce
Private Jets, These public lights
Broke voice no have no voice
That's why Me and Lee up every night
Stay up every night so much that we sleep out the Days of Our Lives
Call it a Soap Opera Life
Just fi live the Soap Opera life with Big Cars and Big Bikes
The type of life what a man forget what broke life did feel like
If you don't have money, I don't want to hear from you. I'm done eating boring, cheap food and now I crave the opulence of Rolls-Royces and private jets. Poverty means having no say or influence in the world, so I work hard every night with my partner to build a life filled with luxury. We live like we're starring in a soap opera and enjoy the indulgences that come with it, so much that we forget what life was like before we were wealthy.
Me a talk larger than life
2016, Me Pree the Profit pon top a Profit
What a Profit ah man
And me tell Sashi seh soon we ago need some bigger cups for these Ice
I talk big because I can back it up. In 2016, I made a ton of money and saw so much profit that I'm blowing my own mind. My friend Sashi and I are loving all this success and need bigger ice-cups to keep up with our lavish lifestyle.
Since me Buss weh, Fly gone
Never seen so much Hate from I born
Me knock out the Heavyweight now a the referee want fi fight man
Me owna people and the Media a try bring me back a Square 1
The Fame, The Attention
So tired of it, Me Can't Stop Yawn
Ever since I became successful and famous, I've received more hate than ever before in my life. I've managed to achieve so much, but everyone is trying to take me down. Even people from my own community and the media are trying to bring me back down to square one. I'm sick of all this fame and attention and am completely over it.
All About The Money Yuh Know
All About The Money like today a Friday and me father a work yuh know
All About The Money like me Ex-girlfriend
ATM Yuh Know
All About The Money like Me picture deh all over the money
All About The Money like me is a Gold Digger
Like me pocket dem yuh know
Or me wallet
All About The Money Yuh Know
Straight
Madness
Badness
Earlan Bartley
I'm all about my money and won't ever stop chasing it. Whether it's a Friday and my father is working or whether it reminds me of my ex-girlfriend, money is always on my mind. I'm like an ATM machine, dispensing cash whenever I'm around. I'm so wealthy that my image can be found on money. Some people might call me a gold digger, but my pockets and my wallet prove that I've earned everything I own. I'm all about the madness and badness of earning money, and my name is Earlan Bartley.
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@metrija
2023 anyone?
@marcojsix5641
Haffi
@kymaniwhite3418
Everyday
@freshlife8063
Issa muss
@ethanvanslightman2368
Done know sehπ₯
@jaydenholder8915
2024 breddaπ€·πΎββοΈ
@nickeloybraithwaite6275
2024??π
@jofficial3673
Present ππ½
@Shaquan_TTK
Deh yah
@MoneyGad1
2024 and still deh alkaline live on forever βΎοΈ π