Blair grew up in rural Clarks Town in the northwestern parish of Trelawny. His deeply religious family life (his mother was a Seventh-day Adventist and his grandmother a Revivalist) imbued him with a profound spirituality. During his youth, his favorite singers were reggae legends Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer, musicians who strongly influenced his own style. Peter Tosh's influence can definitely be heard in Anthony B's vocal delivery and revolutionary stance.
Anthony B adopted Rastafarian beliefs as a teenager, a decision which was not well-received by his family. The stubborn and determined Anthony B refused to give up his new religion and his dreadlocks and moved to the home of his aunt and uncle in the Kingston suburb, Portmore.
While attending high school, Anthony B debuted as a deejay for the local sound system, Shaggy Hi-Power. In 1988, he befriended reggae artists such as Determine, Mega Banton, Ricky General and Terror Fabulous.
At this point in the reggae industry, singing "slack" songs about women was the popular thing to do. Anthony B did not believe in degrading women and chose to pen politically-slanted songs rather than so-called "gyal chunes." He hooked up with Little Devon the Half Pint sound-a-like singer he made his debut single "The Living is Hard" on the Wizard label in 1993. Anthony B tried many different producers but found that none of them fit his style of music. Finally, Anthony B teamed up with Richard "Bello" Bell, creating hits such as Fire Pon Rome, Raid Di Barn, Rumour, and Repentance Time. Anthony B's 1996 debut album Real Revolutionary was highly acclaimed in the reggae community. In late 1997, Anthony B released Universal Struggle which showed that Anthony B had a consistent, high-calibre talent. Anthony B has released a large number of albums since that time including 1999's Seven Seals and 2004's Untouchable which featured collaborations with artists including Wyclef Jean.
Anthony B tours extensively in Europe and North America and is known for his fiery, high-energy performances.
Anthony B is a member of the Bobo Ashanti branch of the Rastafarian movement. "Bobo Dreads", as they are known, are recognizable by their long robes and turbans. The strong Afrocentric pride and the other Rastafarian beliefs (or "overstandings" as Rastafarians prefer to call them) which Anthony B holds are reflected in his songs.
Discography
* Predator & Prey (1996, Alpha Enterprises)
* Real Revolutionary / So Many Things (1996, Greensleeves)
* Universal Struggle (1997, VP Records)
* Seven Seals (1999, VP Records)
* That's Life (2001, VP Records)
* More Love (2001, AO ! Records)
* Live On The Battlefield (2002, Jahmin' Records)
* Reggae Max (2002, Jet Star)
* Street Knowledge (2003, Nocturne)
* Judgment Time (2003, 2B1 Records)
* Smoke Free (2003, Bogalusa Records)
* Voice Of Jamaica vol. 2 (2003, Nocturne)
* Wise Man Chant (2004, Black Scorpio)
* Justice Fight (2004, Nocturne)
* Untouchable (2004, Togetherness Records)
* Power Of Creation (2004, Nocturne)
* Black Star (2005, Greensleeves)
* My Hope (2005, AL.TA.FA.AN. / Minor 7 Flat 5)
Blood Shed
Anthony B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much blood shed
in the city too much blood shed
(so mi haffi go a hills go whole a mek)
too much blood shed
in a kingston city too much blood shed
(as day break anodda brodda a dead)
(verse 1)
every my sheet a get file
every pin run dung a get oil
face nah no smile
drop it inna di wicked style
ready fi go put you unda soil
seh wah
dem a youth yah no care a dung yah
popp it off fi kill anodda
real taleban
? in the al quaeda gun
dem no miss no target dem tun weapon pon
(chorus)
Is blood shed
in the city too much blood shed
(so mi haffi go a hills go whole a mek)
too much blood shed
in a kingston city too much blood shed
(as day break anodda brodda a dead)
(verse 2)
? prove and prove and provin
thing to a dun to a duppa to a shotta to di king
lose dem lose dem lose cyaan win
no nuh righteousness every wanna a seen
oh you a ras and a lot di victim
oh you a ras and get cardin killin
stop murda yuh bredda fi scellin
gwaan bobo hill learn the thing
(chorus)
Too much blood shed
in the city too much blood shed
(so mi haffi go a hills go whole a mek)
too much blood shed
in a kingston city too much blood shed
(as day break anodda brodda a dead)
(verse 3)
its just 10 miles outta di city
memba there is no victim
here dem kill di?
ten miles still outta come
be gun around man a get shot down
walking in the street mi no safe anymore
everywhere yuh turn base?
unno a though window? pon floor
man a weapon like dem have gun store
(chorus)
Too much blood shed
in the city too much blood shed
(so mi haffi go a hills go whole a mek)
too much blood shed
in a kingston city too much blood shed
(as day break anodda brodda a dead)
repeat verse 1
(chorus)
Too much blood shed
in the city too much blood shed
(so mi haffi go a hills go whole a mek)
too much blood shed
in a kingston city too much blood shed
(as day break anodda brodda a dead)
Place hot hot so people get flat get flat
Every where a gun shot gun shot
When it stop when it stop
The song "Blood Shed" by Anthony B talks about the ongoing problem of violence and bloodshed in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "too much blood shed in the city" and laments the constant loss of life that is happening around them. The first verse paints a picture of youth who are violent and lack empathy for others. They are ready to kill at the slightest offense and do not care about the consequences of their actions. The second verse calls for a stop to the violence and the senseless killing of one's own brother. It urges people to find righteousness and learn from the Rastafarian culture. The third verse speaks to the spread of violence in the city, where even a ten-mile distance outside of the city is not safe anymore. There are guns everywhere, and people are getting shot down while walking in the street.
The song "Blood Shed" is a socially conscious and politically charged commentary on the ongoing problem of violence and bloodshed in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston. Here are some interesting facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
Too much blood shed
There's too much violence and killing happening
in the city too much blood shed
Violence and killing is happening too frequently in the city
(so mi haffi go a hills go whole a mek)
The singer needs to escape to the hills to seek refuge and find peace
in a kingston city too much blood shed
Kingston, specifically, is suffering from excessive violence and killing
(as day break anodda brodda a dead)
Every day there seems to be another young man dead
all di youth dem so vile
The young people in this community are dangerous and violent
every my sheet a get file
The police are keeping records of everyone and everything
every pin run dung a get oil
Everything is for sale, including law enforcement
face nah no smile
People are too serious and unhappy in this environment
drop it inna di wicked style
These young men are ruthless and don't hesitate to kill
ready fi go put you unda soil
They're always armed and prepared to take someone's life
seh wah
What are you saying?
dem a youth yah no care a dung yah
These young people don't care about their community or anyone in it
popp it off fi kill anodda
They're willing to kill anyone for any reason
real taleban
They're like Taliban soldiers in their tactics and brutality
? in the al quaeda gun
They have access to high-powered guns like those used by Al Qaeda
dem no miss no target dem tun weapon pon
They don't miss their intended target and they use weapons like tools
its just 10 miles outta di city
The violence is spreading outward from the city
memba there is no victim
It seems like everyone is a target in this violent environment
here dem kill di?
People are being killed here for no reason
ten miles still outta come
The violence isn't stopping anytime soon, it's still spreading
be gun around man a get shot down
People are being shot and killed all around
walking in the street mi no safe anymore
It's not safe to walk around the streets anymore
everywhere yuh turn base?
Everywhere you look there are people getting shot
unno a though window? pon floor
People are so scared that they're hiding under tables and behind curtains
man a weapon like dem have gun store
These young men have enough weapons to stock a gun store
Place hot hot so people get flat get flat
The violence is too much and people are getting killed
Every where a gun shot gun shot
Gunshots are happening everywhere
When it stop when it stop
When will the violence and killing end?
Contributed by Ethan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Derek Njoroge
This is what we call Necessary music...... can"t wait for Mr. Bishop"s performance; not if but when he comes to Kenya, East Africa.... Anthony B Mama Africa is calling!!!
god gamer ff
To all DJs out there I am currently playing this song at this moment and saying for 2023 and beyond these are the types of songs that needs to be playing on radios and sound system please the souls of our people need to be hearing these lyrics
John Ndiawo
Anthony B...... Wicked chuune π₯ π₯ π₯
George Ochanda
2020 still much blood shed around de world
Alphaeus Procope
This song should b the national anthem of reggae
Latoya Boatswain
Please play these songs on d radio please we need itπ’
G St H
This is the song that Trinidad and Tobago should be playing everyday!!!!!! To much unnecessary killing!
Trevor Harvey
Run it again my selector
josembaria
Stop murder your bredda fi shillingπ₯
Knkybd Elwn
2021 tjrs Γ l'Γ©coute π₯