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)
How Do You Feel
Anthony B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Emperor Selassie I
Jah Jah is the only way
Chorus:
Nobody wannu plant the corn
Everybody want to raid the barn
Who yuh a guh blame it on
Well yuh wrong
Nobody wannu plant the corn
Everybody want to raid the barn
Haffi sing yuh owna song
Can't compete with careless John
I was looking a start, just a little ease off
Noone would help me push that old had caart
Dem a laugh, never tak mi serious
So many goals and thoughts and potholes
I pass everyday My Lord, I have to pray on my way
Dem never realise with a little cooperation
Wi coulda unify releive the frustration
Instead dem want to ride upon dem bredda back
No tears or cares if him even did stop or drop
Chorus
I feel please, when a tek a litte ease
From a long hard day of work
A sense of achieving, to know I'm contributing
Doing my part, oooowi dis is my comfort
I know there is a reward for every trying man
Who walk this land with an intention
To do good for hiself and everyman
Just a meditation
Chorus
Well Ive been up from early this morning
Never drink nuh tea, mi never eat nuh fry dumpling
Never see noone to strengthen me on mi journey
Now mi mek a change di whole a dem waan fi fren mi
Waan fi take it all, nuh mind ef mi stall
Dem nuh business if mi back gainst the wall
Dis yah living sometime mek mi ball
Seems like there aint no love afterall
The lyrics of "How Do You Feel" by Anthony B highlight the struggles of a man who faces different challenges in life as he tries to achieve his dreams. He invokes the name of Emperor Selassie I and Jah Jah as the only way to show his faith in God, and also demonstrates his frustration with people who do not want to work hard and instead seek to take advantage of others. The first verse talks about his struggles in getting help with a task that seems impossible for him to do alone. He speaks about facing obstacles every day but also acknowledging the need for prayers to keep him going. The second verse describes his satisfaction and sense of achievement after completing tasks and contributing to society. He recognizes the importance of hard work and the rewards that come with it. The final verse highlights the difficulties and disappointments that he experiences while trying to make a living. He feels as though people do not care about him, and many only seek to exploit him without offering any assistance.
The song "How Do You Feel" was released in 1996 as part of Anthony B's second studio album titled "Real Revolutionary." This album helped him gain popularity and was a commercial success. The song was produced by Richard Bell, who was famous for producing reggae hits for artists like Burning Spear and Bob Marley. Bell created a unique sound by blending Rastafarian drumbeats and electronic music, which was unusual at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Contributed by Addison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ShineroManero
(Intro)
It's the question
To the big man sitting up on their chair
What are you doing for the poor across a people that livin down here
Is a question
Chorus:
How do you feel?
To see the suffering in the streets
Kids go into bed hungry
With no food to eat
How do you feel?
Violence and crime are increased
Jamaica is a one love country
But still there's no peace
Verse 1:
Nah see dung anthon papa
When mi look pon mi son and mi daughta
Nah they are outside a beg wata
Dem mi a victim mi a go ???
Life serious a no time fi di laughta
Anthony b di who babylon afta
One tile like we inna pasta
Is a question to all slave masta
Chorus:
How do you feel?
To see the suffering in the streets
Kids go into bed hungry
With no food to eat
How do you feel?
Violence and crime are increased
Jamaica is a one love country
But still there's no peace
Verse 2:
Crime rate too high
And dem waan think get low
But still dem pass di ghetto youth like dem dem nuh know
Why so much innocent blood a float
He come to your window gunman through your door
Where is the better politician
Not even ??? council and mi see fi this division
Every time the leaders go round
That send mi hear the world opposition
Chorus:
How do you feel?
To see the suffering in the streets
Kids go into bed hungry
With no food to eat
How do you feel?
Violence and crime are increased
Jamaica is a one love country
But still there's no peace
How do you feel?
To see the suffering in the streets
Kids go into bed hungry
With no food to eat
How do you feel?
Violence and crime are increased
Jamaica is a one love country
But still there's no peace
Verse 3:
Babylon raze still dem raze deh
??????????
And a too you relax
My time are siddung inna yuh bed
Di youth dem dung inna di ghetto with di led
Yuh cyaan stop di violence from escalate
And yuh cyaan trick di ghetto youth like ???
How much more a mi black sista yah go rape
And then yuh put up di yellow tape
Chorus:
How do you feel?
To see the suffering in the streets
Kids go into bed hungry
With no food to eat
How do you feel?
Violence and crime are increased
Jamaica is a one love country
But still there's no peace
@monicaff77
Yes it would take a lot more people listening to artists such as Anthony B.,
@chiarapanda2345
Reality
@kwaitoman10
This tune is massively underrated!!
@miroslawdorf5016
who is still listening in august 2019?
@rodneyrolle7874
one love I love D's song cuz da words are very powerfull.
@monicaff77
jah bless Antony b. for this song and bless you for this video I hope that someday everyone can look through the eyes of love the world ... that day there will be more diversity .. and Babylon will be no more ...
@deepchilledmusic7548
💜💙💛💚
@mistou68
I feel bad... when I saw all this suffering... But I thank you for sharing this song .. While hoping it'll be listen all over the world. PeAcE RD :-)
@ShineroManero
Who is still listening this in June 2016 <3
@weedaboss
..even in March 2018..same fucking problems ever