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)
Swarm Me
Anthony B Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, Lord, Lord,
Anthony B. is very polite,
But dem say dis boy too bright.
Remember we don't live in a communist country.
Yuggo yo.
Chorus:
Say mi start a revolution army, army.
Dem nuh see dat dem loose,
Dis is the generation dem can't confuse, get di news.
Repeat
Verse 1:
I'm in the middle surrounded by media
Just through mi chant fire bun fi di leader
Misleadership mi see a gwaan all over
Dem waan blow mi away like a paper
Inna mi song whey mi tun on di fire burning
Burning hotter than the equator
That's why dem say mi explisit and raw
Ask mi fi vote and mi tell dem can't
No man can't kiss me pon mi jaw
Worsnip Pope Paul rastaman naw
Chorus
Verse 2:
Stronger stronger than a lion
Tougher thougher dan steel
Ready now fi di truth it reveal
Dem stick di deck and dem want wi fi deal
Now we serve dem dem own poison meal
Over di years dem a beat wi and wi never squeal
Ask dem how di pain and pressure feel
Now wi a fling fire under dem heel
Ask dem why dem want a'll di truth conceal
Look place fi hide dem a look place fi run
Never see mi wid knife never see mi wid gun
The truth inna mi song mek revolution come
And dem fraid a di fire bun,
Lordy Lawd
Chorus
Verse 3:
Blacks was Kings and Queens Pon wi
Motherland before them intervene
Capture we carry we beyond
Fi work as slave pon dem plantation
But we want a solution
Or else let's start the revolution
Tell dem go to hell wid dem polifiction
Chorus
In Anthony B's song "Swarm Me," he expresses his frustrations with the system and how people are trying to bring him down. In the chorus, he questions why they want to "swarm" him and claims that he's starting a "revolution army." He believes that this generation can't be confused and that people need to "get the news."
In the first verse, Anthony B speaks about how he's surrounded by the media and how he burns with fire for change. He feels that there's a lot of misleadership going on and that people are trying to blow him away like paper. He reveals that people call him "explicit and raw" because he's not afraid to speak his truth. When asked to vote, he says no man can kiss him on his jaw and that he doesn't worship the Pope like many Rastafarians.
In the second verse, Anthony B describes how strong he is and how ready he is to reveal the truth. He asserts that people have been beaten for years but they never spoke up about the pain and pressure they faced. He believes that they're now throwing fire under their oppressor's heel and that the truth in his songs will lead to a revolution.
In the last verse, the singer expounds on the history of slavery and how black people were once kings and queens in Africa. He believes a solution is needed, or they should start a revolution because he's had enough of the politicians' lies.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord, Lord, Lord,
Anthony B expresses a sense of disapproval of the current state of affairs through the invocation of God's name
Anthony B. is very polite,
Introducing himself with a humble image of politeness
But dem say dis boy too bright.
Anthony B. acknowledges the criticisms he has received about being too opinionated or intelligent
Remember we don't live in a communist country.
Anthony B. asserts that he has the right to express his opinions without fear of persecution
Yuggo yo.
Anthony B. ends the opening with a casual Jamaican expression of encouragement
Why dem wan come swarm me, swarm me,
Anthony B. questions why he is being targeted and attacked so heavily by those who don't agree with his messages
Say mi start a revolution army, army.
Anthony B. admits that he is trying to lead a revolution against the status quo
Dem nuh see dat dem loose,
Anthony B. notes that his opposition is losing the battle against him
Dis is the generation dem can't confuse, get di news.
Anthony B. believes his generation is too intelligent and informed to be fooled by the establishment's propaganda
I'm in the middle surrounded by media
Anthony B. is situated in the eye of the storm, as journalists and reporters constantly seek to interview him
Just through mi chant fire bun fi di leader
Anthony B. criticizes political leaders by calling for them to be burned with fire, a metaphor for revolution and rejection of their policies
Misleadership mi see a gwaan all over
Anthony B. observes a problem of bad leadership everywhere in society
Dem waan blow mi away like a paper
Anthony B. feels threatened by those who want to destroy him, comparing himself to a fragile piece of paper
Inna mi song whey mi tun on di fire burning
Anthony B. references the power of his music to ignite passion and inspire change
Burning hotter than the equator
Anthony B. believes his message is blazing with intensity and unstoppable like the heat of the equator
That's why dem say mi explisit and raw
Anthony B. knows that his outspoken lyrics are controversial and upsetting to some critics
Ask mi fi vote and mi tell dem can't
Anthony B. is rejecting the idea of participating in the corrupt political system
No man can't kiss me pon mi jaw
Anthony B. is not interested in selling out or being corrupted by the establishment
Worsnip Pope Paul rastaman naw
Anthony B. does not worship religious leaders or institutions, but rather his own faith and spirituality
Stronger stronger than a lion
Anthony B. sees himself as powerful and brave like a lion
Tougher thougher dan steel
Anthony B. views his strength and resilience as being even greater than steel
Ready now fi di truth it reveal
Anthony B. is determined to speak the truth and reveal it to a wider audience
Dem stick di deck and dem want wi fi deal
Anthony B. refers to society's attempts to manipulate and control him
Now we serve dem dem own poison meal
Anthony B. is turning the tables on his enemies, making them suffer the consequences of their own actions
Over di years dem a beat wi and wi never squeal
Anthony B. remembers the past struggles of those who came before him and their refusal to submit to oppression
Ask dem how di pain and pressure feel
Anthony B. turns the tables on his enemies, asking them how it feels to finally experience the same pain and suffering as their victims
Now wi a fling fire under dem heel
Anthony B. is using his music to encourage people to fight back and challenge the established order
Ask dem why dem want a'll di truth conceal
Anthony B. is asking those in power why they want to hide the truth from the people
Look place fi hide dem a look place fi run
Anthony B. observes that those in power are trying to avoid the consequences of their actions by hiding or fleeing
Never see mi wid knife never see mi wid gun
Anthony B. believes that peaceful and passive resistance is more effective than violent means
The truth inna mi song mek revolution come
Anthony B. believes that his music has the power to inspire and bring about change
And dem fraid a di fire bun,
Anthony B. observes that those in power are afraid of the revolution and change he is trying to bring about
Blacks was Kings and Queens Pon wi
Anthony B. reminds us of the oppression and suffering of black people in the past
Motherland before them intervene
Anthony B. believes that African society was advanced and prosperous before it was colonized and corrupted by foreigners
Capture we carry we beyond
Anthony B. refers to the transatlantic slave trade and how it took black people out of their native land and forced them to work as slaves elsewhere
Fi work as slave pon dem plantation
Anthony B. is highlighting the injustice and cruelty of slavery and the racism that continues to this day
But we want a solution
Anthony B. wants to find a way to fix the problems of racism and oppression that still exist in our society
Or else let's start the revolution
Anthony B. believes that a revolution may be necessary to fix these problems
Tell dem go to hell wid dem polifiction
Anthony B. believes that politicians are corrupt and dishonest and should be rejected and ignored by the people
Lyrics Β© SUELION MUSIC
Written by: KEITH BLAIR, RICHARD BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andrejohnson1488
Very powerful song.
@deloneccles7132
One of the greatest song of all time
@raphithegreat
Thank god for anthony b and for me beeing part of that generation!!! Keep the vibe alive!!!!
@alana6779
Best GENERATION EVER!!! BEST ARTISTS, MUSIC, LIVING CHILDHOOD JAH KNOWS NO WORDS NO WORDS!!
@onedayjackson9725
Up today and tomorrow
@aromsiva2181
To listen this man n jah cure when ure back against the wall it's like giving u hope n to let u know u build the wall from scratch so no need to worry about wat u built
@likkledanny
BIG BIG TUNE
@derrenjordan8197
Love the introπ€²ππΎ
@reneeharewood5053
This song was big for him
@SEANWILLIAMS45
Big tune