Anthony B is the stage name of Keith Blair (born March 31, 1976), a Jamaica… Read Full Bio ↴Anthony B is the stage name of Keith Blair (born March 31, 1976), a Jamaican musician.

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)

There's a Reward For Me
Anthony B Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everyday my heart is sore
Seeing that I'm so poor
But I shall not give up so easy oooh
'Cause there's a reward for me
There's a reward for me

Though I'm bordered down with shame
There's no one for me to blame

But I shall not give up so easy
'Cause there's a reward for me, oooh yeah
There's a reward for me.

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
You know no one cares for me
I've never known sympathy
Sometimes I look to the world with a smile
Man you hear what I say

Everyday my heart is sore
Seeing that I'm so poor
But I shall not give up so easy
Oh no no no no non no
'Cause there's a reward for me
'Cause there's a reward for me.

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
You know no one cares for me
I've never known sympathy
Sometimes I look to the world with a smile
Man you hear what I say

Everyday my heart is sore
Seeing that I'm so poor
But I shall not give up so easy

Oh no no no no non no
'Cause there's a reward for me
'Cause there's a reward for me.

Overall Meaning

In Anthony B's song "There's a Reward For Me," he expresses the pain he feels from being poor and 'motherless.' He laments that despite no one caring for him, he won't give up easily because he believes that there is a reward waiting for him. The first two verses of the song emphasize this sentiment, in which he says that his heart is sore from being poor, but he won't give up because he knows that a reward is waiting for him. In the third verse, he highlights the pain of being motherless and unloved by the world, but he remains hopeful that his reward will come.

The recurring theme in this song is perseverance despite hardship, which is a common theme in reggae music. The lyrics suggest that the struggles he is facing are temporary because he knows that his reward will come. The choice of words conveys a sense of optimism and determination, which are essential values that one should have when facing life's challenges.

In conclusion, the song "There's a Reward For Me" by Anthony B is a testament to the power of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. It shows that despite feeling hopeless and alone, one can still believe in a brighter future and work towards that goal.

Line by Line Meaning

Everyday my heart is sore
Each day, I feel emotional pain

Seeing that I'm so poor
Realizing my financial state

But I shall not give up so easy oooh
I won't easily lose hope

'Cause there's a reward for me
Because I know there's something good awaiting me

There's a reward for me
I am certain there is something good waiting for me

Though I'm bordered down with shame
Even if I feel humiliated

There's no one for me to blame
I am responsible for my situation

But I shall not give up so easy
Still, I will strive to persevere

'Cause there's a reward for me, oooh yeah
I have faith that good things are on the horizon

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
At times, I feel abandoned and alone

You know no one cares for me
I believe that no one loves or supports me