He was booed off stage at a show celebrating the visit of Nelson Mandela. In 1993 at the very popular show Sting he accused fellow deejay Bounty Killer that the elder artist had stolen his catchphrase, "people dead". This triggered a lyrical battle which continued on the air with each artist counteracting the other's songs. Finally, in 1995, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer settled their differences on the air by actually signing a peace treaty and the two recorded an album together, Guns Out. This was followed by a single, "No Mama No Cry", a rehash of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry", speaking out against violence and inspired by the murder of Pan Head, another popular Deejay.
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man soon converted to the Rastafari movement.
In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album Blessed.
In 1995, Beenie Man released a remix of Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" in the United Kingdom, and collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palma to release Three Against War and Lt. Stitchie on Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal Maestro, produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late '90s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
In 1998, Beenie Man signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was The Doctor (1998). In 2000, Beenie Man teamed up with Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) to release The Art & Life. During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I" and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B singer, Mya.
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna.
Bossman
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The roughest, toughest bumboclaat bod man from out of Jamaica
Hear this one, ya
Beenie Man 'longside Sean Paul and Lady Saw
Oh na, na, na
Well I'm a gangster for life
Take your life, take your wife, and everyting nice
Gangster for life (it's a bod mon ting)
Yes Jah
Bossman
Anytime you see me come around
Bossman
Don't take bod man fi clown
Bossman
Glock weh move yuh head crown
Bossman
Dissin' ah yuh own blood yuh drown
Bossman
Bod man rule di compound
Bossman
Dis ah mean we bomb down yuh town
Bossman
Feel say you can't stick around
Bossman
Man annuh nuh clown
Man a gangsta for life
Take your life, sex your wife, and everyting nice
Gangsta's paradise
Dat is my life
Is a thug girl mi want fi mi wife
You tink say you bad man, bad and come
You tink say you tough man, tough and come
You tink say you rough man, rough and come
Dis now a gunshot shall fire bomb
Man a bod man ah east
(Tell them now dis)
From a war man a freak
(Yuh shoot nuh miss)
An' if you run off ya beak
(Yuh make we list)
But if ah New York we meet
(Gunshot wi beat)
Start war, you decease (yeah)
'Til it nah go cease (true)
Sudden destruction when yuh check say a peace (what?)
Word out ah road man ah say you ah di beast
Well since yuh a di beast
Hol' ah Teflon feast
Anytime you see me come around
Bossman
Don't take bod man for clown
Bossman
Glock fi move your head crown
Bossman
Dissin' ah yuh own blood yuh drown
Bossman
Bod man lock down yo town
Bossman
Bod man bomb yuh compound (woy)
Bossman
Feel say yuh bod you a clown
Bossman
Don't stick around
Me a rasta
But me a gangsta
Me have me kids
And me have baby motha
Gimme me money
Bossman, weh me come for
'Cause if you dis badman you get murda
Pass mi louga
And mi rouga
'Cause if you talk di two a dem gwaan' fire
'Cause me a real badman from Jamaica
A Beenie Man down pon de riddim who a gangsta (more fire come)
Bossman
Anytime you see me come around
Bossman
Don't take bad man for clown
Bossman
Glock we move your head crown
Bossman
Disin' ah yuh own blood yuh drown
Bossman
Bod man rule de compound
Bossman
Diss mi, we wi bumb down yuh town
Bossman
Anytime you see me come around (yuh ah hear me?)
Bossman
Don't take bad fi clown
Bad man queen
Tek care ah him machine
Lock down di base (dun kno')
When me hear siren
I've got his back
Can be just as mean (how yuh mean?)
Blow man marrow and left di spot clean
Control all docks (all evidence on the move)
Have all gun lock
Know who fi buy out
And who fi get shot
Real toppa top
Di baddest chick pon di block
Nah fuck wit di queen
'Cah mi always strap (nuh fuck wit dat)
Anytime you see we come around (mirror on di block)
Don't take my crew fi clown (no, no)
We gunshot fat like a pound (Lady Saw)
Shh, silence and don't make a sound (Beenie Man, we keep killin' dem)
Mi keep telling them
Punks
Sympathy weh wi ain't lending them
Punks
Chank out fi broke and nah go bending tdm
Punks
Bare shot we're sending dem, punks
Now or later, we endin' dem punks
No matter where dem deh
East, west, north, or south
From dem open up dem mouth
And dem dis we
Dem ah go catch lead in deh
From dem a hype up
Teflon dem bite up
Di whole place light up
Unnuh nuh hear what me say
Come in a mi town
Like di whole ah dem ah clown
Dem a try tek mi crown
Nuff a dem dem a wi enemy
Chop dem up first
Eliminate dem to dust
Man a real bod man
Pass mi blunt and mi Hennessy
Anytime you see we come around
Bossman
Don't take bad man fi clown
Bossman
Shot we move your head crown
Bossman
Dissin' ah yuh own blood yuh drown
Bossman
Bossman
Bossman
Bossman
Bossman
Bossman
Bossman
Bossman
In Beenie Man's "Bossman," the lyrics paint a picture of a gangster lifestyle, where life is about taking what you want through force or violence. The song features Sean Paul and Lady Saw, and the three artists each get a verse to boast about how dangerous they are, warning people not to take them for clowns. The chorus of "Bossman" is a series of warnings to anyone who might cross the path of these Jamaica-based gangsters. They rule the compound, they are a gangster for life, and they will take your life, and everything nice. The chorus tells us that these men are in charge, and anyone who tries to disrespect them will pay a heavy price.
The song is rooted in the experience of life in Jamaica, where gang violence is a frequent occurrence. The relationship between the police and gang members is strained, and lines are often blurred between law enforcement and criminals. The lyrics suggest that the only way to survive in this kind of environment is to be a tough guy, someone who others fear, someone who is always ready to use his weapons. The song is an example of dancehall music, which is characterized by its heavy bass, fast-paced rhythms, and brutally honest lyrics. This type of music is often referred to as "rude boy" music, and it is meant to reflect the attitudes and experiences of Jamaican youth who feel angry and marginalized by society.
Line by Line Meaning
Well this is Beenie Man
Introductory lyric
The roughest, toughest bumboclaat bod man from out of Jamaica
Beenie Man is a tough Jamaican gangster
Hear this one, ya
Calling attention to the song
Beenie Man 'longside Sean Paul and Lady Saw
Collaboration with other artists
Oh na, na, na
Background chorus
Well I'm a gangster for life
Beenie Man is a lifelong gangster
Take your life, take your wife, and everyting nice
Willingness to commit violent crimes
Gangster for life (it's a bod mon ting)
Affirmation of gangster lifestyle
Yes Jah
Acknowledgement of God
Bossman
Addressing himself as the boss
Anytime you see me come around
Warning to not underestimate him
Don't take bod man fi clown
Don't mistake him for a fool
Glock weh move yuh head crown
Threat to shoot with a Glock
Dissin' ah yuh own blood yuh drown
Disrespecting his own family can lead to consequences
Bod man rule di compound
Status as leader of his community
Dis ah mean we bomb down yuh town
Promising to bring violence to his enemies' territory
Feel say you can't stick around
Issuing a warning to his rivals to flee
Man annuh nuh clown
Affirming his toughness and seriousness
Man a gangsta for life
Reaffirming his gangster identity
Take your life, sex your wife, and everyting nice
Repeating his willingness to commit violent crimes
Gangsta's paradise
Referring to a life of crime and violence
Dat is my life
Affirming that a life of crime is his reality
Is a thug girl mi want fi mi wife
Desiring a tough and assertive woman as his partner
You tink say you bad man, bad and come
Challenging the toughness of his rivals
You tink say you tough man, tough and come
Challenging the strength of his rivals
You tink say you rough man, rough and come
Challenging the aggressiveness of his rivals
Dis now a gunshot shall fire bomb
Threatening to open fire
Man a bod man ah east
Claiming to be a gangster from the East
(Tell them now dis)
Introducing a new section of the song
From a war man a freak
Stressing that he is willing to engage in warfare
(Yuh shoot nuh miss)
Boasting about his accuracy when shooting
An' if you run off ya beak
Punishing anyone who tries to run away
(Yuh make we list)
Promising to add them to his hit list
But if ah New York we meet
Suggesting that violence will occur in New York
(Gunshot wi beat)
The sound of gunshots will be heard
Start war, you decease (yeah)
Threatening death to anyone who starts a conflict with him
'Til it nah go cease (true)
Promising to continue the violence
Sudden destruction when yuh check say a peace (what?)
Stressing that peace is not an option
Word out ah road man ah say you ah di beast
Rumors about his toughness and ferocity
Well since yuh a di beast
Acknowledging his own reputation
Hol' ah Teflon feast
Wearing bulletproof clothing
Don't take bod man for clown
Repeating a previous warning
Dis now a gunshot shall fire bomb
Threatening violence once again
Bod man lock down yo town
Warning to his rivals to retreat
Bod man bomb yuh compound (woy)
Threatening to destroy his enemies' stronghold
Feel say yuh bod you a clown
Insulting his rivals
Don't stick around
Advising his rivals to flee
Me a rasta
Identifying as a Rastafarian
But me a gangsta
Reaffirming his gangster identity
Me have me kids
Being a father
And me have baby motha
Having a child's mother as a partner
Gimme me money
Stressing the importance of money
Bossman, weh me come for
Demanding what he is owed
'Cause if you dis badman you get murda
Threatening murder if someone disrespects him
Pass mi louga
Asking for a type of gun
And mi rouga
Asking for another type of gun
Cause if you talk di two a dem gwaan' fire
Promising to shoot if someone disrespects him
'Cause me a real badman from Jamaica
Reaffirming his gangster identity and origin
A Beenie Man down pon de riddim who a gangsta (more fire come)
Confirming that he is the artist rapping on the track
Shh, silence and don't make a sound (Beenie Man, we keep killin' dem)
Addressing the audience to keep quiet and listen to the song
Mi keep telling them
Repeating previous messages
Punks
Addressing his enemies as weak
Sympathy weh wi ain't lending them
Stressing that he will not show any mercy
Chank out fi broke and nah go bending tdm
Deriding those who are poor and begging for mercy
Bare shot we're sending dem, punks
Promising violence
Now or later, we endin' dem punks
Indicating that his vengeance will be carried out sooner or later
No matter where dem deh East, west, north, or south
Regardless of their location
From dem open up dem mouth
If they say anything against him
And dem dis we
If they disrespect him
Dem ah go catch lead in deh
Threatening to shoot them
From dem a hype up
If they are bragging or boasting
Teflon dem bite up
Referring to bulletproof jackets
Di whole place light up
Violence will be carried out
Unnuh nuh hear what me say
Repeating his message
Come in a mi town
Warning to stay out of his territory
Like di whole ah dem ah clown
Insulting those who challenge him
Dem a try tek mi crown
Stressing his dominance and authority
Nuff a dem dem a wi enemy
Acknowledging that he has many enemies
Chop dem up first
Promising to attack his enemies first
Eliminate dem to dust
Stressing that he will completely destroy his enemies
Man a real bod man
Reaffirmation of his gangster identity
Pass mi blunt and mi Hennessy
Relaxing with drugs and alcohol after the violence
Shot we move your head crown
Repeating a previous threat
Dissin' ah yuh own blood yuh drown
Warning that turning on your own family can lead to your own demise
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chad Hugo, Dave Willard Anthony Kelly, Lady Saw, Moses Anthony Davis, Pharrell L Williams, Sean Henriques
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind