Anthony Moses Davis (born August 22, 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica), better kno… Read Full Bio ↴Anthony Moses Davis (born August 22, 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica), better known by the stage name Beenie Man, is a well established reggae artist and DJ. He was involved in the music industry from a young age when he won the Tastee Talent contest in 1981. Only one year later, when he was eight years old, he recorded a single, "Too Fancy", with record producer "Junjo" Lawes. By 1983, Beenie Man was recording with heavyweight DJs, such as Dillinger and Fathead and released his debut album, The Invincible Beenie Man: The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder and the single "Over the Sea".

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.

Gangsta Life
Beenie Man Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well you done know,
When gangsta touch the street,
Food have fi eat
It's a gangsta life
Zagga zow

We squeeze and make cheese
Bun my enemy

Cats freeze and beg please

Put them on their knee

We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs

Bu'n the wannabes
We squeeze and make cheese
Bu'n my enemy

Cats freeze and make please
Put them on their knee
We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs

Straight from the gangsta town
Kingston, Jamaica, where we hold it down
Fools get killed for the chi-ching sound
Ain't got time to be fucking around
Cause only the strong will survive the streets
Don't fuck around cause the dogs must eat
Punks get fucked up on my beat
Beenie puts it down with the blue steel heat
Gangsta been through lot of wars
Most of my niggas live behind bars
So I'm telling you so-called stars
Don't come around in your luxury cars
Fool, I swear you must be flakin
Come around tellin cats what you're making
Showing off jewels like they can't be taken
You must be mistaken
Gimme dat!

We squeeze and make cheese
Bu'n my enemy
Cats freeze and beg please
Put them on their knee
We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs

Bu'n the wannabes

We squeeze and make cheese
Bu'n my enemy
Cats freeze and make please

Put them on their knee

We seize the opportunities for our families to make G's

Well we going straight to your cranium
From the sanitarium
Coming to you heavy like I'm powered by uranium
Unleash my serum
On a whole stadium
And wild chickenhead getting high from avilium
It's like, it's like shit's getting serious
Cats getting personal
Actin' all precarious
Niggas from various
Crews get delirious
Wonderin' if I'm a Gemini or Sagittarius
Dog this is hideous
By the way I'm curious
I moved along so why you getting furious
Could it be the Grammy tingwhy they are malicing
Or is it because I link with Dave Kelly why them panicking
While I'm rocking it
Beenie Man locking it
You bitchin like a bitch
Fool, put a sock in it
Rude boy cockin' it
Hustler stockin' it
Anywhere I'm playin' at
Ladies will be flockin' it

We squeeze and make cheese
Bun my enemy
Cats freeze and beg please

Put them on their knee

We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs

Bun the wannabes

We squeeze and make cheese
Bun my enemy
Cats freeze and make please

Put them on their knee
We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs
Straight from the gangsta town
Kingston, Jamaica, where we hold it down
Fools get killed for the chi-ching sound
Ain't got time to be fucking around
Cause only the strong will survive the streets

Don't fuck around cause the dogs must eat
Punks get fucked up on my beat
Beenie puts it down with the blue steel heat

Gangsta been through lot of wars
Most of my niggas live behind bars
So I'm telling you so-called stars
Don't come around in your luxury cars
Fool, I swear you must be flakin
Come around tellin cats what you're making
Showing off jewels like they can't be taken
You must be mistaken
Gimme dat!

We squeeze and make cheese

Bun my enemy

Cats freeze and beg please

Put them on their knee

We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs

Bun the wannabes
We squeeze and make cheese
Bun my enemy
Cats freeze and make please

Put them on their knee

We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs

Overall Meaning

The song "Gangsta Life" by Beenie Man reflects on the life of gangsters and the struggles they face to survive. The introductory verse implies that when gangsters come to the streets, they do so out of necessity, as they need to eat. The chorus reiterates the hustle of gangsters to make money by any means necessary while eliminating enemies and getting rid of competitors. The song also describes the violent environment of Kingston, Jamaica, where gangsters live by wielding firearms to protect themselves and their families.

The first verse highlights the gangsters' willingness to do whatever it takes to provide for their loved ones, including beating rivals into submission. The second verse features a warning to all those who act tough around gangsters, and can't stand behind their words. In the third verse, Beenie Man takes on his detractors who criticize his success, mistaking his popularity for him being weak. He also dismisses rumors that he has a feud with fellow artist Sean Paul, getting on with people, and making music that will please fans.

Overall, "Gangsta Life" portrays the harsh reality of gangsters living on the streets of Kingston and their fight for survival. The song asserts that the only way to succeed in such an environment is to be tough and relentless in your quest for money.

Line by Line Meaning

Well you done know, When gangsta touch the street, Food have fi eat It's a gangsta life Zagga zow
Living a gangster life means having to be ruthless and obtaining food is a necessity, hence the importance of gang life.

We squeeze and make cheese Bun my enemy Cats freeze and beg please Put them on their knee
We create opportunities to earn money and eliminate our enemies while they are at our mercy.

We seize the opportunities for our families to make Gs Bu'n the wannabes We squeeze and make cheese Bu'n my enemy
Our primary goal is to make money for our families while eliminating those who try to compete with us or pose a threat to our success.

Straight from the gangsta town Kingston, Jamaica, where we hold it down Fools get killed for the chi-ching sound Ain't got time to be fucking around Cause only the strong will survive the streets
Kingston is a dangerous place where we must be tough and dominant to live. The lure of money leads to death in the streets and we must avoid distractions as only the strong endure.

Don't fuck around 'cause the dogs must eat Punks get fucked up on my beat Beenie puts it down with the blue steel heat Gangsta been through lot of wars
The dogs are hungry and we must feed them to keep them from falling behind. We will not allow competition or disrespect in our territory, hence why we've been through many battles.

Most of my niggas live behind bars So I'm telling you so-called stars Don't come around in your luxury cars Fool, I swear you must be flakin
Many of my colleagues are in jail, and I'm warning those who pretend to be important and drive luxury cars not to come into our neighborhood with fake lies and bravado.

Come around tellin cats what you're making Showing off jewels like they can't be taken You must be mistaken Gimme dat!
Do not try to show off wealth and prestige, it only exposes you as a target. We will take what is ours and will not hesitate to confiscate and exploit anything that we can.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MOSES DAVIS, DAVE KELLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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