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.
Real Gangsta
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep it gangsta (high, high)
Keep it gangsta (high, high)
All di gangsta from Jamaica (high, high)
Keep it gangsta (high, high)
And American gangsta (high, high)
Keep it gangster (high, high)
Gangsta win, gangsta don't lose (and)
Real gangsta got nothin' to prove (and)
Gangsta wise, gangsta nuh confuse (I'm a)
Gangsta youth, with some gangsta truth (and)
A gangsta suit, in my gangsta boot (and)
I got my gangsta girl, she is gangsta cute
In di gangsta way, man pick her fruit
[Chorus]
Real gangsta don't play
J1 sing and Beenie Man DJ
Real gangsta don't play
So ya betta watch what you say
Real gangsta don't play
J1 sing and Beenie Man DJ
Real gangsta don't play
So ya betta watch what you say
I got my gangsta flex, in my gangsta ride
With my gangsta ways and my gangsta pride
No gangsta war, no gangsta strive
Just gangsta youths living gangsta lives
So I catch a gangsta smile from a gangsta child
So I rest my gangsta life a while
And pick up my pen, lyrics lef in a point
And it turn out mi haffi write a gangsta style now
[Chorus]
Keep it gangsta and keep it real
Yuh disobey, you should surely feel
Gangsta youths mek gangsta deal
With a gangsta approach and a big man appeal
Gangsta laws and gansta calls
In di gangsta world, I am the gangsta lord (and)
Respect unto all my dogs, when gangsta a talk boy fi nuh mad boss
[Chorus]
In da wood I was born and raise
I been a gangsta for all my days
Gangsta life is what I praise
'Cause I will school you in the gangsta way
I am a gangsta
Jus how we flex and how we wear we clothes and how we dress
Man a gangsta
How we born and we bread and suh we grow
[Chorus]
"Real Gangsta" is a song by Beenie Man that boasts about how he is a real gangster and how he keeps it gangster all the time. He addresses the importance of being a "real" gangster and how it's not about just acting tough but instead about maintaining a certain code of conduct. He emphasizes that real gangsters don't play games and do not need to prove themselves because they are confident in who they are.
The song serves as an anthem to celebrate gangster culture, with Beenie Man highlighting how he adheres to gangster style, dress code, and mannerisms. He shares how he loves the way of life and how it is what he knows and how he was raised. The chorus is repetitive, but it's by design to emphasize the point that real gangsters don't play games.
Overall, the song showcases how being a gangster is more than just fashion and posturing; it's a way of life that is rooted in a unique culture that is specific to the area or country. It explains that being a gangster is not limited to Jamaica, but it's a worldwide culture, including the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep it gangsta (high, high)
Maintain a cool demeanor and tough attitude
All di gangsta from Jamaica (high, high)
Jamaica has a lot of tough individuals
And American gangsta (high, high)
Americans also have their share of tough people
Yo, mi just gangsta move with the gangsta groove (and)
I move in a stylish and badass way
Gangsta win, gangsta don't lose (and)
Tough people are always victorious
Real gangsta got nothin' to prove (and)
Authentic tough guys are confident and don't need validation
Gangsta wise, gangsta nuh confuse (I'm a)
Tough people are smart and focused
Gangsta youth, with some gangsta truth (and)
I'm a young, tough person with honesty
A gangsta suit, in my gangsta boot (and)
I wear fitting clothes and shoes that suit my tough image
I got my gangsta girl, she is gangsta cute
My girlfriend is also a tough person
In di gangsta way, man pick her fruit
In the tough lifestyle, I earned the right to be with her
Real gangsta don't play
True tough individuals are serious and don't joke around
J1 sing and Beenie Man DJ
The artists are performing the song
So ya betta watch what you say
Be careful of what you say around tough people
I got my gangsta flex, in my gangsta ride
I have my tough persona and ride to match
With my gangsta ways and my gangsta pride
I carry myself with toughness and confidence
No gangsta war, no gangsta strive
Tough people don't need to resort to violence
Just gangsta youths living gangsta lives
We are just young tough people living our lives
So I catch a gangsta smile from a gangsta child
Even kids are impressed by tough people
So I rest my gangsta life a while
Sometimes even tough people need a break
And pick up my pen, lyrics lef in a point
I'm about to write some powerful lyrics
And it turn out mi haffi write a gangsta style now
I ended up writing a tough song
Yuh disobey, you should surely feel
Disobeying tough people comes with consequences
Gangsta youths mek gangsta deal
Tough young people make tough deals
With a gangsta approach and a big man appeal
We use our tough persona to negotiate
Gangsta laws and gansta calls
There are certain ways to behave in the tough lifestyle
In di gangsta world, I am the gangsta lord (and)
I'm highly respected in the tough community
Respect unto all my dogs, when gangsta a talk boy fi nuh mad boss
I have respect for other tough people and we shouldn't act like crazed bosses
In da wood I was born and raise
I grew up in a rural area
I been a gangsta for all my days
I've been tough my whole life
Gangsta life is what I praise
I love the tough lifestyle
'Cause I will school you in the gangsta way
I'll teach you how to be tough
Just how we flex and how we wear we clothes and how we dress
We show our toughness through our style and clothing
Man a gangsta
I'm a tough person
How we born and we bread and suh we grow
Being tough is part of who we are and how we were raised
Lyrics © Royalty Network Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: C. SANTANA, CLYDE MCKENZIE, IRV GOTTI, MOSES ANTHONY DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind