As a youngster, Buju would often watch his favourite artists perform at outdoor shows and local dancehalls. At the tender age of 13 he picked up the microphone for himself and began toasting under the monicker of "Gargamel". His first single, "The Ruler" was released not long afterwards in 1987 under the production of Robert French at Penthouse Studios.
In 1991, Buju joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse Label and began a fruitful partnership with producer Dave Kelly. Buju is one of the most popular musicians in Jamaican history, having burst onto the charts there suddenly in 1992, with "Bogle" and "Love Me Browning/Love Black Woman", both massive hits in Jamaica. Controversy erupted over Love Me Browning which spoke of Banton's preference for light-skinned women: "Mi love mi car mi love mi house mi love mi money and ting, but most of all mi love mi browning." Some accused Banton of promoting a colonialist attitude and denigrating the beauty of black women. In response, he released "Black Woman" which spoke of his love for dark-skinned beauties: "Stop cry, fi all black woman, respect all the gyals with dark complexion." 1992 was an explosive year for Buju as he broke the great Bob Marley's record for the greatest number of number one singles in a year. Beginning with "Man fi Dead", Buju's gruff voice dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the duration of the year. Banton's debut album, Mr. Mention, includes his greatest hits from that year.
1992 was also the year in which the controversy over Buju's homophobic "Boom Bye Bye" exploded. The media in Great Britain picked up on Buju's less than admirable promotion of violence against homosexuals. Myrie, who had recently signed with Mercury records, refused to back down from his stance against homosexuals, claiming his religious beliefs prevented him from accepting homosexuality. Banton downplayed the violent content of his song, claiming that it was metaphorical. Gay Rights groups campaigned against Buju as well as Shabba Ranks who, when asked about the controversy on the British show The Word, stated, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Shabba later apologized, but Buju refused to back down which drew the ire of various homosexual advocacy groups who continue to campaign against him.
Banton released the hard-hitting Voice of Jamaica in 1993. The album included a number of conscious tracks. These tracks included "Deportees" a song which criticized those Jamaicans who went abroad but never sent money home, a remix of Little Roy's "Tribal War", a sharp condemnation of political violence, and "Willy, Don't Be Silly" which promoted condom use. The conscious spin of this disc did little to stop the attacks of gay rights groups who felt that his continued performance of "Boom Bye Bye" was a slap in their faces. Some dancehall fans felt that Banton could have exploded onto the American scene if his homophobic song hadn't held him back. Nevertheless, Buju was adopted by many new fans who appreciated his gravelly vocals and cared little about his homophobia.
Til Shiloh (1995) was a very influential album, using a studio band instead of synthesized music, and marking a slight shift away from dancehall towards roots reggae for Banton. Buju turned Rasta and his new album reflected his new beliefs. Til Shiloh is one of the greatest dancehall albums of all time and successfully blended conscious lyrics with a hard-hitting dancehall vibe. The album included a single called "Murderer" which condemned the violence in Jamaican dancehall music, inspired by the murders of dancehall musicians Panhead and Dirtsman. The song inspired several clubs to stop playing songs with excessively violent subject matter. This conscious album had a large impact on dancehall music and showed the hunger the dancehall massive had for conscious lyrics. Dancehall music did not move away from slack and violent lyrics, but the album did pave the way for a greater spirituality within the music.
Inna Heights (1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience as Buju explored his singing ability and recorded a number of roots-tinged tracks. Banton covered The Silvertones' "Destiny" and recorded songs with such artists as Beres Hammond and the legendary Toots Hibbert. The album was well-received but had distribution problems. Also, some fans were disappointed, having hoped for another ground-breaking album like "Til Shiloh." Still, Buju's experimentation and soaring vocals impressed many fans and this album remains a highly regarded work.
In 1998, Buju met the punk band Rancid and recorded two tracks with them: "Misty Days" and "Life Won't Wait." The latter became the title track of Rancid's 1999 album, Life Won't Wait. Subsequently, Buju signed with Rancid's eclectic Anti, a subsidiary of Epitaph and released Unchained Spirit in 2000.
In March 2003 he released Friends for Life, which featured more sharply political songs, including "Mr. Nine", an anti-gun song that further verified his status as one of reggae's most anti-confrontational artists.
Banton's 2006 album Too Bad got him nominated for a second Grammy but despite the album's brilliance and artistic excellence "Too Bad" did not garner the award. "Too Bad" brings us back to the Buju of the nineties with his rough phenomenal voice backed by hypnotic beats and conscious lyrics that seem to stay on repeat in your head. "Too Bad" is a complete listen from start to finish and is an extra success because the Gargamel executive produced the album on his own label.
On April 21, 2009, Buju released the often delayed album Rasta Got Soul. This is Banton's ninth album and features the hit single Magic City. This release sees Buju returning to roots and culture reggae. The album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category.
As of December 2009, Buju allegedly attempted to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Miami and faces up to life in prison if convicted. The trial of Banton began on September 20, 2010 in Tampa, Florida.
Wicked Dickie
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fi mek them jump and dont stop chant
Hear me man, Lord have his mercy
Lord have his mercy
I never wanna fall in love
I never wanna fall in love with you
I never wanna care so much
Cuz you're my winner
You do things to my inner (dickie, dickie)
Emotions yes you do (dickie, dickie)
You take first prize
Being with you is so nice
I am so glad that you are in my life
Come follow me now
Ah just over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
Ah just over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act ...
Watch it
Ah over the dickie dickie Jackie get stab
And get burn up with acid bad, bad, bad
Look sweet, dark, nice, but them ah guineagog
Naah run noh risk when it come to them rod
Rule them man like how Moses rule him rod
Ah gal brush them man, she end up in a body bag
Dickie Dickie
Dickie Dickie
I never wanna fall in love
I never wanna fall in love with you
I never wanna care so much
Never knew I'd love your touch but I do
You got it
Oh you're just fantastic(dickie, dickie)
You've got the courage
To prove that you're a man
You've managed to understand
Took the time out to find out who I am
Oh yea
Over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
Ah just over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act ...
Watch it
Women them request the dickie, don't want rucumpence
Ah the dickie mek Patsy tear down mi back fence
Mi ah fi run wheh with mi body, like mi noh have no conscience
Gwaan Buju B. teach them like a reverend
Over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
Over the north and south and the east and the
Over the north and south and the east and the
Over the north and south and the east and the west
Gal them confess that dickie dickie is the best
Ann, who's your best friend
She bawl out dick
The only best friend who mek she naaw keep malice
Ah mek she jump, dance, hip and skip
Gwaan Buju Banton, yuh well dynamic
The song "Wicked Dickie" by Buju Banton is a dancehall track that centers around sexual relationships between men and women. The first verse expresses that women want men to be sexually satisfying, and men will do anything to make the women happy. The chorus, "Lord have his mercy," may express the singer's disbelief at the sexual prowess of their partner. The second verse expresses that the singer has fallen in love unexpectedly, possibly because of their partner's sexual abilities. The chorus is repeated, and the third verse goes on to describe the power dynamic between men and women in sexual relationships. Women are said to demand sexual satisfaction ("the dickie") from men and will act mad if they don't get it. The lyrics suggest that men rule their partners like Moses ruled the Israelites and that women will end up hurt or worse if they don't comply.
Overall, "Wicked Dickie" is a song that reinforces gender roles and promotes heterosexual relationships that revolve around male sexual pleasure. While it is a catchy and upbeat dancehall track, the lyrics are problematic and promote potentially harmful messages about gender and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
What the girls them want
Fi mek them jump and dont stop chant
Hear me man, Lord have his mercy
The girls want a man who can make them jump and keep chanting, and may the Lord show mercy to anyone who can provide that.
Lord have his mercy
I never wanna fall in love
I never wanna fall in love with you
I never wanna care so much
Never knew I'd love your touch but I do
Cuz you're my winner
You do things to my inner (dickie, dickie)
Emotions yes you do (dickie, dickie)
You take first prize
Being with you is so nice
I am so glad that you are in my life
Come follow me now
Despite not wanting to fall in love, the singer finds themselves falling for the person who excites them sexually, and they are grateful to have them in their life.
Ah just over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
Ah just over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act ...
Watch it
Ah over the dickie dickie Jackie get stab
And get burn up with acid bad, bad, bad
Look sweet, dark, nice, but them ah guineagog
Naah run noh risk when it come to them rod
Rule them man like how Moses rule him rod
Ah gal brush them man, she end up in a body bag
Dickie Dickie
Dickie Dickie
The man's sexual prowess drives women wild, but those who can't handle not getting it may act crazy. Some women may even resort to violence when it comes to the subject of sex, and the man warns others to take precautions to protect themselves.
I never wanna fall in love
I never wanna fall in love with you
I never wanna care so much
Never knew I'd love your touch but I do
You got it
Oh you're just fantastic(dickie, dickie)
You've got the courage
To prove that you're a man
You've managed to understand
Took the time out to find out who I am
Oh yea
Despite their initial reluctance, the artist has come to love the sexual touch of their partner, who they praise for having the courage to understand and accept them for who they are.
Women them request the dickie, don't want rucumpence
Ah the dickie mek Patsy tear down mi back fence
Mi ah fi run wheh with mi body, like mi noh have no conscience
Gwaan Buju B. teach them like a reverend
Women desire the man's sexual prowess without wanting any consequences. One woman even tear down his back fence due to the pleasure he gave her. The man acknowledges that he must be careful with the power that his sexual prowess gives him.
Over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
over the dickie the girls a gwaan bad
Any how them noh get it, them will act mad
Over the north and south and the east and the
Over the north and south and the east and the
Over the north and south and the east and the west
Gal them confess that dickie dickie is the best
Ann, who's your best friend
She bawl out dick
The only best friend who mek she naaw keep malice
Ah mek she jump, dance, hip and skip
Gwaan Buju Banton, yuh well dynamic
Women from all corners of the world confess that the man's sexual prowess is unparalleled. One woman even admits that it's better than her best friend, and sex with him brings her joy and happiness.
Writer(s): Nadine Sutherland Copyright: Dub Plate Music Publishers Ltd.
Contributed by Lillian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Yuran Ricardo
on Fake Smile
with your cynical green
you leave no action
If there’s a choking problem she a reach with everyone
why acting dumb. second verse:
with your cynical green
you leave no action
If you have a choking problems she a reach with everyone
why acting dumb
Kern Rodney
on Fake Smile
If there's ah joke in progress share it with everyone, why acting dumb?