A wise man onc… Read Full Bio ↴King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet.
A wise man once said that a prophet is not without honour save in his own country and so it has been with Capleton. While the veteran DJ's words and works long ago earned him the title of "The Prophet", the respect and honor that should rightfully be his have been a long time coming. "Anytime you try to uplift righteousness and upliftment of the people them, then you ah go get a fight", says the hottest entertainer in the worldwide reggae fraternity. "Bob Marley come do it and them fight him. And when Bob Marley dead, that's when they start to endorse him. I already aware of this, I am not unaware. So I know the more them fight I is the more I get stronger" In the fast-moving world of dancehall reggae, fame and success are hard to obtain and easy to lose. Fans can be fickle, and trends change in the blink of an eye, leaving most entertainers with painfully short career spans. Only a rare few can remain relevant from year to year, holding their audience's attention and leaving them crying for more. His lyrics are deep, precise, and thoughtful. His stage shows are nothing less than dynamic, explosive performances. But his remarkable staying power and longevity may be Capleton's greatest gift.
Born Clifton George Bailey III on April 13, 1967, in the rural parish of St. Mary, Capleton earned his future stage name from friends who were so impressed with his sharp reasoning skills that they named him after the most famous lawyer in town. From a tender young age, he was a lover of the traveling sound systems, sneaking out at night to catch the vibes until dawn. But it wasn't until he turned 18 and moved to Kingston that he was able to realize his destiny.
It was Stewart Brown, owner of a Toronto-based sound called African Star, who gave the untested artist his first break, flying him to Canada for a stage show alongside giants like Ninjaman and Flourgon. The audience poured out their appreciation, and he never looked back. When Capleton first burst on the scene in the late 1980s, the dancehall was a very different place than it is today. Slackness and gun talk were the order of the day. This bright promising newcomer announced his arrival with a string of hit songs from "Bumbo Red" to "Number One on the Look Good Chart" and "Lotion Man." Everything he touched hit the sound-good charts, and the youthful artist with the nimble vocabulary and hardcore voice quickly established himself as one of dancehall's most reliable hitmakers. But even he could not have predicted that eleven years later, at the start of the new millennium, he would be dancehall's ruling voice.
"I think the people dem see say me really deserve that because of the amount of years me put in," Capleton says, "and we never really bow and we still hold the faith. We stand up for whatever we a say. Yeah and we really work for it. And them say by your works, a so you get your pay. The people them see the amount of fight me face and the whole heap of accusation. And me still never give up"
When he dropped the tune "Alms House" in 1992, Capleton established himself as more than an entertainer but as a guiding light of righteousness through music. "United we stand and divided we fall," he sang for the benefit of his fans and dancehall comrades. "Nuff of them nah go know themself till them back against the wall." A few years later he came back with yet another antidote to the clashing and rivlary that had taken hold of the dancehall business. "Music is a mission," he reminded his fellow artists, "not a competition. Some man use the music to cause confusion." The path of this dancehall Prophet was clearly established in 1994 with a string of songs that declared his newfound faith in Rastafari. "INI sight up the light and see say really, yunno, Rasta is real," he recalls. "founder of the world, because Rasta did come set the trend. Y'unnerstand. Rasta is life."
The first words of his mega-hit "Dis The Trinity" made it plain that the DJ had experienced some kind of revelation. "I was once lost but now I'm found," he stated, "Selassie I live every time." Capleton became a strong advocate of the teaching of the Jamaican National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and advocate of universal black repatriation. "Babylon rewarded us with hatred for our love," he declares. "They taught us to rape, steal and kill. For instance, they stole our literature and taught it back to us in a different manner so as to infiltrate our minds with foolishness and other misconceptions. Now we as black men do not see ourselves as prince and prophets, but as punks and guys. Our women do not see themselves as queens, princesses or empresses anymore, but as harlots and concubines." The only solution, as Bob Marley advocated, is to emancipate oneself from mental slavery.
"Over the years INI as a nation and a people, them no really teach INI nuttin' bout INI black self. You know I mean? Them teach INI them give we European philosophy. So INI and some other youths a try emerge now, we ask certain question and we ask fi certain things. Caw we know say an institute, or in a college, or in a certain organization we need we Ethiopian curriculum, we need the black man thing. We need to know about weself. Becaw the prophet Marcus Garvey did show we say, A nation without no knowledge of them own history is like a tree without a root. And if you don't know where you're coming from, you're not gonna know where you're going."
Even as he uplifts the black race, Capleton always makes a point of clarifying that he does not seek to alienate any race. "We are not being racial nor prejudiced star," he says. "Becaw we know Jah is for everyone. But where history and prophesy in concerned, that is our witness and we have to be ourself, and we cannot hide from the truth. Caw we woulda be a traitor and a sellout to ourself. And you cannot sell out yourself."
Soon thereafter came the song "Tour" a blazing state of the dancehall report written in the weeks following the slaying of Panhead and Dirtsman, two of Capleton's fellow artists. That song not only became an anthem of the roots revival within the dancehall, but a hip hop flavored remix of that song hit the Billboard charts, opening up a huge new audience to Capleton's messages of righteousness.
There followed a relationship with Def Jam records, who released two Capleton albums, Prophecy and I-Testament, which featured memorable collaborations with rap stars like Method Man and Q-Tip. Both records were warmly accepted by the international audience, but as the millennium drew to a close, Capleton sensed that it was time to return to his core audience. He had work to do. "I have to be myself, right? And I only can be me," he reasons. "So whichever way fi make me be me, I work with dat. Y'understand."
Capleton is now at the height of his powers. 1999 and 2000 have brought a ceaseless string of sound system favorite and dancehall chart toppers like the anti-violence anthem "Jah Jah City" and "Good In Her Clothes," a message of respect for the sisters who carry themselves like Empresses rather than. But even as he completes his mission of upliftment, Capleton has had many critics. One of his biggest hits, in fact, is addressed the naysayers in the press and the ivory towers of power. "Critics won't leave I alone," chats the Prophet. "They say they can't take the fire weh me put pon Rome"
Many of Capleton's songs "and most of his critics" make mention of this blazing fire. Capleton hopes to clear up the confusion once and for all. "Is not really a physical fire. Is really a spiritual fire, and a wordical fire, and a musical fire. You see the fire is all about a livity. But is people get it on the wrong term. People get confused.So when a man say "more fire" him think that mean say you fi go light the cane field or go light the church." Fire, Capleton explains, is a way of reminding one's brother that they are going astray. "That way a man know say him doing something wrong. That even give him the urge to know say Yo check up on yourself. What you're doing is not right, or else him would not say "Fire fi dat," or "Burn dat" or "More fire." "If we go check it back now," he continues, "fire is for the purification of earth, anyhow you check it. This earth itself have to even emerge from the literal fire also, which is the volcanic activity, we a talk bout lava. The hottest element to rise us in the morning is the sun. The water cleanse, but it's still the support from the fire that burn the water, burn out of the bacteria so the water coulda heal we fi cleanse. The herb heal, but it's still the fire fi burn the herb so the herb coulda heal we also."
{Bio is courtesy of Rob Kenner} www.vprecords.com
Know Your Friend Dem
Capleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Capleton's song "Hang Dem Up" is a powerful message to listeners to be aware of the people they surround themselves with. The title of the song refers to hanging up or cutting off those who are not true friends or allies. In the opening lines, Capleton emphasizes the importance of knowing your friends but also recognizing those who are not true to you.
Throughout the song, he raps about the consequences of having fake friends, including betrayal and backstabbing. He warns the listener not to trust these people and to be cautious with their information and secrets. Capleton also emphasizes the need to surround oneself with genuine people who will uplift and support them.
The chorus of the song drives home the theme of the song with the repetition of the phrase "hang dem up, hang dem up." This urges the listener to separate from those who do not have their best interests at heart and to prioritize their mental and emotional well-being.
Overall, "Hang Dem Up" is a powerful reminder of the importance of true friendship and the negative impact of surrounding oneself with fake friends. It highlights the need for individuals to trust their instincts and choose their company wisely.
Line by Line Meaning
Know your friend dem
Understand and distinguish your close associates from others
Before you go round dem
Prior to engaging with or trusting them
Haha ha. Ha ha. Hang dem up me seh
Laugh at those who pretend to be your friends just to deceive you, and therefore cut ties with them
Hang dem up inna the street, yeh yeh
Publicly and symbolically take away any association or affiliation with those individuals
Fi all di bad mind and the grudge weh dem keep
To detach oneself from the negativity, jealousy, and resentment that they possess
Hang dem up one by one mek we start sweep
Remove all of them gradually until none are left, and start to clean oneself of their negative energy
Get rid a di demon dem out a yuh life
Eliminate the negative and toxic influences that reside within your life
Before dem do yuh summen and cause yuh strife
Before they take actions that will bring harm to you or cause you trouble
Hang dem up inna di air like a kite
Cut ties with them and let them drift away like a kite in the air
Every wicked man we haffi strike
Take down every person who is wicked and deceitful in one's life
No more of dem vibes we cyaa take
We can no longer tolerate the negative energy that they bring
Time fi separate from di snake
It's time to detach oneself from the treacherous individuals who disguise themselves as friends
Hang dem up mek dem suffocate
Cut ties with them and let them suffer from their own negativity
How yuh fi smile inna me face and yuh want destroy me
How can you pretend to be my friend and want to cause me harm?
Yuh can't win, Jah ovah evil people dem have the victory
You cannot succeed in your evil actions, as the power of the divine is greater than that of the wicked
Hang dem up inna di street it's mandatory.
It is essential to publicly cut ties with them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Capleton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Truth teller
on Who Dem
Say me nah keep no funny man friend
Tell me say me nah keep no
(Edit)
Friend
Tell them say me nah keep no funny man friend
Tell them say me nah keep no sodomite friend
Truth teller
on Who Dem
Ruben ah wah we a go do to dem
What actions are we going to take against them?
Slew dem, who dem
We must defeat them, who are they?
Who demwell done, yo
Whoever they are, we've done a great job against them
So me seh again
Let me say it again
Slew dem ah pure feeling dem a carry
We must defeat them because they only carry negative energy
Dem done bow already and dem can't say dem sorry ya
They have already lost and they can't even apologize
Unno wan do dem something for me again well yo yo it name
Let's do something against them again, it's what we do
Who dem ah couldah, wha dat dem a try
Who do they think they are, what are they trying to do?
Dem go dis King Selassie watch all a dem die yo
By opposing King Selassie, they will face repercussions
Who dem me go see dem wit dem spell
Who are they that use witchcraft?
Dem dis Emmanuel and dem soul gone a hell
By opposing Emmanuel, they will lead themselves to hell
Who dem a coulda, who dem waan cuss, dem dis Marcus
Who do they think they are, disrespecting Marcus?
And now dem all bite de dust ya
Now they are facing the consequences of their actions
Who dem and me go tell dem fi splurt
We will tell them to flee and never come back
Tell dem dem can't dis mama earth
They cannot harm mother nature
Say me nah keep no funny man friend
I won't be friends with those who are not honest and sincere
Tell me say me nah keep no
I am told to not keep a
Friend
dishonest friend
Nah go stoop low me trod di rocky road dem
I won't lower myself to their level and will keep to my difficult path
Da fire ya, it redder dan red, da one yah name
The fire that burns within me is intense and unstoppable
So me bun out dem dutty heart
I will remove those with evil intentions
Dem evil heart and dem corrupted thought nyam too much
They have too much greed and corrupt thoughts
Snake under grass, bow to de boss
Snakes hide under the grass and serve their boss
Move too fast, me tell dem bout dem
They move too fast, I will let them know
Who go tell dem to provoke de youths dem to wrath
Who told them to provoke the youth to anger?
Now de youth dem seh dem nah trust no shadow after dark
Now the youth don't trust anyone in the dark
Nah tek no check nor no fool fool talk
They won't take any payments or foolish talk
Dem know who and who ah come straight from dem heart
They know who is sincere and genuine
Know who a hypocrite from de way how dem talk
They know who is dishonest based on their speech
Dis de emperor and watch de whole a dem loss
Opposing the emperor will lead to their downfall
Can't even find food to put inna dem troft
They are so impoverished they can't even afford food
Not even bicycle much less donkey cart
They can't even afford basic transportation
Can't even creep, much less fi walk
They can't even crawl, let alone walk
Dem can't even smile nor laugh da one yah name
They can't even enjoy life's simple pleasures
Who dem ah dem ah want ah treasure
They are after treasure
Tell dem dem caan dis mama 'mega
They cannot disrespect mother nature
Sense did a gi weh like dem never get a pence
They are senseless, they can't even think logically
Seems like dem gone school and go warm bench
It seems like they went to school to waste time
Dem nah have no faith no confidence
They don't have any faith or confidence in themselves
Nah hold no faith nah block no reverence
They don't hold any faith or respect
Find out say nuff a dem disobedient
Many of them are disobedient
So me find out dem no have no conscience
I found out they have no conscience
Dem no have a clean heart nor a clear conscience
They don't have a pure heart or a clear conscience
Dis king Selassie I it never mek sense
Opposing King Selassie I is nonsensical
Dis Emmanuel and dem get kick of a de bench
By opposing Emmanuel, they will be defeated
Dis Marcus Garvey ah weh the case dem get drenched
Opposing Marcus Garvey was an unfavorable decision
Who dem, who dem yo
Whoever they are, who are they?
noah's ark
on Babylon Judgement
Mystery Babylon is the new world order
Sherry
on Bad Mind
Bad Mind- Jealousy or Envy The song is about people with the problem and how to avoid having bad mind