He was born in St. Thomas, but came to the United States with his family when he was young.
His recording debut was 1983's single "Pass the Budda," also featuring Spoonie Gee and DJ Spivey. However, Fresh's breakthrough was 1984's "Beat Street" behind the Treacherous Three. That same year saw Fresh's debut as a solo artist with the singles "Just Having Fun" and "Original Human Beatbox".
Fresh became a major rap star in 1985. His single "The Show/La Di Da Di," is considered an early hip hop classic. The "Get Fresh Crew" was featured: DJs Barry B., Chill Will, and MC Ricky D (who would later achieve fame as Slick Rick).
In 1987, Fresh's first full-length record was issued. Called Oh, My God!, this included a few more notable tracks such as ("Play This Only at Night" and "All the Way to Heaven") and was critically hailed for incorporating elements of reggae and gospel music. The next year saw another long player, The World's Greatest Entertainer, which appeared on Billboard magazine's charts due in part to a popular single, "Keep Risin' to the Top". Slick Rick's input was not appreciated by their joint record label, Fantasy Records, and he was asked to leave the group. However, subsequently Slick Rick released his own solo debut The Great Adventures of Slick Rick on Def Jam, to big success.
Fresh did not record again until 1992's Doin' What I Gotta Do, issued by MC Hammer's Bust It Records. Rap had changed appreciably in the interim, and Fresh seemed a little lost. The record performed poorly.
In 1995, Slick Rick and Fresh reunited for a record entitled Play which found Fresh back on his feet. Play received positive reviews; Bret Love writes that the record is "a welcome flashback to the days when guns, drugs, sex and violence were not the genre's primary lyrical focus."[1]
In the late 1990s, Fresh collaborated with Prince on a number of recordings, notably Newpower Soul and the "1999, the New Master" EP. Recently, Fresh has appeared on VH1's I Love the 80s.
Fresh is a Scientologist and has performed for large audiences of Scientologists at the annual Scientology Celebrity Centre Gala in both 2004 and 2005. He also recorded a couple of songs on the Scientology music album "The Joy of Creating" along with Isaac Hayes, and Chick Corea.
Discography
1985 - Oh, My God! (Reality)
1988 - The World's Greatest Entertainer (Reality)
1992 - Doin' What I Gotta Do (Bust It)
1995 - Play (Gee Street)
1996 - Alright (Gee Street)
Africa
Doug E. Fresh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't come back with no with craft on your head
I just left the comment blank and kept my cool
Because they only said what they was taught in school
Brainwashed education
Of our nation
Publicized in its prime
To be behind the time
And all verbal abuse
Our history is a mystery
So what's the use???
Sala mali cume,mali cume salaam
Sala mali cume,mali cume salaam
Sala mali cume,mali cume salaam
Now I took me a trip to Africa
A seven hour flight from America
I got off the plane and what did I see
But some brothers and sisters who look like me
Warm greetings,hello,hi's
Alot of mosquitos and a whole lot of flys
Young ones try to persuade you to buy
To feed their families so no one dies
Of hunger,shelter,clothes and starvation
In the ghetto it's the same situation
Over big water so far I roam
To find my way back home
To find my way back home
To find my way back home
Now I woke up at two in the afternoon
In the middle of December which felt like June
I got on the bus,then all of us,caught a boat
As we listened to the jams we wrote
As the boat stayed afloat and we was close to shore
I seem an Island one I felt I seem before
I was gonna ask the guide,but I forgot his name
So I said,"It ain't nuthin',all Islands are the same!"
Shame,who's the blame for that inside shame
Then I found out Goree Island was the name
Aim was to proceed with the mystery
Of the hidden,forbidden history
Goree Island was the last place the slaves was brought
Before taken to America,sold and bought
And I could feel it in the air when my feet touched land
To be the first rap group to rock Africans
Our distant brothers,great,great grandmothers
To one another,it's you I salute
Because a man without history is like a tree without Roots
So I say now....
Now I took me a trip to Africa
A seven hour flight from America
I got off the plane and what did I see
But some brothers and sisters who look like me
Warm greetings,hello,hi's
Alot of mosquitos and a whole lot of flys
Young ones try to persuade you to buy
To feed their families so no one dies
Of hunger,shelter,clothes and starvation
In the ghetto it's the same situation
Over big water so far I roam
To find my way back home
To find my way back home
To find my way back home
Salaam alaikum, alaikum salaam......
In the lyrics of Doug E. Fresh's song "Africa," the rapper speaks about his journey to Africa and the misconceptions he had to face. The opening lines reference the notion of cultural ignorance, with people warning him to not come back with any "craft" on his head which perpetuates the myth that Africa is a land of mere primitivity. The line "they only said what they were taught in school" aims to challenge the misconceptions taught within society's education system. The history taught in schools is often Eurocentric and disregards Africa's vast contribution to civilization, which is why the phrase "brainwashed education of our nation" is significant. By using the term "brainwashed," Fresh is suggesting that the education we receive has an inherent bias that causes people to dismiss other cultures.
Further on, he uses the phrase "our history is a mystery" to highlight the lack of knowledge regarding African history. The lyrics "So what's the use?" suggests that people tend to stay ignorant because they don't perceive a reason to learn about the culture, creating a cycle of misinformation. The chorus "Salaam, Mali cume" is a greeting that means "peace be upon you" in Arabic and Swahili, which are two of the most widely spoken languages on the African continent.
The second verse of the song further highlights the economic conditions in Africa. When he arrived in Africa, he was met with kind and welcoming people, but there were many issues such as poverty, hunger, and shelter. The lyrics "Young ones try to persuade you to buy, to feed their families so no one dies" reflect the reality of people living in poverty struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. Fresh's use of the phrase, "In the ghetto, it's the same situation" implies that the problems in Africa are a result of colonialism and subsequent systemic oppression. The final verse describes the historical significance of Goree Island, which was the last stop of the slave trade before people were taken to America, and it has now been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fresh proclaims that he is honored to be the first rap group to perform in Africa and that we should all pay tribute to our ancestors and heritage, closing on the line "because a man without history is like a tree without roots."
Line by Line Meaning
When I left to go Africa people said....
People warned me not to return with any traditional African headgear, but I ignored their closed-mindedness and kept my composure knowing they were simply repeating what they were taught through a biased education system.
Brainwashed education
The education system in our country has been set up to promote a specific view of history that leaves out important details and perspectives, indoctrinating the population and shaping their worldview.
Of our nation
This education system is a product of our nation and is widely disseminated through the media and popular culture, preventing people from seeing the true reality of our world.
Sala mali cume,mali cume salaam
This line is written in Arabic and translates to 'peace be with you.' This gesture of peace is a common greeting in many African cultures and demonstrates the warmth and hospitality I was met with upon arrival.
Now I took me a trip to Africa
I traveled to Africa with the aim of exploring my roots and learning more about my heritage, which had been obscured by centuries of exploitation and colonization.
Warm greetings,hello,hi's
The people I met in Africa were friendly and welcoming, eager to show me their culture and way of life.
Young ones try to persuade you to buy
Many children in Africa live in extreme poverty and are forced to resort to begging or selling goods to tourists to survive. It was heartbreaking to see this reality firsthand.
Over big water so far I roam
I traveled a great distance from my home in the US to get to Africa, crossing an ocean in the process.
To find my way back home
My journey to Africa was not only a physical one, but a spiritual and emotional one as well. I felt a deep connection to the continent and felt like I was rediscovering a part of myself that I had lost touch with.
In the ghetto it's the same situation
The poverty and suffering I witnessed in Africa was not limited to one area or group of people, but was a universal issue affecting many communities.
I seem an Island one I felt I seem before
While traveling around Africa, I stumbled upon an island that felt familiar to me, like I had a connection to it from a past life or experience.
Goree Island was the last place the slaves was brought
Goree Island is a historic site that was used during the transatlantic slave trade to transport enslaved Africans to the Americas. Visiting this place was a powerful reminder of the horrors of slavery and the enduring legacy of that institution.
And I could feel it in the air when my feet touched land
The history and energy of Goree Island was palpable and I was moved by the weight of that place and what it represented.
To be the first rap group to rock Africans
As a musician, it was important to me to use my platform to connect with people from different cultures and spread a positive message of unity and strength.
Our distant brothers,great,great grandmothers
By acknowledging our common heritage and ancestry, we can build bridges between different cultures and overcome the divisions and conflicts that have plagued us for centuries.
Because a man without history is like a tree without Roots
Our history and heritage provide us with a sense of identity and connection to the past, allowing us to grow and develop as individuals and communities. Without this foundation, we are lost and aimless.
Salaam alaikum, alaikum salaam......
This is a repetition of the greeting from the beginning of the song, emphasizing the message of peace and goodwill that lies at the heart of my experience in Africa.
Contributed by Leah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Derrick Jackson
1988 classic this rare