Dr. Alban is a Swedish musician and producer with his own record label Dr. … Read Full Bio ↴Dr. Alban is a Swedish musician and producer with his own record label Dr. Records. His music can best be described as hip-hop reggae with a dance hall style.

Dr. Alban (born August 26, 1957 as Alban Nwapa in Nigeria) grew up listening to Fela Kuti and James Brown. At age 23, he began studying dentistry. In order to be able to finance his university studies the music-loving medical student started making his own music. During this time Alban worked as a DJ in the well known Stockholm club 'Alphabet Street'. Very quickly his name became widely known, especially since Alban often sang to the records he put on the turntable as a DJ. DJ René couldn't help but notice him and so the highly intelligent medical student was discovered. But first Alban finished his studies and even opened his own dentistry practice.

In 1990, he met Denniz PoP from the SweMix label. Alban laid aside his dentist's drill and realised his dream. Together with Denniz and Rap-Queen Leila K, his first record, Hello Africa - his declaration of love for his African home - broke all records. Alban Nwapa became Dr. Alban. His debut-album Hello Africa sold roughly 1 million copies world-wide.

One year later this success was surpassed by the second album One Love. 1.6 million singles of the song It's My Life were sold.
The album immediately sold over 1.7 million units. Then followed the albums Look Who's Talking and Born In Africa. All in all, Dr. Alban can look back on world-wide sales of over 5 million albums and over 6 million singles, which resulted in 7 times Silver, 30 times Gold and 30 times Platinum. His hit No Coke was even used to illustrate an anti-drugs campaign in Sweden.

After a re-release of No Coke, Dr. Alban confirmed his Euro dance style with his hits Look Who's Talking and Let The Beat Go On.

He created his own record company 'dr.records', on which he released Born in Africa, the first CD recorded completely in his studios. He became the producer of many artists such as La Cream.

More recently, his voice was featured on Sash!'s single Colour The World.
In 2000, he released the album titled Prescription.
In 2002 Dr. Alban featured Yamboo to release a remix for Sing Hallelujah!.
In 2007 Dr. Alban released the album titled Back To Basics.

Official website: http://www.dralban.net/

Hard Pan Di Drums
Dr. Alban Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hard hard pan di drums

Here is about a wanderer
He wanders from place to place
With his drums in a the hand
No destination
Them a beat the drums hard
Hard hard pan di drums

Cause he knew nowhere
He had to cry Jah Jah know

Jah Rastafari ever living in God
You are the rhythm ruler

After a long fire in a the deep jungle
He has to get back home
No transportation
He couldn't find no way
What a bign problem
No one ever came there
He he cried Jah Jah know

Jah Rastafari ever living in God Jah Jah

Overall Meaning

"Hard Pan Pi Drums" is a song by Dr. Alban that tells the story of a wanderer who travels from place to place with his drums in hand without a definite destination. The lyrics describe how the wanderer continues to beat his drums hard as he has nowhere to go, signifying how music is a form of solace for him. He cries out to Jah Jah for help since he knows nowhere to go. One can infer that the drums represent a figurative drumbeat of life, and that no matter where we go in life, we can always find comfort in something.

As the lyrics progress, the song highlights the struggle that the wanderer faces as he tries to return home from a long journey through a jungle. The wanderer faces difficulties in finding transportation to return home, but despite this, he continues to remind himself of the importance of music in his life by beating the drums hard. He cries out to Jah Jah again, this time seeking guidance for his problems.

Line by Line Meaning

Hard hard pan di drums
The drums are being played relentlessly and with great intensity

Here is about a wanderer
This song is about a wandering person

He wanders from place to place
The person in the song travels from one location to another

With his drums in a the hand
He carries his drums with him wherever he goes

No destination
The person does not have a specific location in mind to go to

Them a beat the drums hard
He beats the drums with great force

Cause he knew nowhere
He does not have a specific location in mind to go to

He had to cry Jah Jah know
He was feeling lost and called out for guidance from Jah Rastafari

Jah Rastafari ever living in God
Jah Rastafari is an eternal being who is one with God

You are the rhythm ruler
Jah Rastafari is the master of rhythm and movement

After a long fire in a the deep jungle
After enduring a difficult and trying experience