The Fear Nuttin Band sound is as diverse as the cultures the band members represent. The hot West Indian sun incubated the talents of frontmen Roosta (vocals), Prowla (vocals) and Jay Chung (guitar), while instrumentalists Matt Penza (drums), Chris Regan (guitar), Brian Daigle (bass) represent New England’s finest. The union of these six individuals was in the stars: with Chris, Jay, Penza and Brian lending their musical talents to heavy bands all over the Pioneer Valley, the four always found themselves in and out of bands together. It was the same day that Matt, Chris and Brian found themselves without a frontman that Roosta and Prowla called up and asked them to jam. These final Fear Nuttin Band members have been together since.
Much can be said about their home of Springfield, Massachusetts , and its reputation for breeding original artists and ideas. Put on the map for growing groundbreaking entertainers from the powerful reggae dynasty that is the Morgan Heritage, to the mixed melodies of one of the country’s biggest new rock acts Staind, the metal onslaught of Shadows Fall, and All That Remains, Springfield has become a musical hotbed. Fear Nuttin Band took the area by storm with their infamous live shows, and became hometown heroes when they were awarded wins in the Valley Advocate Grand Band Slam four years in a row, taking home the honors for best new band, best new reggae/ska band, and best party band.
Most recently, Fear Nuttin Band triumphantly competed in the nationwide Bodog Music Battle of the Bands, making them Boston’s champions and landing them a recording contract with Bodog Music. Fans watched as Fear Nuttin Band trekked the nation on the Bodog Battle reality TV series, winning the hearts and respect of their competitors and fans, and becoming a favorite among esteemed judges Johnny Rotten, Bif Naked and Billy Duffy. Fear Nuttin Band victoriously returned for the explosive Bodog Battle finale as the Alternative Press Magazine’s popular vote-back winner. Kevin Lyman, founder of the Warped Tour, told the band once, “All you need is one man to believe in this band and the rest is history.” Bodog Music’s founder Calvin Ayre is that man. Calvin was so excited about the public’s response to Fear Nuttin Band that even though they had been previously voted out of the competition, he made them a part of the Bodog Music roster alongside the Bodog Battle winners.
With their musical credo “Unify the Music, Unify the People,” the band has embarked on a musical mission. They have developed a worldwide following due in part to their unique sound, but also because of their diehard work ethic. Live, Fear Nuttin Band are an unforgettable force that draws audiences into the stage swagger of two of today’s most charismatic frontmen, Roosta and Prowla. Because of the band’s unique charisma and energy, they’ve played over 500 sold-out shows and toured the nation with the likes of Toots and the Maytals, Blink 182, Buju Banton, Green Day, Morgan Heritage, Fishbone, and graced several stages on the Vans Warped Tour. All this, plus the band has released several independent EPs, and developed their own merchandise line.
In 2007 Fear Nuttin Band linked up with famed producer Terry Date (The Deftones, Pantera, White Zombie, Korn) to take the reins on their Bodog Music debut record titled Yardcore. The album captures their infectious, energetic live performance while highlighting the vocalists’ phonetic banter and melodic verses. A mix of reggae, dance hall, and hard, heavy rock, the album is a progressive body of work. Peppered with political statements, the singers bare their souls through every track and speak of their personal values and beliefs. Yardcore is a crossbreed, a non-conformist body of work put together purely to give the listener something to think about. What it’s not is “Rockstaffari” bullshit — it’s an angsty, ballsy blend of hardcore instrumentals and vocals that scat and swoon with Jamaican nobility. Chris Regan and Jay Chung provide the wailing guitars and pocket riddem harmonies while Brian Daigle’s bass acts as the pulse of the rhythm section and Matt Penza’s drumming pyrotechnics pop and burst throughout the disc.
Fear Nuttin Band’s Yardcore is a real offering of love driven with intensity, and it might be the first album in history to cause a mosh pit that ends in hugs and high fives. Yardcore is set to be released in March 2008 on the Bodog Music label with simultaneous releases in America, Canada, Europe and the U.K.
Police State
Fear Nuttin Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Livin in a time, you mi con't move you without them a track mi, track mi
Livin in a time, you them try cop mi and dem try trap mi, trap mi
Livin in a time them set out a net and like a fish them try catch mi, catch mi
The Babylon dem ask mi yo where I'm going yo
Don't worry where I'm going yo Mr. officer
I got no time I got things to do so right away, mi a tell you mi no got no time for you Yah, 'Cause dem a talk bout dem a the law, dem a no law dem want come stop mi nah Deh pan mi bike and mi bust a left mi bust a left a mi dem a come and try perplex
Police state, Police city, Police world, oh what a pity
They mind my business while dem noh mind fi dem own you know hear mi tone
Police state, Police city, Police world, oh what a pity
They want to spy on me while I'm talking on my phone
Say dem don't trust mi but mi don't trust them
Say dem ready fi bust mi but mi but mi a go bust dem
Say dem no trust mi but mi no trust them
Say dem ready fi bust mi but mi a go bust them
Secret agent them wanna stop my shine, want tap mi line, nah drop no dime
The city limits every perimeter full up a crime,
In it to win it, can't pin point mi every time
Lay down the law another youth is dying, woe ay!
Lay down the law another mother is crying, she's crying
Lay down the law another youth is dying, woe ay!
Lay down the law never stop I from shining, from shining
Livin in a time, pure surveillance the eye them just watch me, watch me
Livin in a time, you mi con't move you without them a track mi, track mi
Livin in a time, you them try rope mi and dem try trap mi, trap mi
Livin in a time them set out a net and like a fish them try catch mi, catch mi
Police state, Police city, Police world oh what a pity
They mind my business while dem noh mind fi dem own you know hear mi tone
Police state, Police city, Police world oh what a pity
They want fi challenge me when we a sleep inna mi home
Focus pan mi life thru internet, all have satellite
A watch the whole planet but goddamit
What dem get from it,
Is like them want mi panic
And if mi call mi brother Jeff or mi cousin Janet,
By the time mi connect them listenin pan it,
Whether car, truck or bike or you van it, move wise them boys will stash a bug pan it,
(Then mi gusso then)
Lay down the law another youth is dying, woe ay!
Lay down the law another mother is crying, she's crying
Lay down the law another youth is dying, woe ay!
Lay down the law never stop I from shining, from shining
Police state, Police city, Police world, oh what a pity
Police state, Police city, Police world, oh what a pity
Police state, Police city, Police world, oh what a pity
The lyrics to Fear Nuttin Band's song Police State paint a picture of a world where constant surveillance and monitoring by the police and other authorities have made life difficult and restrictive for the singer. The opening lines express the feeling of being constantly watched as if under a microscope, with police tracking every movement the singer makes. The song goes on to express feelings of frustration and resistance by questioning the police's authority and intentions. The lyrics assert that the police state has made it impossible to trust the authorities and that refraining from giving into fear is the most crucial thing to do. The chorus repeats the phrase "Police state, Police City, Police world, oh what a pity" to emphasize the overwhelming impact of the authorities on the world and the general population's feelings of being helpless in their hands.
Line by Line Meaning
Livin in a time, pure surveillance the eye them just watch me, watch me
Living in an era of heavy surveillance, I feel like I'm constantly being watched and monitored.
Livin in a time, you mi con't move you without them a track mi, track mi
In this time, I can't go anywhere without being tracked or watched by authorities.
Livin in a time, you them try cop mi and dem try trap mi, trap mi
Living in a society where the police are trying to catch me and set traps for me.
Livin in a time them set out a net and like a fish them try catch mi, catch mi
It feels like authorities are setting traps for me and trying to catch me like a fish in a net.
The Babylon dem ask mi yo where I'm going yo
The police constantly ask me where I am going and what I am doing.
Don't worry where I'm going yo Mr. officer
I don't need to tell the officer where I'm going, it's none of their business.
Because dem a talk bout dem a the law, dem a no law dem want come stop mi nah Deh pan mi bike and mi bust a left mi bust a left a mi dem a come and try perplex
The police claim to be the law but they aren't the real law. They try to stop me while I'm biking and turning a corner, trying to confuse me.
Police state, Police city, Police world, oh what a pity
The police have created a society where everything feels like a police state, no matter where you go in the world.
They mind my business while dem noh mind fi dem own you know hear mi tone
The police don't do their own jobs and instead focus on me and my personal life, as if they have nothing else to do.
They want to spy on me while I'm talking on my phone
The police want to spy on me while I'm doing something as simple as talking on my phone.
Say dem don't trust mi but mi don't trust them
The police don't trust me but I don't trust them either.
Say dem ready fi bust mi but mi but mi a go bust dem
The police are ready to arrest me, but I'm ready to stand up to them and fight back.
Secret agent them wanna stop my shine, want tap mi line, nah drop no dime
The police, acting like secret agents, are trying to stop me from living my life and won't reveal their sources or information.
The city limits every perimeter full up a crime, In it to win it, can't pin point mi every time
The city is full of crime and violence, but the police can't keep track of me and my movements at all times.
Lay down the law another youth is dying, woe ay!
Every time the police crack down, another young person loses their life.
Lay down the law another mother is crying, she's crying
Whenever the police take severe action, another mother loses her child and grieves.
Focus pan mi life thru internet, all have satellite
The police are monitoring my entire life through the internet and even have access to satellite information and surveillance.
A watch the whole planet but goddamit
The police can see everything happening across the whole world, which is concerning.
What dem get from it, Is like them want mi panic
It seems like the police want to incite fear and panic in me by spying on everything I do.
And if mi call mi brother Jeff or mi cousin Janet, By the time mi connect them listenin pan it
Even when I call my family members, the police are listening in and invading our privacy.
Whether car, truck or bike or you van it, move wise them boys will stash a bug pan it, (Then mi gusso then)
No matter what mode of transportation I use, the police will try to put a bug on it to listen in on my conversations and movements.
Lay down the law never stop I from shining, from shining
No matter how hard the police try to restrain me, I will never stop shining and being my own person.
Contributed by Adam N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.