Hugh Masekela was an old collaborator of Abdullah Ibrahim. He is reported to have been initially inspired in his musical growth by Trevor Huddleston, a British priest working in the South African townships who financed Masekela's first trumpet. Masekela played his way through the vibrant Sophiatown scene with The Jazz Epistles and to Britain with King Kong, to find himself in New York in the early 1960s. He had hits in the United States with the pop jazz tunes "Up, Up and Away" and the number one smash "Grazin' in the Grass".
A renewed interest in his African roots led him to collaborate with West and Central African musicians, and finally to reconnect with South African players when he set up a mobile studio in Botswana, just over the South African border, in the 1980s. Here he re-absorbed and re-used mbaqanga strains, a style he has continued to use since his return to South Africa in the early 1990s.
In the 1980s, he toured with Paul Simon in support of Simon's then controversial, but highly critically acclaimed, album Graceland, which featured other South African artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, Ray Phiri, and other elements of the band Kalahari, which Masekela recorded with in the 1980s. He also collaborated in the musical development for the Broadway play, Sarafina! He previously recorded with the band Kalahari.
In 2003, he was featured in the documentary film Amandla!, about how the music of South Africa aided in the struggle against apartheid. In 2004, he released his autobiography, Grazin' in The Grass: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela, which thoughtfully details his struggles against apartheid in his homeland, as well as his personal struggles against alcohol addiction from the late 1970s through to the 1990s, a period when he migrated, in his personal recording career, to mbaqanga, jazz/funk, and the blending of South African sounds to an adult contemporary sound through two albums he recorded with Herb Alpert, and notable solo recordings, Techno-Bush (recorded in his studio in Botswana), Tomorrow (featuring the anthem "Bring Him Back Home"), Uptownship (a lush-sounding ode to American R and B), Beatin' Aroun' de Bush, Sixty, Time, and most recently, "Revival".
Essential recordings include:
* "Bring Him Back Home"
* "Coal Train (Stimela)"
* "Ziph'nkomo"
* "Don't Go Lose It Baby"
* "Ha Le Se Li De Khanna (The Dowry Song)"
* "Bajabule Bonka"
* "Grazing in the Grass"
* "U-Dwi"
* "The Joke of Life"
* "The Boy's Doin' It"
His song, "Soweto Blues", sung by his former wife, Miriam Makeba, mourns the carnage of the Soweto riots in 1976.
Hugh Masekela is the father of Sal Masekela, host of American channel E!'s Daily 10 show, along with Debbie Matenopoulos.
Cantelope Island
Hugh Masekela Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause when you die you cannot take it with you
If you ain't beefin' 'bout the money, then what's the problem?
Don't worry about my niggas cause I got 'em
My niggas stack their money just to spend it
Cause when you die you cannot take it with you
And if you ain't beefin' 'bout the money, then what's the problem?
Don't worry about my niggas, Zoo I got 'em
On everything, for 17im wildin
Treat my whole squad on an island
Ziploc gang, bring a lighter
It's gon' be a house party on this island
Shit boom like M80s on this island
It's a lot of trillionaires throwin' dollars
Cause I'm pure hell, wildin' out on this island
I do this too swell, my pockets too swell
Come try the 100 gang and they'll shoot ya
I do this for my squad, I do this for my gang
I do this for my squad, I do this for my gang
It's Zoovier from the trap and ain't a damn thing change
My niggas stack their money just to spend it
Cause when you die you cannot take it with you
If you ain't beefin' 'bout the money, then what's the problem?
Don't worry about my niggas cause I got 'em
My niggas stack their money just to spend it
Cause when you die you cannot take it with you
And if you ain't beefin' 'bout the money, then what's the problem?
Don't worry about my niggas, Zoo I got 'em
The lyrics of Hugh Masekela's song Cantelope Island is about the love of money and spending it while you have it because when you die, you cannot take it with you. The first verse talks about how his friends stack their money just to spend it freely, and if someone is not beefing about money, then what is their problem? The second verse talks about the wild lifestyle with his squad on an island, and they are spending money like trillionaires, and the lyrics mention the violence associated with his lifestyle (the line about trying the 100 gang and they'll shoot ya).
The chorus repeats the idea that people stack their money just to spend it and how worrying about his friends is unnecessary because he has got them. The overall theme of the song is that money brings power and control over your life, and that freedom to spend the money you have is a symbol of that power. Nonetheless, the harmful effects appear in the form of violence and extravagance in the second verse.
Line by Line Meaning
My niggas stack their money just to spend it
My crew accumulates wealth simply to splurge it immediately.
Cause when you die you cannot take it with you
We are aware that material possessions cannot be taken with you after death.
If you ain't beefin' 'bout the money, then what's the problem?
If financial gain isn't your primary focus, then what is the conflict?
Don't worry about my niggas cause I got 'em
You shouldn't be concerned about my associates because they are in good hands.
On everything, for 17 im wildin
I promise on everything, I am acting recklessly as a 17-year-old would.
Treat my whole squad on an island
My entire gang is taken care of on this pristine seascape.
Ziploc gang, bring a lighter
My crew is well-stocked with plastic bags and smoking materials.
It's gon' be a house party on this island
This small island will be transformed into a vibrant party scene.
Shit boom like M80s on this island
Everything is exploding with excitement and activity.
It's a lot of trillionaires throwin' dollars
There are many extremely wealthy individuals throwing cash around.
Cause I'm pure hell, wildin' out on this island
My frenzied behavior on this island is because I am pure hell.
I do this too swell, my pockets too swell
I am able to live such a luxurious lifestyle because of my abundant wealth.
Come try the 100 gang and they'll shoot ya
Attempting to confront or damage my gang will result in violence and retaliation.
I do this for my squad, I do this for my gang
All of my lavish spending and actions are done in support of my gang and associates.
It's Zoovier from the trap and ain't a damn thing change
It's me, Zoovier, from the street and nothing has changed about my behavior or attitude.
Writer(s): Geoffrey Wilkinson, Herbie Hancock, Rahsaan Kelly, Mel Simpson
Contributed by Grace C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Scott Brooker
I think it was 1966, My brother came home with what might have been a bootleg recording call The Emancipation of Hugh Masakela. I was hooked! What a superb recording, I was 15. Thats when Jazz was great!
Pete Rizzo
My favorite version of this classic. Also, love the album cover :-D
Dean Simms
Africaan rhythm is the shazizzle for real!!!!!
marco pantaleoni
Over the top
roconnor01
Wow,Hugh's the man!
cactuseli
This sooo cool to listen. Thanks for sharing this gem.
Thore Noernberg
still the best version of this awesome piece of music
Sipzy Official
Man I can’t believe how cool this guys family is I mean shit Earl Sweatshirt is related to this guy, super hardcore thinkers
Fred Lawson
Cool Back in the 60s thanks for sharing. 🎺🎹🎼🎵🎶
Mutebi Dixon katula
Lovely lovely sounds....