Ian Campbell, who often goes by the alias Ice MC, was born in England but h… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Campbell, who often goes by the alias Ice MC, was born in England but his parents are from Jamaica. He got his nickname Ice when he was in high school. He was interested in clubs and breakdancing when he met Roberto Zanetti in Italy. They got together and made a single called Easy. The genre that Campbell is most popular in is reggae. The single was very successful all over Europe, but it was not considered to be Eurodance. Later in the early nineties, Roberto Zanetti met Alexia who became the future vocalist of their Eurodance hits. His album Ice' N' Green released in 1994 was extremely successful and the two most successful songs were Think About the Way and It's a Rainy Day featuring Alexia. Other successful songs from the same album include Take Away the Colour, Russian Roulette, Dark Night Rider, and Run Fa Cover.

Although the main genre for these songs is Eurodance, it does have a considerable amount of Italian influence. This is especially prevalent in Dark Night Rider and It's a Rainy Day. But Think about the Way and It's a Rainy Day were so successful that many Eurodance fans still listen to them. In 1994, due to some legal issues, Ice MC separated from Roberto Zanetti and Alexia. In 1996, Ice MC struck back with a new album called The Dredatour. The hit song of the album was the pure Eurodance song Give me the Light, but the album itself wasn't particularly successful. After this, many thought that Campbell had caused irreparable damage to his career.

At the end of 2002 he decided to return to Italy and to contact Robyx (Roberto Zanetti) again. Together, they decided to realize a new project. Ice and Robyx started by writing some new material and, at the beginning of 2004, they withdrew into the studio to record a new album.

The Britaican
Ice MC Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)
B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)
B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)

Hey yo it's the Nottingham bro'
I'm comin at you fast not comin' slow
With the style that's mad so come follow
I'm no beginner I guess you could say pro'

I'm not jokin' or no crack smokin'
Livin' large and other suckers be chokin'
Give me a beat I turn on the heat you move your feet
An then you're ready for me baby

Fat like Luciano Pavarotti
Sounds more funky than the lyrical shit he kick
This is a hit no it can't be a miss
I'm not hearin' it if suckers be tryin to dis

This is a freestyle style that free you
See free because I don't pay no money
This is flavor time the britadecable stuff
Of this shit you just can't get enough

B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)
B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)
B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)

Bruce Lee couldn't kick this kinda style
Wick wicked 'cause this brother is versatile
Dreadlocks on my head like a palm tree
Give me the big fist when you see me

One two three o'clock four o'clock rock
Round the clock 'till the party's done
Just follow me don't follow the flock
'Cause I'm takin' you high and I'm the one

Boom bang boom boom boom the bang
Let me do my thing
I get crazy high cause I'm crazy fly
Got crazy skills I'm that G.U.Y

I'm not acting tough yo never bluff
I just get the job done with the funky stuff
D E.V.A.S.T.A.T.I.N.G to that's me the D

B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)

B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)
B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Britaican" by Ice MC are a mix of boasting, confident rhyming, and showing off his skills. The chorus of the song "B.R.I T.A.I C.A.N" is a reference to the acronym of the British Tourist Authority (BTA), which was responsible for promoting tourism to Britain. Ice MC is addressing himself as the Nottingham bro', coming at you fast with his mad style, which is not that of a beginner, but a pro'. He also claims that he is not joking or doing any crack smoking, and instead living large while others are choking. When given a beat, he can turn on the heat, and you can move your feet and be ready for him.

Ice MC creates an image of his fatness, similar to Luciano Pavarotti, but his sounds are funkier than the lyrical stuff Pavarotti kicks. Ice MC thinks his song is a hit, and he won't hear it if suckers try to dis his track. He also mentions that his style is free, which simultaneously means that he is not paying any money for it and that his style is liberated from any boundaries. He speaks of his dreadlocks like a palm tree and that one should give him the big fist when they see him. The song's latter half is Ice MC's self-promotion of himself and his skills. He is not acting tough, but he is more focused on getting the job done with the funky stuff.

Line by Line Meaning

B.R.I (pam pam) T.A.I (pam pam) C.A.N (pam pam pam pam pam pam)
The chorus of the song, with no particular meaning other than sounding catchy

Hey yo it's the Nottingham bro'
Introduction to the rapper's persona from Nottingham

I'm comin at you fast not comin' slow
The rapper is confident and ready to perform with intensity

With the style that's mad so come follow
The rapper's style is unique and exciting, inviting listeners to join in

I'm no beginner I guess you could say pro'
The rapper has experience and skills in performing

I'm not jokin' or no crack smokin'
The rapper takes his music seriously and is not involved in drug use

Livin' large and other suckers be chokin'
The rapper is successful and others envy him

Give me a beat I turn on the heat you move your feet
The rapper's music is groovy and makes people dance

An then you're ready for me baby
The rapper is confident in his ability to entertain

Fat like Luciano Pavarotti
The rapper is proud of his own body size, comparing himself to a famous opera singer

Sounds more funky than the lyrical shit he kick
The rapper's music has more groove and rhythm than Pavarotti's singing

This is a hit no it can't be a miss
The rapper is sure that his music will be successful

I'm not hearin' it if suckers be tryin to dis
The rapper ignores criticism from haters

This is a freestyle style that free you
The rapper's music is free and improvisational

See free because I don't pay no money
The rapper is not motivated by money, but by artistic expression

This is flavor time the britadecable stuff
The rapper's music has a unique flavor and style

Of this shit you just can't get enough
The rapper is sure that listeners will enjoy his music and want more

Bruce Lee couldn't kick this kinda style
The rapper's style is so unique and versatile that even a martial arts legend couldn't match it

Wick wicked 'cause this brother is versatile
The rapper's music is versatile and adaptable

Dreadlocks on my head like a palm tree
The rapper has dreadlocks on his head that looks like a palm tree

Give me the big fist when you see me
The rapper expects to be greeted with a gesture of respect when he is seen in public

One two three o'clock four o'clock rock
The rapper counts down to party time using a classic rhyme

Round the clock 'till the party's done
The rapper plans to keep the party going all night long

Just follow me don't follow the flock
The rapper wants listeners to follow his lead, not just follow what's popular

'Cause I'm takin' you high and I'm the one
The rapper is confident that his music will elevate and entertain listeners

Boom bang boom boom boom the bang
The rapper uses onomatopoeia to add a fun sound to the lyrics

Let me do my thing
The rapper asks listeners to let him perform in his own unique style

I get crazy high cause I'm crazy fly
The rapper is excited and confident in his music

Got crazy skills I'm that G.U.Y
The rapper is skilled and talented, and wants to be recognized as a great artist

I'm not acting tough yo never bluff
The rapper is genuine and sincere, not trying to be something he's not

I just get the job done with the funky stuff
The rapper is successful because he can make listeners dance and enjoy his music

D E.V.A.S.T.A.T.I.N.G to that's me the D
The rapper refers to himself as devastating, which may refer to his impressive rap skills

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN COLIN CAMPBELL, CLAUDIO MALATESTI, RICCARDO SALANI, GIANLUCA VIVALDI, ROBERTO ZANETTI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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