Before Rising Stars, O’Keefe was just an ordinary kid who had no inkling that he would one day grace the stage. As he recollects, he developed the natural gift of ‘riding a rhythm” by just listening to beats and singing along.
He was born in Kingston, Jamaica and spent the first few years of his life in the volatile Payne Avenue area. However, circumstances dictated that his family migrate to the more peaceful community of Cheapside District in St. Elizabeth where he attended Littz All Age School.. He later attended the Haile Selassie High School in Kingston.
As fate would have it his best friend Mark Richie (Gussie) succumbed to injuries sustained in a fatal car accident. This catastrophe heralded the “coming out” of the artistic side of O’Keefe as it inspired him to pen his first song “Tribute”. This song was recorded and distributed to friends and sound systems. Nothing came of the song but it was the feedback, mostly encouragement which pushed him to start thinking seriously about a career as a DJ.
It was the year 2006 and the TVJ Rising Star Auditions was coming “to your town”... Of course, Laden tracked all the way to Negril to audition. Laden made history by becoming the first Top Ten DJ finalist in the competition. He was able to withstand seven grueling weeks of competition and critique from the judges. He admits that he was not bruised by Anthony Millers sometimes “brutally honest” criticisms. He stayed the course and remained focused. He has only benefitted from the Rising Stars experience.
Laden was bent on not fitting the talent competitor stereotype. He was now a household name. Armed with this new experience and popularity Laden launched his musical career. He recorded songs for the Shocking Vibes Label. He collaborated with Devonte on the song “The Theme Song” which was used to promote Cricket World Cup.
It was the summer of 2007 when Laden introduced himself to Stephen McGregor of Big Ship. This was to become the ultimate experience of his young career. Laden was now hanging out with the movers and shakers in the business. From “Don’t you Like It” on the Chiney K rhythm, “Gal Coward” on the Day Break rhythm to his exclusive song “I’m Sorry” that cemented his name in the dancehall industry.
Money Over War
Laden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nuh bwoy cya program me
Dem gun nuh value more dan me
And if unu mind sharp
Dem find yuh pon crime stop
Dem waan kill off di whole a we
Hey Stunt Squad
Pon di battlefield nuh bwoy cya ker mi deh
Genius mi have nuh gun nah par todeh
Cah mi get fi find out
Some bwoy wah shoot up pon the holiday
Weh mi seh
Live mi wah fi live life
Stay far away from negativity which is right
Rememba fadda God a watch you and
Everything in his sight
Weh you do wrong yuh cannot disguise
So mek dem gwaan shoot off a dem one another
Mi know dem nah listen roots, no Spice, no Spanna Banna
And mek mi tell you da youth ya future unda plan ya
Fi buy mamma big house it put up pon di land yah
A man fi wear bear gucci dulce and gabbana
Kartel seh life sweet seh "na na na na na"
All know mi gal nuh get har cute youth dem from da man ya
So how mi fi mek dem find mi hitch pon a hanger
Hey Big Ship...
Money ova war mi seh
Pon di battlefield nuh bwoy cya ker mi deh
Genius mi have nuh gun nah par todeh
Cah mi get fi find out
Some bwoy wah shoot up pon the holiday
Weh mi seh
Live mi wah fi live life
Stay far away from negativity which is right
Rememba fadda God a watch you and
Everything in his sight
Weh you do wrong yuh cannot disguise
Hey,
Stop di youth dem from stop beat corn
Stop from run the street warm
Everyday inna di ghetto police inna jeeps war,
Granma must cya sleep
Cah mi a beg yuh hol' the peace man
Nuff gun inna life so mi a beg you stretch and reach one
Di youth dem fi stop beat it up
Stop from mek the beef erupt
Man blood fi stop run inna di streets like it a sweet syrup
Rifle dem a grease it up
Dem oil it up and rinse it up
If yuh nuh mind sharp
Dem coulda find yuh body mintsing up
Money ova war mi seh
Pon di battlefield nuh bwoy cya ker mi deh
Genius mi have nuh gun nah par todeh
Cah mi get fi find out
Some bwoy wah shoot up pon the holiday
Weh mi seh
Live mi wah fi live life
Stay far away from negativity which is right
Rememba fadda God a watch you and
Everything in his sight
Weh you do wrong yuh cannot disguise
Stop from dem shoot off
Di youth dem stop from dem shoot off
Stop from dem shoot off
Di youth dem stop from dem shoot off
Stop from dem shoot off
Di youth dem stop from dem shoot off
Stop from stop from
Stop from shoot dem off
I beg you
Stop from stop from
Stop from shoot dem off
Stop from shoot dem
Stop from shoot dem off
Me a beg yuh
In Laden's song Money Over War, he speaks about his stance on choosing money over war. He declares that no one can program him, and his life is worth more than any gun someone may try to use against him. He urges his listeners to stay away from negativity and live their lives positively, as everything they do wrong cannot be disguised. Laden understands the high crime rate and shooting that goes on in the streets, but he believes it is time for the shooting to stop, and for the youth to hold on to the peace. He asks that they stop beating corn, stop running the streets warm, and put a stop to the beef that causes lives to be lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Stephen...
Addressing someone named Stephen.
Nuh bwoy cya program me
No one can control or manipulate me.
Dem gun nuh value more dan me
Guns are not worth more than my life.
And if unu mind sharp
If you're alert/careful enough.
Dem find yuh pon crime stop
The police will catch you.
Dem waan kill off di whole a we
The authorities want to kill us all.
Money ova war mi seh
Choosing money over war.
Pon di battlefield nuh bwoy cya ker mi deh
No one can harm me on the battlefield.
Genius mi have nuh gun nah par todeh
My intelligence is enough, I don't need a gun today.
Cah mi get fi find out
Because I need to know.
Some bwoy wah shoot up pon the holiday
Some guys want to cause violence on holidays.
Weh mi seh
What I'm saying is
Live mi wah fi live life
I want to live my life.
Stay far away from negativity which is right
Choose positivity and the right thing.
Rememba fadda God a watch you and
Remember, God is watching you.
Everything in his sight
He sees everything.
Weh you do wrong yuh cannot disguise
You can't hide your wrongdoings.
So mek dem gwaan shoot off a dem one another
Let them keep killing each other.
Mi know dem nah listen roots, no Spice, no Spanna Banna
I know they won't listen to anyone - no matter who it is.
And mek mi tell you da youth ya future unda plan ya
Let me tell you, that child's future is under your responsibility.
Fi buy mamma big house it put up pon di land yah
To buy a big house for my mother to put on this land.
A man fi wear bear gucci dulce and gabbana
A man should wear brand name clothes.
Kartel seh life sweet seh 'na na na na na'
Kartel says life is sweet.
All know mi gal nuh get har cute youth dem from da man ya
Everyone knows that my girl didn't have her kids with me.
So how mi fi mek dem find mi hitch pon a hanger
So how can I let them find me hanging on a noose?
Hey Big Ship...
Addressing someone or something called 'Big Ship.'
Hey,
Addressing someone or something.
Stop di youth dem from stop beat corn
Make the youth stop fighting.
Stop from run the street warm
Stop creating havoc in the streets.
Everyday inna di ghetto police inna jeeps war,
Every day in the ghetto, there's tension between the police and citizens.
Granma must cya sleep
Grandma shouldn't be kept awake at night.
Cah mi a beg yuh hol' the peace man
Because I'm begging you to make peace.
Nuff gun inna life so mi a beg you stretch and reach one
There are too many guns in the world, so get rid of one.
Di youth dem fi stop beat it up
The youth should stop fighting.
Stop from mek the beef erupt
Stop causing fights to break out.
Man blood fi stop run inna di streets like it a sweet syrup
There should be no bloodshed in the streets.
Rifle dem a grease it up
They are preparing their guns.
Dem oil it up and rinse it up
They clean and prepare their guns for use.
If yuh nuh mind sharp
If you're not alert/careful enough.
Dem coulda find yuh body mintsing up
They can find your dead body all chopped up.
Stop from dem shoot off
Stop them from shooting.
Di youth dem stop from dem shoot off
The youth should stop shooting.
Stop from stop from
Stop it.
I beg you
I'm begging you.
Contributed by Gianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Agent Maka
one of the most under rated artist ever in dance hall
wayne reid
Stay strong laden just remember have to live up to your words listen back to these strong song
OTM productions
Real talk mi fam him fi member
Professionally Curious
He is one if the realest artist like Shane O but man dem nah get the real buss. People nah gravitate much to these real tunes.
MarkyMark
I know this guy got talent ever since I heard this record.
Santista Fanatico
Mad Tune.. Gotta respect what This Guy Laden Is Doing Man.. Great Song
Wayne Buchanan
2020 still one of my anthem 💥💯💥
Anderson Pyaban
Money over war mi seh, pon di battle field nuh bwoy cyaa carry mi deh, Genius mi n gun nuh par today,caah mi get fi find out some bwoy shoot up pon di holiday,wha mi seh live mi waan fi live life stay far away from negativity which is right, remember father God ah watch yuh and everyting in his sight,when yuh do wrong yuh cannot disguise,suh mek dem bwoy shoot of one annada,mi know dem nuh listen roots no spice no spanner Banner,nd mek mi tell you di youths future under plan yah, fi buy mama big house weh put up pon da Land yah, a man fi wear bear Gucci Dolce n Gabbanna, Kartel seh life sweet seh Nananana................Every time i play this i sing along like I am Laden
Mc McPherson
2016 and still jamming ..!
whizkid music
Still listening 👂🏾 in 2020