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Louie Culture βMr Gangaleeβ
Dancehall fans, here he is, the original Mr. "Gangalee" himself-- Mr. "I wanna be free from all chains and all bangles and rope/Free from all bars and all borders and dope/Free to praise the Lord because mi naw praise the Pope/So mind how yuh a wash yuh face wid Babylon soap/I was born to be free 'cause mi a ole gangalee/Gangalee and who have eyes they will see." (taken from the hit song "Gangalee.")
He's also known as DJ Louie Culture, as that is the name he entered the music business with, but ever since he scored with his big hit, Dancehall fans, home and abroad, have branded him "Mr. Gangalee." He's very proud to wear this title, not only because he made it popular, but more so, because his belief in the concept of the word "gangalee" has been his main driving force to success.
Now, before driving you all nuts, here's the history of the word and the man called Gangalee. Follow mi! "Gangalee" is an old Jamaican rural term for an unruly, uncontrollable, bad person. As old people would say, "A soon cool yuh 'cause yuh a gwan like yuh a gangalee."
Well, Louie Culture, who was born in rural Portland (Windsor Forest to be exact), on May 9, 1968, took that old rural term and gave it a new meaning and lease on life in 1993. To Louie, a "gangalee" is a freedom fighter. One who fights for and never gives up on his beliefs, and what he wants and dreams of, no matter what the circumstances, obstacles or difficulties may be. Even if it means going or fighting the battle alone, with God by your side.
Louie Culture, born Lewin Brown, started out DJing while still at school in Portland. He took the name of his mentor Bobby Culture and fused it with his pet name "Louie," to come up with the name Louie Culture. Like his mentor, Louie DJayed a lot of Cultural tunes. His first recording was "Rat a Bother Me" (with fellow DJ and friend Waynie Ranking) for producer Red Man in 1986.
The song was a flop. Waynie Ranking got fed up and migrated, so Louie then teamed up with the singer called Positive. They recorded a few songs together, but they too were unsuccessful. Positive
thought what was happening was negative, so he also migrated, leaving Louie alone, hanging on to his dreams of becoming a DJ.
Louie Culture decided there and then that he was going to make it on his own. He was now determined to go "through the hills and valleys" to the mountain top of the music industry. After recording some songs for Colin Fatta, Louie met DJ Terror Fabulous. Terror introduced him to the "Mad House" crew. That's when his career took off.
He recorded and scored with songs "Live and Learn" (with Wayne Wonder), "Excellent," "Bogus Badge," "Revolution Song," "No Gal" (on the Pepperseed rhythm), and then the monster hit and titeltrack "Gangalee", that gave him his first LP, produced by Stone Love (Released 1994/ Available at: VP Music Group).
Louie is very happy about his growing success, and he thanks Jah for making his dream become a reality.
He remembers when he used to go to producers with reality tunes, and they'd tell him, "Them sound good man, but give me gal tune or gun lyrics." So, what he did as a gangalee was to give the producers what they wanted until they had to take "whey mi want to give them, and that is Culture."
Louie, a Rastafarian, is glad to see that Culture songs are now on the upswing; but he's a little concerned about the sincerity of the many DJs who are recording songs based on the Rastafarian belief. "'Nuff man a say things them don't know 'bout because them want to be under the light," he explained. "A lot of them will soon have to stand up and be counted, then we'll know who sincere from who wearing 'the Bogus Badge.'"
He's also aware that some Dancehall fans have been mis-interpreting the word "gangalee."
"When mi go abroad, some man a say, 'Whoah, mi a gangalee,' meaning a badman thing, so, mi haffi go pon stage [and] show them how I interpret it. But them still hold fi them view."
Mr. Gangalee made his debut appearance at Sunsplash in 1994, where he performed a great set. Here is a story about Louie and Sunsplash that he shared with us:"A great feeling and a great experience. The only thing I never like is how they put me on so late when the people dem weary."
Louie's big songs in the late 90s are "Don't Get Weary Gangalee," "They Lied" and "Ole Before Them Young."Β From early 2000 and the following years Louie Culture continued to mash up the
dancehalls with songs like βGrap your lass and comeβ feat. Mickey Spice & βScandalinaβ for Digital B Records.
In 2004 Louie Culture released his second album entitled βThe
Uprisingβ (Available at: VP Music Group).
The titeltrack of this album was a next massive hit thru out Jamaica, the US and Europe. He toured the album extensivly together with Freddy McGregor on a 5 weeks europe-tour followed by individual shows in the US.
Over the years Louie Culture has performed countless shows in Jamaica, Japan, the US, Canada, UK, Europe and all over the Caribbean.
Since early 2009 Louie βGangaleeβ Culture is working on his 3rd album for his own new established label βGangalee Musicβ. He plan to adress a few new topics with this album β βexpect lyrics about my views of the world today, critics I wanted to verbalise for a while now... and nuff more me haffi teach the youth demβ... he says with a smile...
First singles from the album are βConcrete Jungle Rockβ (for german based label βSilly Walksβ), βWhat a Worldβ (for 96 Degree Records) and βPrayer for Jamaicaβ (for his own label βGangalee Musicβ).
Ganga Lee
Louie Culture Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only I can decide my own fi me
Why? 'Cause I'm a ol' Ganga Lee
I waan be free from all chains, and all bondages and ropes
Free from all bars, and all borders and dogs
Free to praise the Lord, becah mi nah praise di Pope
So why do you a wash your face with Babylon soap?
That mean mi have whole heap a hope
Life ruff and hard, but mi the pickney haffi come
Some tek it 'pon di level and some slide down the slug
Silent river run deep, but Ganga Lee hav to float
I was born to be free
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Lee
And who have eyes, they will see
Say! Mi nuh come ya so fi choke
A mi nuh come ya so fi laugh
Mi deya 'pon the mission an' me complete all
Jah is my rock, of course He is my star
If you haffi go, you haffi accept the car
Coulda beat me likkle more, me get all the sinners off
Inequity worker, the whole of it witchcraft
Dem incheck mi body, the poor man mi nuh clap
Serious like all fifty children a laugh
I was born to be free
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Lee
And who have eyes, they will see
Mi deh deh, fi let me go now
And mek mi fly like a bird
Jah send mi out, so mi voice must be heard
I am the sheep and a Him a the shepherd
Cyan stop me somethin' nah go happen please mark the word
I was born to be free
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Lee
And who have eyes, they will see
Say!
Original Ganga Lee put up feet make me see
South side boys down in Tel Aviv
Tivoli Gardens and di Spanglers posse
What teacher learn, fi the infinitive
You a born to be free, you a own ganga
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Lee
And who have eyes, they will see
I wanna be free from all chains, and all bondages and ropes
Free from all bars, and all borders and dogs
Free to praise the Lord, becah mi nah praise di Pope
So why do you a wash your face with Babylon soap?
Mi have whole heap a faith
That mean mi have whole heap a hope
Life ruff and hard, but mi the pickney haffi come
Some tek it 'pon di level and some slide down the slug
Silent river run deep, but Ganga Lee hav to float
I was born to be free
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
And who have eyes, they will see
Say! Mi nuh come ya so fi choke
A mi nuh come ya so fi laugh
Mi deya 'pon the mission an' me complete all
Jah is my rock, of course He is my star
If you haffi go, you haffi accept the car
Coulda beat me likkle more, me get all the sinners off
Inequity worker, the whole of it witchcraft
Dem incheck mi body, the poor man mi nuh clap
Serious like all fifty children a laugh
I was born to be free
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Lee
And who have eyes, they will see
The song "Ganga Lee" by Louie Culture speaks about individual freedom and one's ability to be the master of their own destiny. The chorus repeats the line, "I was born to be free, a me a ol' Ganga Lee," emphasizing that no one can control the singer's fate except for themselves. They reject the idea of being chained or restricted by societal norms or expectations. The lyrics also touch on the spiritual aspect of life, with the singer choosing to praise the Lord rather than the Pope.
Louie Culture speaks about the hardships of life, acknowledging that it can be rough and hard, but still full of hope. He references the idea that some people take life on the level, while others slide down the slug (a metaphor for giving up). However, the singer does not give up and instead floats like the Ganga Lee river, which is known for being calm and serene despite its strength. Overall, the song communicates a message of resilience, self-determination, and the human desire for freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
No man can decide my destiny
I am the sole determiner of my destiny, and nobody else can make that decision for me.
Only I can decide my own fi me
The decision about my own future can only be made by me and nobody else.
Why? 'Cause I'm a ol' Ganga Lee
I am an experienced and determined individual, capable of attaining my goals, and this is what makes me a Ganga Lee.
I waan be free from all chains, and all bondages and ropes
My desire is to be free from anything that limits, restricts or controls me.
Free from all bars, and all borders and dogs
I want to be free from all physical or psychological barriers that hinder my movement and expression.
Free to praise the Lord, becah mi nah praise di Pope
I am free to worship God in my own way and I choose not to follow the Pope's religion.
So why do you a wash your face with Babylon soap?
Why do you choose to follow the ways of Babylon and live a fake life instead of being true to yourself?
Mi have whole heap a faith
I have an abundance of faith in God and myself.
That mean mi have whole heap a hope
My faith gives me the confidence to have hope in all areas of life.
Life ruff and hard, but mi the pickney haffi come
Life can be tough, but I am like a child who has to come into this world and face reality.
Some tek it 'pon di level and some slide down the slug
Some people can handle the challenges of life, while others succumb to the difficulties and struggle to survive.
Silent river run deep, but Ganga Lee hav to float
I may seem quiet and reserved on the surface, but I have to keep going and achieve my goals.
I was born to be free
I came into this world with the natural right and desire to live a free life.
A me a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
I am an experienced and accomplished individual who can navigate my life like a Ganga Lee.
Man a ol' Ganga Lee, Ganga Lee
I am a confident and mature individual who knows how to live life to the fullest.
Man a ol' Gangsta Lee, Gangsta Lee
Despite being mature and accomplished, I am still a tough and fearless individual.
And who have eyes, they will see
Anyone who can see will recognize how I live my life and the path I have chosen for myself.
Say! Mi nuh come ya so fi choke
I am not here to be oppressed or held down by anyone or anything.
A mi nuh come ya so fi laugh
I am here for a bigger purpose and not just to have a good time.
Mi deya 'pon the mission an' me complete all
I am focused on my mission and nothing can distract me from achieving it.
Jah is my rock, of course He is my star
God is my strength and my guiding light that helps me through every challenge in life.
If you haffi go, you haffi accept the car
If you want to achieve your goals, you have to accept whatever challenges come your way.
Coulda beat me likkle more, me get all the sinners off
Even if life gets tough, I can still achieve my goals and help others who might be struggling.
Inequity worker, the whole of it witchcraft
I despise inequality and the corrupt systems that create it.
Dem incheck mi body, the poor man mi nuh clap
Those who oppress me do not deserve my respect or admiration.
Serious like all fifty children a laugh
I am serious about my goals and determined to achieve them, just like children who laugh without a care in the world.
Mi deh deh, fi let me go now
I am here to be free and nothing can hinder my journey.
And mek mi fly like a bird
I want to be free like a bird and live life to the fullest without any restrictions.
Jah send mi out, so mi voice must be heard
God sent me to this world with a purpose, and I have to fulfill it by speaking out and taking action.
I am the sheep and a Him a the shepherd
God is my guide and protector, and I am His follower.
Cyan stop me somethin' nah go happen please mark the word
Nobody can stop me from achieving what I want, and nothing will happen to bring me down.
Original Ganga Lee put up feet make me see
The first Ganga Lee was a role model, and I strive to follow his path to greatness.
South side boys down in Tel Aviv
I have respect for individuals from all places and backgrounds, including the South side boys in Tel Aviv.
Tivoli Gardens and di Spanglers posse
I recognize and acknowledge the Tivoli Gardens and di Spanglers posse for their achievements.
What teacher learn, fi the infinitive
I am always learning and expanding my knowledge, which will help me achieve infinite success.
You a born to be free, you a own ganga
Just like me, you were born to be free and live life on your own terms.
Lyrics Β© Royalty Network
Written by: Lewin Brown, Lloyd James Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thetruthhurt1794
After dexta daps I have to come to the original. Big up louie culture
@Alejo_54
Original is better my friend. Big up dexta sameway
@patricialee9829
Me too lol
@sexybrown6249
@@Alejo_54 and please to respect dexta cause if it wasn't for him you wouldn't get the much views π€¨πππ
@Alejo_54
@@sexybrown6249 a true. dexta and teach dem. Even though its not my video im here for the culture not for the hype. Salute.
@britsedits8902
Me tooπ€£π€£π€£
@boxertest
Nice to see Louie Culture still getting props to the present, thank you Dexta Daps
@DavidG77904
I absolutely Love the classics but I also Love how the new artistes are dropping these π₯ remixes and I'm here for all of it, can't get enough.
@iron2468
The legend himself. Bwoy, Louie is one dancehall artist who gets respect from EVERYBODY π
@Cosmic_Cleanse
The words of this song are still relevant today. They didnβt make much sense to me when I was a kid, but I get your message now, Legend. Big up to Dexta Daps for taking me back to my childhood with that sample